Author: thebestgreenqueen

Lets make history!

The Conservative party has a proven track record as the party that supports hard work whether it comes from woman or man. This has clear as we selected the only female prime ministers. (Labour selected none as we know.)

It is now time to make history and select the first female mayor of London.

At the time when we work hard to promote equality. There is Equality Act 2010. We’ve got Human Rights Act. Yet there is still prejudice against women. I was on the train one day when I heard a business woman in conversation with her companion (business man) saying of some young woman in some company she was aware of: “She is pretty but she convinced them that she is competent so they take her seriously.” It is sad that despite everything women are still not taken seriously as competent smart contributors to the society, equal to men.

Discrimination against women is so evident on all levels. The balance on the scale is still not even.

There was for instance article in Metro: Sharon Stone celebrates turning 60 with toyboy boyfriend on the beach

 

[https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/10/sharon-stone-celebrates-turning-60-toyboy-boyfriend-beach-7376480/?ito=cbshare

Emma Kelly Saturday 10 Mar 2018 11:50 am]

There was also another article:

Mick Jagger’s the daddy! Rolling Stone poses with ballerina girlfriend, their baby and four of his other children

Both of the Rockstar’s girlfriends posted pictures with Mick Jagger this week – but the Singer only sided with one

 

[https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/mick-jagger-confirms-romantic-loyalties-12446841 By Halina Watts, 22:00, 28 APR 2018 Updated09:13, 29 APR 2018]

 

Whilst Stone looks stunning all we can say for Jagger he is 74 with deep wrinkles no doubt reflection of the rock and roll life style.

There are no derogatory terms by journalists concerning Mick Jagger relationship with young impressionable women in early twenties but for a woman in a healthy relationship with a mature adult male, he is doubled a”toyboy”. She is “ballerina” – he is a “toyboy”.

Men were traditionally hunters and providers since ancient time and they are working hard refusing to let go of their position of power supported by the army of (young) women in this process. I would like to quote Madeleine Albright: “There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.”

[Madeleine Jana Korbel Albright is an American politician and diplomat. She is the first woman to have become the United States Secretary of State. She served from 1997 to 2001]

 

 

Labour MPs

The way Labour treats female MPs was obvious from recent disagreement between veteran MP Margaret Hodge and Jeremy Corby when she was falsely accused by his deputy Mr John McDonnell of “loosing her cool”. Something that was denied by the independent witness. According to the article published in the Standards John McDonnell, hard core socialist claimed that Dame Margaret Hodge lost her cool. To which MP Steve Double tweeted: “John McDonnell wasn’t there – I was and witnessed the whole thing. She did not lost her cool. Passionate and forthright in her views yes, but she never lost control.”

Making such false accusation is always distressing for the victims/”accused” in general. In this instance it is very irresponsible by the major political party that has many young followers providing a very negative role mode signalling that lies and false accusations and statements are acceptable tool of silencing those that disagree with you.

There is now a wide concern for treatment of female party members by the Labour party. In this instance Fawcett society is organising a Labour Conference fringe event on 25^th September 2018 to discuss the experience of women within the party.

 

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn has been under personal attack for his handling of the anti-Semitism row raging within the Labour Party. Evening Standards front page titled “Shameful” 1 August 2018. This was affirmed by the statement of Ian Austin published on the same day which reads “Anti-Semitism is threatening the party I once joined with pride”

 

Jeremy Corbyn has now being criticised for long time for his Anti-Semitism. It is all so well know that on many occasions Jeremy Corbyn shared platforms with violent extremist groups and other hard-line Muslim groups. He continued to do so despite making statements that his links to violent extremism, such as to the IRA and to Hamas, was a thing of the past.

 

There are calls for Corbyn to come clean about his involvments with Hamas: “Jeremy Corbyn’s account of his meetings with representatives of Hamas and other Islamist organisations appears “deliberately evasive” and “deeply troubling”, and the Labour leader should release records of talks to prove he is “the man of peace he claims to be”, according to a senior diplomat.”

[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/25/jeremy-corbyn-must-come-clean-deeply-troubling-meetings-hamas/ By Edward Malnick, Whitehall Editor

25 August 2018 • 9:31pm]

 

Labour crisis further deepened reaching climax: “THE STORM surrounding accusations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party took a dramatic turn last night when it was revealed Jeremy Corbyn has been reported to the Parliamentary standards watchdog over comments he made in 2013.”

[https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1008242/labour-antisemitism-jeremy-corbyn-investigation-comments-zionist-jews-video-footage-2013 By Dan Falvey PUBLISHED: 00:59, Sat, Aug 25, 2018   | UPDATED: 01:23, Sat, Aug 25, 2018]

 

 

These events clearly indicated lack of judgment by the part and Jeremy Corbyn. This also signals that Labour is not the party that neither does nor can unite people of all religion and background.

 

Conservative party candidate is the only choice that can unite and represent all Londoners.

 

Lets go step further and show that we value women by voting the first female London mayor, Cllr Joy Morrissey [https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/07/conservative-mayoral-candidates-interviews-joy-morrissey.html]

 

London, 27 August 2018

 

 

Sources of pollution:

Petrol and diesel-engined motor vehicles emit a wide variety of pollutants, mainly carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM10), which have an increasing impact on urban air quality. In addition, pollutants from these sources may not only prove a problem in the immediate vicinity of these sources, but can be transported long distances.

Photochemical reactions resulting from the action of sunlight on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and VOCs, typically emitted from road vehicles, lead to the formation of ozone. Ozone is a secondary pollutant, which often impacts rural areas far from the original emission site as a result of long-range transport.

 

In all except the worst-case situations, industrial and domestic pollutant sources, together with their impact on air quality, tend to be steady or improving over time. However, traffic pollution problems are worsening world-wide.

 

Key legislation:

This section provides a short summary of the existing legislation and the responsibility of the Local Authorities to comply with them.

 

Boroughs have an important role to play in addressing local pollution. The statutory basis for local authority air quality obligations is Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. This requires that London Boroughs monitor and review pollution. Where they exceed standards, they must declare a London Local Air Quality Management Area (LLAQM) and put in place an action plan detailing how they will tackle the problem.

 

We have looked at [https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/annualmaps.asp]. If you look at the map the air quality is displayed as yellow across most of the Borough, whilst along the main traffic routes is dark red/brown — indicating immense levels of air pollution.

 

This map is developed and maintained by The Greater London Authority and Transport for London, who fund, develop and maintain the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. For more information please visit [data.london.gov.uk].

 

The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 establishes mandatory standards for air quality and set objectives for sulphur and nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulates and lead in air. Some pollutants have Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) expressed as annual mean concentrations due to the chronic way in which they affect human health or the natural environment (i.e. impacts occur after a prolonged period of exposure to elevated concentrations).

Others have AQOs expressed as 24-hour or 1-hour mean concentrations due to the acute way in which they affect human health or the natural environment (i.e. after a relatively short period of exposure). The introduction of a new control framework for PM2.5, as required by the Air Quality Directive, sets a national exposure reduction target defined as a percentage reduction in annual average concentrations of PM2.5 in urban background locations across the country, to be achieved by 2020.

 

Under the Environment Act 1995, the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) boroughs must regularly review and assess air quality within their boroughs and designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) where UK standards and objectives are currently not being met.

 

 

Defra’s Air Quality Plan (2015):

This includes zone specific air quality plans which set targeted local, regional and national measures to ensure the UK air will be cleaner than ever before. There is an air quality plan for achieving EU air quality limit values for NO2 in Greater London (September 2011).

 

The plan identifies a variety of joint measures to improve NO2 in the Greater London Urban Area agglomeration zone, including measures at different administrative levels (EU, national, regional and local). Some measures include, for example, promoting smarter travel, congestion charging, sustainable freight distribution, smoothing traffic flow, low-carbon vehicles, clean transport technologies and renewable energy sources

 

 

 

LAQN, London Air Quality Network Summary Report 2014 (March 2016):

This report details the results of air pollution measurements made on the London Air Quality Network during 2014 (and in 2016). The London Air Quality Network (LAQN) is a unique resource, providing robust air pollution measurements that are essential to underpin air quality management and health studies.

 

Conservative Councillors proposed the Council to join the scheme but it felt on the deaf ear by the majority run Labour Council.

 

The Conservative Councillors’ attempts were blocked by the majority Labour Council:

“In February this year, our shadow budget we asked for “a budget of £250k should be allocated to enable schools to properly monitor air pollution and take mitigating action to protect the health of pupils and teachers”

 

This was declined.

 

We ask at council for anti- idling legislation, already in use in other London boroughs, Southwark as an example, be implemented. Again, this was refused.

 

After taking advice from King’s college, and the air quality group Brentford, we requested that LBH switch their monitoring system to the London Air Quality Network. This system is used by most of the London boroughs and is the preferred choice of the GLA.

”

Schools

We have the following information:

“SCHOOL INSTALL CLASSROOM AIR PURIFIERS

 

The notting hill preparatory school has installed air purifiers in 3 classrooms and has seen an 86% decrease in the PN 2.5 soot particles associated with diesel engines. “

 

Pollution monitoring equipment:

Our successes:

 

“INSTALL FINE PARTICULATE (LARGE PN 2.5) ANALYSER AT THE CHISWICK HIGH ROAD MONITORING STATION

 

Conservative Councillor persuaded the Council to use £30k of S106 funds to install this monitoring equipment, to analyse this particulate. We had no previous equipment that could measure this particulate size. Particulates in the PN 2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract reaching the lung and exposure can cause short term health effects, such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and shortness of breath. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly, may be particularly sensitive to PN 2.5.

 

 

In last year’s council budget, the administration imposed a diesel charge on residents’ vehicles using our CPZs. None of these additional diesel levy funds has been used to ameliorate air pollution or fund diverse related projects.

”

Impact:

There is a significant link between illness and exposure to air pollution.

 

1. Impact of air pollution on health can range from unnoticed physiological changes to restricted physical activity/reduced performance, to hospital admissions.

 

2. NO2 exposure in high concentrations causes inflammation of the airways and long-term exposure can affect lung function and respiratory symptoms. It can also increase asthma symptoms. PM aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular conditions; acts as a contributor to early deaths from cardiovascular disease. Studies have suggested that the most deprived areas of Britain bear a disproportionate share of poor air quality.

 

3. A King’s College report estimates 102 equivalent attributable deaths, corresponding to 1,564 lost life years for 2010. The report also estimated 79-174 deaths linked to NO2 exposure and 1,200-2,700 life years lost annually.

 

Impact on most vulnerable:

DEFRA studies show that the greatest burden of air pollution falls on the most vulnerable in the population, such as children, older people and those with existing heart and lunch conditions. Individuals most at risk include those with existing respiratory problems and chronic illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2005, 2.4% of the Hounslow Borough suffered from coronary heart disease, 10% reported diagnosed hypertension and 4.6% were reported asthma sufferers. The Health Effects Institute (HEI) panel concluded from evidence that there is a causal relationship between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and exacerbation of asthma. Hounslow’s air quality problems are largely caused by traffic emissions over a broad area.

 

The British Medical Association in 2012 showed that prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with several adverse outcomes in pregnancy, such as low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life.

 

Impact on socially deprived areas:

A close link has been shown between areas of high deprivation and pollution, often because homes and residences of these groups are situation next to roads with higher concentration of emissions. Deprivation is measured based on an Index of Multiple Deprivation of seven domain indices including income deprivation, employment deprivation, and living environment (which uses air quality as a key indicator of deprivation). LBH is ranked 151st out of 326 Local Authorities, with 1 being the most deprived, in the 2015 Index of Multiple Deprivation.

 

Pledges to improve environment page 5 manifesto:

We will preserve and enhance our shared environment:

1. Re-join the London Air Quality Network
2. Oppose any scheme that will increase air pollution
3. Lobby the London Mayor to rethink the planned Ultra-Low Emissions Zone and remove diesel buses
4. Increase the pressure on Thames Water to improve Mogden Sewage Works
5. Work with third party partners to reduce the risks of over-development e.g. flooding
6. Enable residents to better contribute effectively in planning decisions
7. Insist that new developments meet the highest environmental standards
8. Rigorously enforce the laws against unlicensed and illegal Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)
9. Champion improvements to transport infrastructure
10. Part-fund replacement of old domestic boilers
11. Make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists
12. Roll out additional electric charging points
13. Commission an holistic strategy for the Borough’s heritage assets

 

More pledges:

 

Manifesto page 7: “We will move to replace the Council’s own fleet of vehicles with electric/hybrid vehicles. We will join with other councils in forcing Heathrow Airport to adopt environmentally responsible transport solutions. We will plant 1,000 new trees mainly in areas where air pollution is at its worst. We will enforce anti-engine idling legislation at key locations. Labour wish only to restrict enforcement to areas outside schools – good but not good enough.”

Also page 7: “We support the introduction of more charging points for electric cars. Residents will retain a say in where these charging points are sited.”

Conclusion:

Due to emission volumes and overall impacts on health, we pledge to make difference to our environment and consequently to your own well-being.

Page 10: “We promise nothing less than a complete change in culture. As Conservatives we never forget that we are elected to serve the residents of the Borough. We will not assume as Labour appears to do that all residents have access to a computer or a state-of-the-art mobile phone.”

 

Vote Conservatives for #BetterHounslow

 

Not long ago, the melting of polar icecaps was seen as the kind of scary story only “nutty” scientists believed. With time, the situation has changed: ordinary people and politicians have started taking climate change far more seriously. This is an issue that goes far beyond the mere melting of ice, and one which affects everybody’s health and well-being – but particularly those most vulnerable, such as children and elderly.

According to a report by the London Councils: “In London alone, air pollution contributes to in excess of 9,400 premature deaths every year, and costs the health system between £1.4 and £3.7 billion per year, as well damaging buildings and biodiversity through the formation of pollutants into acid rain.” [Source here: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/node/33224?utm_campaign=9163897_14%20Feb%202018%20Key%20Issues&utm_medium=email&utm_source=London%20Councils&dm_i=192K,5GEWP,7307YK,L4W8Z,1%5D

Friends of the Earth estimates that In the UK, there are 40,000 pollution-related deaths per annum. This is more than alcohol and obesity related deaths combined.

It was Margaret Thatcher who raised the issue of pollution at UN General Assembly back in 1989 [8 Nov 1989] urging “It is the prospect of irretrievable damage to the atmosphere, to the oceans, to earth itself”

https://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/107817

In the following years, Labour Governments and Labour-run councils have showed immensely little interest in this issue.

It is a common misconception that the sources of issues are large-scale manufactures. In recent years, the causes of pollution have been more accurately narrowed down to domestic consumption and traffic pollution.

These two areas are so broad, that I have written separate blogs on this topic.

Here we will focus on domestic causes of pollution and its effect on individuals. The Conservative party, in our manifesto, has set out plans to reduce the effects of air pollution on the lives and well-being of individuals. We propose to partly fund replacement of old inefficient boilers, which have been found to be harmful on many levels as well as contributing to fuel poverty and even death.

The Conservative party manifesto pledges,

page 7: “We will unlock additional external funding and sponsorship for a scheme to replace inefficient old domestic boilers that contribute disproportionately to air pollution. We will accelerate the review of heating systems in Council owned buildings owned.”:

 

Many people will argue that since their boiler is “working” there is no reason to change it. The fuel companies have not convinced households that there is money to be saved as well. After all, the saving of the environment, of cost to the public services and the individual’s health are not something that the fuel companies are known to campaign for. The reports are just circulated among environment-conscious politicians, charities like Friends of the Earth and National Energy Action [NEA] and occasionally individual campaigners.

When it comes to saving, a smart meter expert I recently spoke to could not believe how little I pay for my gas consumption per month – my new, efficient boiler actually makes the dwelling warm instead of just burning gas for no use and draining my bank account.

http://www.nea.org.uk/media/news/081117-01/:Charities are today warning that a loss of funding for repairs and replacements of gas heating appliances will badly damage thousands of people’s health, well-being and could even kill.

It appears that the most badly affected are residents of social housings as the Labour Council has not allocated funds for the boiler replacement.

According to the Hounslow report:

Hounslow has 12 of the most deprived areas in London most of which correspond with housing estates managed by Hounslow Homes. “We know that we need to improve the standards of repairs, improvement and major works contracts that are managed by Hounslow Homes and ensure these are effectively delivered and to a quality standard.”. They know but we have not seen any proposal to tackle this or indeed any boiler replacement scheme for social housing in place.

 

Peter Smith, Director of Policy and Research at National Energy Action (NEA) as per charity web site comments:

“Our latest research shows that Gas Safe engineers, local authorities, charities and other local agencies are coming into daily contact with households who have had older, inefficient unsafe gas appliance condemned but one in ten households can’t afford to fix or replace them. This leaves thousands of people with existing medical conditions facing a winter without any effective space heating or hot water. This is bound to have very negative consequences; causing needless deaths and acute suffering. There is now no Government support to repair or replace these heating appliances and current energy supplier-led schemes are not addressing these issues which have increased significantly in recent months. This situation is also scheduled to become more severe in the near future, as engineers visit millions of homes and will have to turn off any unsafe gas appliances as part of the GB-wide smart meter roll-out. Whilst it is welcome that qualified engineers condemn gas appliances that need to be repaired or replaced, one risk to health and safety can be replaced by another.”

 

 

New builds:

There is demand for more affordable homes and this is the policy Conservative party supports however Labour Council and indeed no London council has a policy of building the energy efficient low greenhouse emission dwelling.

The issue was outlined in the report Warmer & Greener published by Westminster Sustainable Business Forum

“Buildings accounted for 37 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2013

and 34 per cent in 2014.9 Around two-thirds of building emissions come from residential buildings and the UK’s housing stock is one of the least energy efficient in Europe.10 By 2050 the emissions footprint of all buildings in the UK will need to be almost zero.11 Improving the efficiency of domestic properties could provide some of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.12 Energy efficiency improvements in domestic buildings are therefore an integral part of the climate change mitigation scenarios set out by the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental”

 

 

National Planning Policy Framework (2012) Paragraph 124 identifies that: “planning policies should sustain compliance with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives for pollutants,

Guidelines for affordable housing so it is environmentally friendly, minimises construction waste/ water consumption and promotes energy efficiency. (Require major publicly-financed construction projects to comply with standard)

Further there is a need to introduce a new decent homes standard with a greater focus on energy efficiency to drive consistent improvement across the social housing sector.”

Conservative manifest pledges introduction of standards for newly built homes with focus on energy efficient page 8 “Insist that new developments meet the highest environmental standards” to drive consistent improvement in social housing sector and prevent homes being constructed that will have to be retrofitted at a later date.

 

Schools:

Conservative party Fully support our schools and young people and believes that we need to make changes now for current generations and not just follow the phrase “for future generation”

However we leave it up to schools to lead the way, stating page 7 of the manifesto: “All but one of the Borough’s secondary schools are now to all intents and purposes independent of the Council’s education service e.g. academies. Labour has resisted these developments clinging on to dogma abandoned by most, even in their own Party, in the last century.”

It was heartening to see Oak Hill Academy investing into solar panels which no doubt reduces the energy cost. May we hope that other school will follow the example.

Fuel poverty:

“There are approximately 4.5 million fuel poor households in the UK.

Discussing environmental issues and energy efficiency we cannot ignore fuel poverty. Fuel poverty is closely linked to health issues, poor performance of children in schools costing NHS. This is what the experts stated:

“By increasing the warmth and comfort of homes, energy efficiency improvements can enhance the health and wellbeing of their occupants and thereby lower social care costs and lessen the burden on the NHS.26 Many health conditions are caused or exacerbated by cold homes and this can be a particularly acute problem for older and disabled people.27”

 

“Children and young people living in cold homes are more likely to suffer from respiratory and mental health problems. Cold homes also have an adverse effect on the educational attainment of young people and increase the risk of social isolation.28 Overall, cold housing costs the NHS in England an estimated £1.36 billion per annum and contributes to the ‘excess winter deaths’

which take place every year in the UK.29 It is estimated that 43,900 ‘excess winter deaths’ occurred in England and Wales in the 2014 to 2015 period.30”

 

Conclusion

We will end with the Forum’s conclusion:

““Increasing the energy efficiency of domestic buildings is absolutely essential for the UK to tackle fuel poverty and meet its commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050, relative to 1990 levels.1 Achieving significant improvements in the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock has the potential to contribute substantially to the three challenges which make up the energy trilemma. This would not only help to decarbonise the energy system but also help to ensure security of energy supply and that energy is affordable.2 Making improvements in this area could dramatically enhance peoples’ health and wellbeing, prolonging lives and reducing the burden on the National Health Service (NHS). Additionally, achieving widespread improvements in the efficiency of domestic buildings promises to unlock substantial economic benefits including creating jobs, boosting economic growth and increasing the ability of individuals to contribute to society.”

”

The Conservative Party is doing its bit. Vote Conservative for a #BetterHounslow.

I decided to write the second blog about the role of inner peace following onto the first one about anxiety.

The role of peace was acknowledged by the resurrected Christ who came among disciples who were sitting in the room with doors closed in fear of the crowd outside John 20 19-31 “Jesus came and stood among them and said: ‘Peace be with you.’” Christianity recognises the role of peace in the Christian’s life and is no coincidence that after the Eucharistic prayer we pray Rite of peace in remembrance of the Lord’s prayer to the Apostles “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” offering Peace to fellow congregation member at the end.

Victims of domestic violence, anti-social behaviour or any other crime even burglary are in need of the inner peace. Victims of crime get traumatised by the traumatic events which play on the mind of the victim spinning like a disc out of control on the faulty CD player.

Sadly it is still the case that 2 women each week get murdered in domestic violence. The situation is hopefully going to change slowly but surely with new legislations introduced by the government that takes these issues more seriously.

According to Women’s Aid web site: “ On average the police receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour.[6]”

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/how-common-is-domestic-abuse/

 

The legislation is also looking at how to help the perpetrator. I have witnessed an incident of a domestic violence (controlling aggressive behaviour) by the senior Scotland Yard officer who was involved in the 7/7 bombing aftermath. There is a school of thought that those who deal with distressing situations not necessarily victims themselves also suffer trauma. Perhaps the behaviour of this officer may well be result of his own anxiety. The experts in this area are saying that no-one is spared from this kind of affect.

https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/domestic-abuse/domestic-abuse-perpetrator-programme/

“The Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) aims to help people who have been abusive towards their partners or ex-partners to change their behaviour and develop respectful, non-abusive relationships.”

 

I am not quite sure if the local police is quite up to the speed on this issue. During the Feltham Forum they were asked for the number of dv reports but they had no figures ready at the Forum.

 

There may be other issues such as anti-social behaviour that the police may not quite understand. I still remember the officer sitting on my sofa telling me that when he was young he and some kids used to harass this old man. He thought I was too sensitive. In law sensitivity of the victim is not a defence. The law graduates are thought of the Egg shell rule which states take them as you find them.

 

I regularly read at the mass at St Lawrence’s Church. We recognise that peace is also required after death as we pray with the congregation “May they rest in peace” during the bidding pray.

I listened with an interest the sermon given by Cardinal Vincent during the pilgrim to Walsingham. I was delighted that he has written me a statement of his recollection when he visited the concentration camp in Germany after I recently emailed him:

‘Another occasion when Our Blessed Lady was close to me came on a journey home from a holiday. I was passing through Munich and saw the signs for Dachau. I went to visit the site of the concentration camp.

It is a visit I can never forget. The exhibition, the reconstructed huts, the concentrated space of the camp; the images of the suffering of those who were held, tortured and died there: all left indelible impressions on my mind. I was shocked into a deep silence.

I walked the length of the camp. At the far end was a chapel, with reminders of the astonishing ordination to the priesthood that actually took place in the camp. I went into the chapel and sat down, still in the stunned silence.

Slowly I regained some capacity to pray. But it was a long time. And then, the only prayer that came to my lips was the Rosary. Slowly I prayed. The repetition of the words, the sense of prayer that they evoke, began to restore a sense of stillness within me. I prayed for all those who had been caught up in the horrors of that place. It was Mary, as our mother, who slowly lifted me up.’

 

Peace be with you.

if affected by Domestic Violence please see or call the

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/

24hr freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge) is available on 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day,

 

When I first read the underactive thyroid among others may causes anxiety and panic attack I was baffled. I now understand why. The thyroid regulates the speed the body organs work and if thyroid is underactive the body organs are slowed down and the suffer experience excessive tiredness that cannot be eliminated by coffee.

This means that it also slows down breathing and the transport of oxygen across the body.

The heart beats are also erratic causing the breathing to slow down. This means that the organs of the body including brain do not get enough oxygen. Consequently brain goes into panic hence panic attacks. This is how some sufferers describe it as a feeling they will die. In fact this is not just an illogical feeling. This is in affect how you die.

 

The issue is underlying fear

Panic attack creates a feeling I suppose similar to for example fear of rats. Just like if you fear rats you would escape the rats. The same way person who suffer panic attacks and anxiety would flee the situation. Otherwise the brain is so pre-occupied with the idea of fleeing and fear that other processes and thoughts come secondary.

 

Role of circulation:

I cannot help thinking that people who have in general bad blood circulation have more chances to develop anxiety due to low or insufficient oxygenation.

I also think that people with bad circulation are also prone to other physical problems such as dermatitis. I find it helpful having a bath and getting my blood in my legs going. Which perhaps explains why one feels refreshed after a bath.

Circulation play significant role not just in anxiety but in obesity. Some chefs are focusing on sugar, which is fine but the problem is if you get your “engine going” you will most likely burn sugar and be less fat. This is something I find grossly underestimated. Overweight is not always reciprocal to the amount of food intake. This is what people in particular women of my generation and those older experience. In particular if they have underactive thyroid which is not uncommon in mature women.

 

Stress:

Stress and anxiety are so closely linked. As a consequence of stress your breathing is not regular. Those knots and butterflies in the stomach. As a consequence body and in particular brain are not fully and appropriately oxygenated causing anxiety but also other physical problems. There has been research around for long time now linking illnesses to stress.

 

Imagine an experiment: place a lovely house plant under a glass bell for durations of time restricting the oxygen supply. It is going to die, so why should be different with human body.

Law care

My theory is supported in the factsheet by the Law care which said that stress leads to anxiety. The reason this is the case because with stress you get that feeling that your breath stops in your stomach. Anxiety and panic attacks are developed due to continuous exposure to stress where by your brain does not get sufficient oxygen.

 

Stranded whales:

The scientists think they understand why whales get stranded on the land. Due to fear their heart beating becomes fast and irregular causing insufficient supply of oxygen to brain causing brain to get confused. Similar reaction happens in humans as described above.

 

 

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol, sugar level and carbs content in alcohol, trigger anxiety after the initial point of feeling mellow after a single drink. This is why the alcohol is considered to trigger anxiety if consumed in large quantities, in my opinion.

I still think a glass of wine is a good anxiety buster, but not one too many.

Environment:

Hot temperatures cause death. People with breathing problems and anxiety find it difficult to breath when temperatures are high due to pollution and other factors. According to the article: death of 760 people in 2013 was attributed to hot weather:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/10187140/Heatwave-deaths-760-lives-claimed-by-hot-weather-as-high-temperatures-continue.html

Whilst the article

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/23/winter-death-rate-falls-in-england-and-wales

stated

 

“An ONS spokeswoman said: “Trends in provisional temperature data from this period show that there were higher than average temperatures around 19 July 2016, which may explain the peak in mortality at this time.””

We do not have statement for 2017 when the temperatures were even higher and presumably casing even more premature deaths.

It is therefore wrong to presume that the global warming and rise in temperature will bring joy of sun and good weather.

 

To elevate:

To elevate the panic attack you need to focus your thoughts on slowing down the breathing and stop thinking and stop focusing on the event or thought in your mind that makes you panic. This is simple but in reality it is so difficult because the anxiety is often linked with other mental health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder etc. Not to mention that far too often sufferers are stuffed with medication as physicians are told to prescribe it since the big pharmaceutical company wants to get even bigger and wealthier. Of course there are medications that are helpful but in the mental health area there are far too many that are not only unhelpful but harmful to the patients. Whilst at the same time doctors are not keen to refer patients to the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that is essential for their recovery and instead get the patient on a road of dependency on psychotic drugs till their end. Some mental health sufferers prefer going to the drug dealers and take illegal drugs that does even more harm and even death to them, instead of going to the GP. Unless the issues of how people with mental health are diagnosed and treated by the NHS is resolved I cannot see how would public trust GP’s that they have their best interest at heart when it comes to mental health.

 

Exercise:

Yoga:

I think that yoga is good accompanying exercise to people with anxiety as it improves circulation and slows the effect of stress balancing the breathing. In other words regulating breathing so that you don’t get that knot in your stomach

 

Take a deep breath:

I was readying an article and advice from Duchess of Cornwell. The good lady that nurtured Prince Charles and perhaps her age and experience might count for something. She mentioned importance to take a deep breath during the day. Why?

This is going back to oxygenating body especially if cells don’t receive enough oxygen. Taking deep breaths I find help as it oxygenate brain and slows down those fast but low breath intakes.

She also practices yoga. Again it is important for cells oxygenation, as above

Coffee

One might think that by not drinking coffee it would reduce pulsation and stop anxiety but this is not the case.

To the contrary drinking coffee reduces depression but also anxiety. This is because it stimulate the work of body organ and improves breathing. I think it is about fine tuning and individual to each person how much coffee is helpful for them.

Some people get more anxious in the evening when tired due to slow and tired oxygenation.

 

Couple of days ago we ran out of coffee in the morning in the office. NOOOOOOO, We had tea instead 🙂 until the supply came later in the day. There is hope. There is always a hope.

 

I just hope that institutions, employers and individuals would pay more attention to these issues and effect it has on individual.

In a nutshell you simply need to get the engine going. And don’t forget to BREATH