12/01/2012 by admin.

The high street bookshop Waterstone’s has decided to drop the apostrophe from its online presence - a move designed to bring more vesatile and practical for the modern digital age.

The decision has not been without its critics with the Chairman of the Apostrophe Society calling the decision, ‘plain wrong’. Others have tweeted voicing their disquiet.

None of this surprises us since we had a huge debate about the appropriateness or otherwise of an apostrophe in ‘The Haymakers Survey’. The point is to illustrate how modern society is too focused on detail and triviality and has lost perspective and a sense of proportion on a whole range of issues.

Maybe the distractions are deliberate - to take our minds away from the bigger picture - maintain the status quo and defer action needed to protect the natural world and bring about a more just world.

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q62a Is life logical?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q17 Can you speak another language? | No Comments »

12/12/2011 by admin.

Our Haymaker Caleb Hitch asked us to report that in Vancouver, Canada a cheeky black bear surprised everyone by hitching a ride on a rubbish truck in the centre of the coastal seaport city.  The British Columbian Conservation Officer Service suspect the bear climbed aboard in North Vancouver.  The bear was tranquilisedand caught in tarpaulin before being returned to a rural area.

The bear took the ride in Downtown Vancouver, close to Point Grey - one of Canada’s most affluent areas. Point Grey is also home to a diverse and ecologically appreciative populace.  Maybe Fanny Ebbs - the distraught Lady in Grey in our novel - would have something to say about the bear’s actions.  She symbolises the impact of the industrial revolution on the natural world. Maybe the bear was making the point that we’re throwing nature in the rubbish?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9EMWQGeWmc&feature=related

Hardly a teddy bear’s picnic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuNf70eV6sY

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?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q17 Can you speak another language? | No Comments »

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 »

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 »

03/02/2011 by admin.

Mother Nature is benevolent and kind at heart - she loves the human race. We are the controlling species on planet Earth tasked with the responsibility to live sustainably and respect wildlife and the environment. The cyclone we reported yesterday provides a perfect example. Amid the fury of the storm an English midwife from Hertfordshire on holiday in Australia celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary delivered a baby at an evacuation centre in Cairns. The infant’s mother has chosen to name the child Lucie - the name of Mother Nature personified in The Haymakers Survey.  The new arrival coincided with the storm’s path avoiding the most populated areas of the continent.

But this kindness comes at a time when the evidence is mounting up that humanity is on the verge of a global crisis. Take these examples:

• Globally 2010 was the warmest year on record, arguably due in the main to human related activity.
• 2010 saw the Amazon experience a severe drought (worse than that in 2005, which was described then as a once in a century event). Scientists suggest this is further evidence of the Amazon’s vulnerability to rising global temperatures.
• Experts say we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every day due to rainforest deforestation
• If current trends continue 40% of the Amazon rainforest will be lost to soy production and palm oil by 2050 
• Extreme weather conditions in Russia, Australia, USA, and Malaysia are having a major impact on key food production and availability driving up prices worldwide and triggering civil discontent in the middle East.  
• Whilst an astonishing One in Ten adults on Earth are officially obese as more countries adopt Western lifestyles - levels double what they were 30 years ago.  As people in the UK eat 3.5 times more meat than that recommended by the World Health Organisation, contributing to cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
• All this as globally meat production is set to double from 2001 to 2050.
• Yet in the UK, for example, 8.3 millions tons of food is thrown away by households every year.
• And about 1.5 tons of rubbish is thrown away by an average UK family - that’s like throwing half an elephant into a landfill.
• Little wonder then that a UN report out today warns that the world’s population growth must slow significantly to avoid reaching unsustainable levels, which means fertility must fall below replacement level.  Numbers are expected to reach 7 billion later this year and 14 billion by 2,100.
• More people to do more consuming - in its State of the World 2010 report the Worldwatch Institute found the world consumed $350 trillion goods and services in a year - up by nearly 30% on the previous decade.  The world now digs up the equivalent of 112 Empire State buildings in materials every day.  The average American consumes about 144 pounds of goods every day, more than the average weight of a US male. The Institute warns that without a shift from consumerism to sustainablity humanity will face hazardous environmental and climate risks.

This isn’t us being pessimistic or doom mongers - these are facts, not signs. We can’t go on like this - like a plague of locusts devouring all before us.  Someone needs to stand up and say, “Enough”. Time for International Rescue…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K9rVRuehGU

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q51a How many people does it take to fill up the Earth?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

06/08/2010 by admin.

We have to get serious I’m afraid.

Amid a record heatwave Moscow is experiencing a blanket of thick smog caused by the worst wildfires in modern history. As the fires burn in peat bogs and forests dense plumes of smoke some 3,000km long can be seen from space. As temperatures remain above 100F the haze and smoke are causing serious health problems. People have resorted to wearing masks to protect themselves. The fires continue to burn across central Russia. The level of C02 in Moscow is more than three times higher than normal.  Red Square is at the heart of Moscow. 

Red is associated with alarm - is this Nature’s way of telling us to STOP!  Well, in our novel (pages 135-137) Julia describes at length her experience under the day of the long and lingering fog. It introduced her to a young Malachi - the messenger - for the very first time. Is this the prelude to climate chaos on an ever increasing scale? Remember too that the Samoyed is native to Russia.

It’s also worth linking this to the curious halo cloud seen over Moscow a few months ago. http://watch.thehaymakerssurvey.com/?s=moscow 

What’s also remarkable is that on page 137 Malachi warns us twice… “I spy with my little eye something beginning with M”  Check out the book or the online version if you doubt us.

Posted in Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

05/12/2009 by admin.

Some 40,000 people gathered in London today to send a message to world leaders gathering in Copenhagen about the need for action on climate change.  Replicating his presence at a similar event recorded in our novel, Ben Whittenbury joined them in his polar bear outfit.  Ben, Julia and Sarah enjoyed taking part in the ‘blue human wave’.  Sarah loved the open top bus and the many blue ribbon’s waved truimphantly from it. All in all a happy event with a serious message.

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

Perhaps the organisers, and the PM Gordon Brown, were inspired by our novel - and page 183 in particular! Go take a look it includes the vision of the ‘wave’ symbolising predicted sea level rises and the blue ribbon which features to illustrate our fragile world - just ask Dr Mark Penning, President of WAZA for confirmation on how perilous things are!  

Remember people -we’re not one to gloat but we did after all receive the coverted ‘Blue Ribbon Award’ for our efforts.  Finally, page 183 also includes a reference to the ‘Flat Earth Society’ to illustrate how people often only grasp the truth when there’s tangible visible and physical evidence! Trouble is we’re at the point of no return! Its all a matter of faith. Bring on the magic fairy dust?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSIvZXuoj2s

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

30/11/2009 by admin.

Heavy rain and winds have felled the House of Commons Christmas tree from its perch under Big Ben.  The 50ft tree was dislodged yesterday but contractors failed to get it back up and were scrambling to do so today. The tree is traditionally donated by the Forestry Commission from a sustainable forest. A Commons spokeswoman said: “The tree has been dislodged only once whilst it was in the process of being erected. Heavy wind and rain is thought to be the main cause. There is no risk to the public.”

Curious that this should happen outside Parliament and beneath Big Ben, given the importance of the evergreen Tree of Life named Yggdrasil in our tale. Our readers will know that the tree is also dubbed ‘The Goblin Tree’ because despite its benevolent nature the tree actually hosts our darkest fears.  In our story Lucy Ebbs warns that should it tumble then life is becoming out of balance with potential serious adverse consequences. Mmmn… but its only a tale.

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q67 Have you ever decorated a tree?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

14/11/2009 by admin.

In an exclusive poll for The Times only 41% of the population believe that human activity is responsible for climate change.  The survey makes for uncomfortable reading in the run up to COP 15.  Almost 33% are yet to be convinced by the science, 8% claim its just propoganda and 55 say the world isn’t warming.  One expect suggested that because of the potential consequences - green taxes, lifestyle changes, wind farms etc -people are taking refuge in denial. 

In response to the survey, Ed Miliband the Energy and Climate Change Secretary said, “The overwhelming body of scientific evidence shows us that climate change is man-made and is happening now. We know we still have a way to go in informing people about the threat and that is why we’re pushing our Act on CO2 campaign”.

The poll’s findings come as no surprise to us. We believe there’s a limit to what can be done through conventional means to demonstrate to people the genuine nature of the threat and the role played by humans. It’s why we have taken a very different path - one based on faith and the believe that we are being guided by a higher force - left signs of the need to act not just on carbon emissions but on our relationship with the Earth! This remains our steadyfast belief and is the purpose of the Watch.

We foresaw this and imagine this resistance will continue. It’s why our novel includes a sceptical voice - Bill Darvill - and includes commentary by Ben Whittenbury about human behaviour being ostrich like about the issues - we put our head in the sand!

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q46 Do you value a good education? | No Comments »

09/11/2009 by admin.

Our readers may recall several mentions in our story to ‘five minutes to twelve’ and the significance of the albatross as a symbolic reminder of hope in a time of environmental challenges.  The 5 to 12 references highlight the Doomsday Clock being moved forward in 2007 by two minutes from 7 to 12 because of the threat posed by climate change.  The clock measures the degree of nuclear, environmental and technological threats to mankind. The closer to midnight the closer to a global disaster.

With all this in mind we have another timely reminder on the need for action as the world awaits the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December. Put bluntly, Dr Cleo Small, an albatross expert speaking on behalf of the RSPB and Birdlife International has warned that an albatross is killed every FIVE minutes by the fishing industry.  The number of albatrosses on South Georgia has slumped by 50% since the 1960s due to fishing habits yet simple solutions are at hand which reduce the risks of the birds becoming tangled in nets. 

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q72 Are you a good time keeper?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »