31/10/2011 by admin.

The human population is estimated to have reached 7 billion worldwide. In acknowledgement there were ’celebratory events’ in India and China to mark the birth of the 7th billion person living on Earth right now.

The number of people on the planet has more than doubled over the last 50 years with a further 1 billion people alive now compared to the start of this millenium. It’s a startlingly sharp increase and has provoked some renewed discussion on how many people the planet can sustain.  We all require shelter, food, water and clothing and have aspirations on health care, education and access to material goods and experiences. We are also living longer and advances in health care and technology suggest this trend will continue. Trouble is the more of us there are the more we make demands on the worlds resources and squeeze and exploit the natural world for farming, materials and land for property.

In the modern world more people equals more cars, more CO2, more energy requirements, more desire for goods, more waste and pollution, but more profits for the world’s multi-national companies. There’s also the laudable aim of improving the life of those in developing countries.  Politicians, relegious and other world leaders tinker with the population issue, but the reality is our numbers are out of control and the consequences are stark and worthy of any Halloween horror story.  Climate change will exascerbate the problem of too many people increasing, social unrest, famine, disease, poverty and war. All this whilst the natural world shrinks ever more with bio-diversity seriously threatened and mass extinctions.  

We can’t just leave this to ‘market forces’. World leaders need to grasp the nettle on this issue and fast before we fall fail to the lessons of Easter Island or before Mother Nature strikes back. We know it won’t be easy as its in our genes to want to reproduce and children bring so much joy and every child deserves happiness, health, safety and a successful life. Also, historically the more children we have the greater their chances of achieving maturity.  There are religious and human rights issues to consider too. But ‘business as usual’ on population growth risks an abyss for humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuIxDMj3DNA&feature=related

Posted in Q69 Do you put off to tomorrow what you could do today?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q51a How many people does it take to fill up the Earth?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

30/10/2011 by admin.

Our 26 October ‘Ides of March’ post anticipated Mother Nature would put on a show to the developed world as a wake up call.  

Well, surprise surprise. Just days after North-Eastern Americans were basking in an Indian Summer, temperatures plummeted 40 degrees as heavy snowfall swept in. New York City and the East Coast were hit with snowfall before Halloween for the first time since records began.

Parts of the North East received more than two feet of snow as records for October tumbled.  This is climate chaos in action. Warmer global temperatures is bringing more extreme weather events.

Take Thailand the ‘Land of the Smiling Faces’ is experiencing prolonged flooding after heavy monsoon rains in July. Much of the country is underwater with many thousands of people displaced with the threat of insect-borne disease. 

It’s a humanitarian crisis, possibly forewarned by the recent celestial vision in the Eastern hemisphere.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q14 Do you believe your stars?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | 1 Comment »

29/10/2011 by admin.

This year’s X Factor talent contest apears cursed. 

The calamaties have come thick and fast:

• Claims by contestants that the X-Factor mansion is haunted.
• Goldie, one of the final 16 contestants, pulled out prior to the first show and had to be replaced by Sami Brooks
• In a sing-off, Sami’s mentor Louis Walsh decided to keep Kitty and Sami should leave the show. Sami then suggested Louis should be pensioned off!
• Complaints from viewers about the unreasonable number of adverts between performances
• Ratings have crashed - 2 million less than in 2010 
• Accusations and rumours of bulling amongst some contestants
• The girls’ band Rythmics had to change their name because it clashed with a children’s charity - they’re now called Little Mix
• Due to his faith Ashley Baptiste, member of The Risk, decided being in a boy band wasn’t for him and choose to leave the show. He’s been replaced by Ashford Campbell one of the members of NuVibe, with some arguing about the legality of this as NuVibe were voted off a couple of weeks ago.  
• The ‘Hex’ has even spread to the judging panel - with arguments breaking out with Kelly Rowland missing this weekend’s show due a ‘throat infection.’

Perhaps the Hex Factor is because humanity is falling to demonstrate to the Earth’s creator that we have what it takes to be its guardian. Our novel anticipated this - see the free opening sequel. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YPdeFknh34

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

26/10/2011 by admin.

Friday 28 October is the UK cinema release date of ‘The Ides of March’ movie.

It’s a political drama thriller directed by George Clooney.  It seems to be an interesting story based on the Kennedy’s about politics leading to a loss of integrity with everyone involved, no matter how noble to beging with, compromising their morals to stay ahead in life. In many ways this sums up how humanity as a whole approaches the sustainable living agenda.

Is that why in our novel Malachi (The Messenger) warns us to beware The Ides of March or has Mother Nature something sinister planned for this Friday? Is it Time? We’re not ones to make predictions here or stick our neck out for fear of ridicule but let’s see.

Here’s the movie trailer..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McCt-_yYLpo

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

25/10/2011 by admin.

We have another example of a rare albino, this time it’s a wombat from Ceduna, Australia. 

The endearing animal is being nursed back to health after being found alone and unwell. The wombat, named Polar, was found close to death dehydrated and exhausted by shearers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZoo6rkxqJI

The name Ceduna is a corruption of the local Aboriginal word Chedonna and is said to mean ’sit down and rest’ which is what Ben Whittenbury did when the idea of The Haymakers Survey came to him.

We’ve done some thinking of our own. In urban slang the definition of WOMBAT is Waste Of Money, Brains And Time. Is this aimed at us given our wait in vain for the world’s media to take any notice of this project? Alternatively it might be aimed at humanity in general as we waste our talents in pursuit of largely selfish pursuits whilst the planet’s resources get swallowed up. Lest us forget that in Charles Lamb’s journal he reports how Mother Nature highlights the significance of albino in illustrating the value of diversity on planet Earth.  Maybe this gives you a whole new way of looking at the day?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q63 Do you like the way you look?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

22/10/2011 by admin.

In 1484, a scurrilous note was pinned to the door of St Paul’s Cathedral. It read quite simply, “The Catte, the Rattee and Lovell our dogge rulyth all Englande under a hogge.”  The brief, cryptic, satarical poem lampooned some of the highest born in the land, including Richard III who feared the poem would be used as proganda to lead a rebellion. 

In our novel Malachi warns us of the significance of the poem, perhaps directed at the inept way in which leaders across the globe are able to adopt a truely sustainable approach to living - being weighed down instead by economic crisis and war in the Middle East. 

Its fascinating then that an Occupy camp has set up outside of St Paul’s Cathedral. The group, Occupy London Stock Exchange, are protesting about the way financial institutions have mismanaged affairs in recent years.  Their presence has led to the cathedral being closed to visitors for the first time since the end of the Second World War.  The decision was taken for health and safety reasons. 

A spokesperson for the group, who gave her name as Lucy, said, “It was felt by everyone that we really wanted to stay and continue with the protest. This protest is massive, it affects everybody, everyone’s watching at home right now. It’s not just about a few people who have got some tents in St Paul’s, it’s not a stunt, it’s not a spectacle.”

Remember readers - in Charles Lamb’s Journal, Lucy’s the name of Mother Nature. Perhaps there’s a deeper spiritual message to all of this - that we should turn away from greed, money and possessions and live to saviour the beauty of the Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0qQyW0W0Rw

Posted in Q62 Have you ever helped the poor?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

14/10/2011 by admin.

The fabulously talented Lady GaGa has appeared on the Jonathan Ross show with a sheep. She turned up with Kevin the Ram and took a seat on a sofa made of bales of hay. The pop artist wore a jade suit for her chat with Wossy - an outfit that has an uncanny resemblance to that worn by Mother Nature in The Haymakers Survey. The pastoral set was inspired by scenes from the video promoting her latest single “You and I”.

Our diarist Charles Lamb would be delighted by the sheep connection and the haybales speak for themselves. It really is about “You and I” as each and every one of us has a clear responsibility to care for our planet, rather than behave like sheep. We’d be GaGa not too.  This is the clip from the show…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw9vkW4YevM

And here’s the brilliant video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9YMU0WeBwU

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

14/10/2011 by admin.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has resigned as Defence Secretary in the British government after feeling the heat of revelations about his working relationship with friend a political adviser Adam Werrity.  Mr Fox had been pursued for days by baying hounds in the form of journalists. 

Not for us to dwell on Mr Foxes behaviour but you may ask, ‘What does this have to do with The Haymakers Survey’? Well, Charles Lamb’s journal reveals how the Duke of Wellington forewarns that a fox hunt will serve as a ‘wake up call’ to defend the majestic of the natural world. We have been warned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2igjYFojUo

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

13/10/2011 by admin.

David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye has announced his retirement from professional boxing. The former heavyweight and cruiserweight champion has decided to call it quits on his 31st birthday.  We’ve featured his brilliant successes on this Watch and are really sad to see him go. Bill Richmond, the uncrowned ‘Haymaker’ boxer to feature in Charles Lamb’s journal would have been so proud of your achievements. We also respect his decision to leave when still in perfect physical and mental health. He had always planned to go on his 31st birthday. A great time keeper as well as a brilliant boxer.

The boxer’s authorised biography, ‘Making Haye’ will be published on 27 October. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO8tfsVy-mY

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q72 Are you a good time keeper?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

10/10/2011 by admin.

Big Ben, the most iconic and famous clock tower in the world, is falling down. It has begun to tilt to one side - just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Surveyers have found the tower is leaning almost half a metre to one side, as it is sinking into the River Thames.  The tilt might now just be visible to the naked eye.

However, our very own Keeper of the Great Clock - Ben Whittenbury - needn’t worry as the decline is thankfully a slow one. Nonetheless it’s a reminder to us all that time may be slipping away to preserve the natural world.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaXw5tweb48&feature=related

Posted in Q72 Are you a good time keeper?, Q69 Do you put off to tomorrow what you could do today?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »