Changing Meters…..From ‘Wild Justice’….
by Bernie Bell - 09:27 on 29 January 2025
Changing Meters…..
As my readers will be aware, there’s a nationwide roll-out of new ‘lecci meters being installed.
To be honest, I don’t understand why the signal which is due to stop …is due to stop, which is why we all need new meters, but there’s ‘nowt we can do about it, so we went ahead with a meter replacement.
We’re with OVO energy (other suppliers are available) who have been most excellent throughout the process.
They contacted us about making an appointment at a time to suit us. The appointment was made – sometime between 8 and 12 on a certain day, in plenty of time before switch-off/switch-over time.
Having let us know he was on his way, a young man arrived, turned the ‘lecci off, installed the meter with no fuss or bother, explained everything we needed to know and answered our questions, all in a friendly, pleasant and efficient manner.
He then waited a bit to check that the new meter was running OK and that…was that.
He left us with a plug-in gizmo which shows exactly how much ‘lecci we’re using and what it’s costing. Twenty-four hours later, we un-plugged it. We only use the ’lecci we need, and are careful about switching things off when not in use etc., so we don’t see how we can use less, and having a little machine in the corner giving us a running commentary, just made us fidget about it.Our choice, some folk will like to know exactly where they are with their ‘lecci consumption but as far as we’re concerned – the less gizmos in our life, the better!
Mike and I were discussing how changing meters must be a good job for anyone with an interest in their fellow humans – all those houses, all those ways of living. So we put together a version of George Formby’s …. ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’…..
When I’m Changin’ Meters
Now I go changin’ meters
To earn an honest bob
For a nosy parker
It's an interesting' job
It’s a job that just suits me
A meter changer you would be
If you can see what I can see
When I'm changin’ meters
Honey moonin’ couples too
You should see them bill ‘n coo
You'd be surprised at things they do
When I'm changin’ meters
I know a fella, such a swell
He has a thirst, that’s plain to tell
I’ve seen him drink his bath as well
When I’m changin’ meters
There’s a famous Reality queen
She looks a beauty on the screen
She's more like eighty than eighteen
When I’m changing’ meters
Young persons might be asking……. ‘Who is George Formby?’. Heeeere’s George….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Formby
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From ‘Wild Justice’…..
"In the last few days our petition - click here - to ban driven grouse shooting has passed 50,000 signatures and now stands a little below 52,000 signatures. Thank you! There are just under four more months to go until the petition closes on 22 May.
Today's newsletter introduces you to some of the facts about raptor persecution - the crime that underpins the hobby of driven grouse shooting. We've produced blogs on Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and Hen Harriers which spell out the scale of the killing. The grouse shooting industry is out of control and it's had plenty of chances to reform but has failed miserably.
Each of today's new blogs documents population impacts at a landscape scale in areas where grouse moors predominate. Go to the grouse moors of eastern Scotland and you will find few Golden Eagles, few Hen Harriers and few Peregrine Falcons, and all three species have low breeding success on grouse moors. The same is true in northern England too (where Golden Eagles are absent).
And these three species are simply the best studied - a range of other raptors, mammals and other birds are illegally killed on grouse moors. We'll be bringing you examples of the horrific crimes against wildlife carried out on grouse moors as our campaign builds.
See what you think by reading our blogs on Golden Eagles - click here, Peregrine Falcons - click here, and Hen Harriers - click here.
Here, as a reminder, are four blogs we posted last week.
What driven grouse shooting is - and why we want it banned: read this blog for a simple introduction to the issues - click here.
Our petition is flying: last week's standing of constituencies across the UK and how many signatures they have provided - click here. We'll update this blog every now and again but as of today it's almost a week out of date!
Why doesn't the RSPB actively support this petition?: thank you to all who have contacted the RSPB and told us what they said to you. We're in discussion with the RSPB and it's best that they explain their position to you, particularly if you are an RSPB member. The RSPB has produced an excellent video explaining the range of problems with driven grouse shooting - they think it makes the case for licensing, we think it makes the case for a ban of this industry which is 'out of control' - watch the video and find out how to contact the RSPB on this subject - click here. We'll come back to this subject later.
The initial government response to our petition: the initial Westminster government response to our petition was disrespectful to the 47,000 people who had signed our petition (now over 51,000) and looks very much like the responses from Conservative governments in the past decade or more. Wild Justice wrote to the Petitions Committee pointing out a gross error and asking the Committee to require Defra to correct it. Read our letter - click here. We've now had a response saying that the Committee will investigate this matter - we'll let you know what happens.
Of course, the best response to the government is to get this petition over the line of 100,000 signatures and ensure a parliamentary debate on this subject.
You can expect regular updates through this newsletter on how our petition is going, but it's not the only thing we are doing so we'll update you on a number of legal cases when we have more to say.
That’s it for now! We won't get to 100,000 signatures without your support so please spread the word.
Thank you.
Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).
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