Charles Flynn

This meeting should be excellent in explaining our dependence on fossil fuels and the role of Peak Oil - don't know what this is? Here is the opportunity to find out about it and the Transition Island project which looks like it is going great guns! Positie Action Group PRESS RELEASE ISSUE DATE: 28th March 2008 PAG Public Meeting - Monday 31st March 2008 “ ENERGY ISLAND – ISLAND ENERGY ” Isle of Man’s dependency on fossil fuel will be put under the spotlight on Monday 31st March 2008 in a presentation to be given to Positive Action Group (PAG) by former DoLGe Minister, John Rimington. Almost all our Island’s energy requirement is generated from Oil or Gas. This could leave us extremely vulnerable to any break in the supply of either fuel. Mr. Rimington has analysed our future energy requirements together with a study of the possible downturn in oil production through depletion of reserves in the near future – the ‘peak oil’ factor. Importing our energy makes IoM far more vulnerable to international price fluctuations and to unforeseen events in other parts of the world, over which we have no control. Chair of Positive Action Group, Roger Tomlinson, said: “If we continue to ignore our vulnerability to this fossil fuel folly, we endanger our future. Mr. Rimington will provide a much needed reality check for us all. I heard his presentation at the recent Energy Expo. PAG agreed with me that his powerful message should be heard more widely. All members of the public who are interested in learning how to harness use of the Island’s Renewable Energy is welcome to attend the PAG Energy Presentation. So far our government has done very little to reassure us that it is considering an alternative and diversified energy strategy in order to protect us from reliance on imported or fossil fuels. This Island has vast natural resources – Tidal, Wave, Wind, Wood and Biomass Fuels that should be harnessed. In the presentation comparison will be made with another smaller Island community that now manages entirely on self-generated renewable energy. It has acquired the name “Energy Island”. For IoM not to use its own natural resources like Wind for the benefit of the Manx people, is like Venezuela not bothering to extract its country’s Oil resources. Its time for Manx politicians to move this subject to the top of its Agenda for Change” The PAG Meeting starts at 7.30 p.m. at the Claremont Hotel, Douglas on Monday 31st March 2008 Admission is free and all are welcome ENDS Media contact: W Roger Tomlinson www.positiveactiongroup.org Tel: 863106

The Paediatric Medicines Expert Advisory Group and the Commission on Human Medicines have reviewed over-the-counter products used for treating cough and colds in children, and advised that certain medicines should no longer be used in children under the age of two. The following advice has been issued: • Non-prescription cough and cold preparations containing any of the following active substances should not be used in children under 2 years: brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, dextrometorphan, diphenhydramine, ephedrine, guaifenesin, ipecacuanha, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pholcodine, pseudoephedrine and xylometazoline. • Children suffering from a cough or cold should be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower the child’s temperature, and if they have a cough to use a simple cough syrup (e.g. glycerol, honey or lemon). • For young babies, who are having difficulty feeding, nasal saline drops are recommended to help thin and clear nasal secretions. Vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants, which can be applied to a child’s clothing, can also be used to provide relief from a stuffy nose. • For children aged 2 to 6 years, care should be taken to adhere to the maximum daily dose; not to take with other cough and cold medicines; and the advice of a pharmacist or other healthcare professional should be sought if there are any concerns. The pharmaceutical industry has voluntarily agreed to change the labels on products to remove the dosage instructions for children under 2, and to add additional instructions in relation to children aged 2-6 years. All affected products are currently being changed. Products with the updated advice on their packaging, and in the Patient Information Leaflets, will be in pharmacies and stores by October 2008. A leaflet for patients/carers will be available for additional advice. For older children, cough and cold medicines will continue to be available to help treat symptoms. The following products directly targeted at children aged under 2 are to be removed from open shelves but can still be supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist for older children: • Asda Children’s Chesty Cough Syrup • Boots Chesty Cough Syrup 1 Year Plus • Boots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus 1 Year Plus • Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup • CalCough Chesty • Children’s Chesty Cough List of cough medicines to be taken off shelves "The Daily Telegraph" The following products are currently licensed for use by children under two. They are to be taken off shelves and sold to parents (with children aged two or over) with appropriate dosage instructions. Paediatric Cough Relief Boots Night Time Cough Syrup 1 year plus Tixylix Catarrh Syrup Tixycolds Syrup Bronalin Junior Linctus Junior Meltus Night Time Histalix Syrup Dozal Oral Solution Fedril Paediatric Elixir Medised for Children Kafalin Syrup Ransoms Paediatric Diphenhydramine Linctus Line Range Cough Relief For Children Syrup Calcold Calpol Night Benylin Childrens Night Cough Tixylix Cough and Cold Linctus Paediatric Nirolex Childrens Chesty Cough Syrup Tixylix Chesty Cough Linctus Optrex Expectorant Liquid 50mg/5ml Robitussin Chesty Cough Medicine 100mg Jnr Meltus Chesty Cough With Catarrh Altons Junior Cough Mixture Galloway's Cough Expectorant Liqufruta Garlic Cough Medicine Cupal Expectorant Benylin Childrens Chesty Cough Benylin Childrens Coughs and Colds Otrivine Child Nasal Drops Nasal Drops For Children Iliadin Mini Paediatric Children's Dry Cough 1 Year Plus Tixylix Night Cough Tixylix Dry Cough Galen Pholcodine Linctus 5mg Galen Paed Linctus 5mg Rusco Pholcodine Linctus Cough Relief For Children Benylin Childrens Dry Cough Pinewood Pholcodine Linctus Crescent Pholcodine Linctus Pavacol-D Boots Alternatives Children's Cough Relief Glycerin Lemon and Honey With Glucose and Ipecacuanha Glycerin, Lemon and Honey Glycerin, Lemon and Honey and Ipecac Syrup Lemeze Cough Syrup Cherry Cough Mixture Childrens Blackcurrents Cough Syrup Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup Buttercup Syrup Honey and Lemon Bell's Chesty Cough Compound of Glycerin, Lemon and Ipecacuanha Glycerin, Lemon and Honey with Glucose and Ipecacuanha Beehive Balsam Children's Cough Expectorant Anglian Pharma Troublesome Coughs Hill's Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children Glycerin, Lemon, Honey and Ipecacuanha Linctus A range of products will remain on general sale for use in children under 2 years old. These include simple cough medicines containing glycerol, lemon or honey. Single-constituent paracetamol and ibuprofen products are not affected by this advice. According to a BBC news report, a spokeswoman for the MHRA said that this action had been taken as a precautionary measure after it was found that many parents were unwittingly overdosing children, and those aged under two were particularly at risk because of their small size. She added that there had been an increase in "adverse reactions to the products, although this had been more widely observed in the US where improved packaging had since been introduced.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has just issued the following information to pharmacists. For further advice please ask your local pharmacist. Good Practice in the Treatment of Coughs and Colds in Children The Society is issuing this guidance in light of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decision to review the sale and supply of cough and cold products to children less than 2 years of age. The MHRA came to their decision to restrict these products after a thorough review of the evidence on both safety and efficacy. The safety concerns were linked to reported adverse effects and overdoses in the under 2's in particular. Children under 2 years old can be particularly sensitive to overdose because of their small size and different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The evidence of efficacy of nasal decongestants and over the counter medicines for acute cough in children has recently been reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration (1) (2). The conclusions of these reviews were that there is insufficient data to recommend the use of nasal decongestants in children under 12 and no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of OTC medicines in acute cough. The MHRA is continuing their review of the use of these products in children over 2 years old. It is good practice to restrict the use of over the counter products for the treatment of cough and cold symptoms in children under 2 years old to the following: - Paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain and lower temperature (3) Simple non-pharmacological cough mixtures for the treatment of coughs (for example paediatric simple linctus or those containing glycerol or honey and lemon) (4) Vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants which can be applied to children's clothing to provide relief of stuffy or blocked nose for children and infants over 3 months. Saline (Sodium Chloride 0.9%) nose drops can be helpful particularly in infants who are having difficulty feeding. The same principles can be applied to children over 2 years old, although there are a range of other over the counter cough medicines that may be given to children over 2. We recommend that pharmacists review how products marketed for the treatment of coughs and colds in children are stored and sold (see Appendix). The MHRA will shortly be issuing its own advice for healthcare professionals on the sale and supply of cough and cold medicines to children. Appendix The following products directly targeted at children under 2 should be removed from open shelves: • Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup [PL 03105/0056 – MAH: Bell's] • Boots Chesty Cough Syrup 1 Year Plus [PL 00014/0381 – MAH: Boots] • Boots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus 1 Year Plus [PL 00014/5152R – MAH: Boots] • Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup [PL 02855/0022 – MAH: Chefaro] • CalCough Chesty [PL 15513/0052 – MAH: McNeil] • Children's Chesty Cough [PL 03105/0056 – MAH: Bell's] - these medicines can still be supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist for older children. Advice for healthcare professionals: • Parents and carers should be encouraged to use the following medicines to alleviate the symptoms of coughs and colds in children: single-constituent paracetamol or ibuprofen; simple cough medicines (eg, those that contain glycerol or honey and lemon); vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants (which can be applied to a child's clothing); and, particularly in infants, saline nasal drops • Non-prescription cough and cold medicines that contain the following active ingredients should not be used in children younger than 2 years: – brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, and diphenhydramine (antihistamines) – dextrometorphan and pholcodine (antitussives) – guaifenesin and ipecacuanha (expectorants) – phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, oxymetazoline, and xylometazoline (decongestants) • Products that contain these active substances and that are licensed for use in children age 2–6 years will be updated to include: information on maximum daily dose; a warning not to take other cough and cold medicines at the same time; and an instruction for parents or carers to seek the advice of a pharmacist or other healthcare professional before using the medicine • For children older than 2 years, cough and cold medicines are considered safe at the recommended doses, which should be followed carefully and not exceeded. Parents and carers should be advised not to give a child more than one cough and cold medicine because different brands may contain the same active ingredient(s) References: [1] Taverner D, Latte J. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007 [2] Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 [3] Please note that these products may only be licensed for use in children over 2 or 3 months respectively (see packs for details) [4] Please note that some of these products may only be licensed for use in children over 3 months (see packs for details)

Natures Resurrection! Easter is a time when the earth comes alive. The signs of early spring are so much fun to look for. The green buds of nature burst into life - the grass has to be cut again. Happy days! We can take a walk through a glen or a garden and smell the bluebells. The scent is unmistakeable and well …… heavenly. We know the promise of summer is not far away. For Christians the glorious scent of nature reminds us of the Easter resurrection promise of new life in Jesus. The physical scent of things becomes inextricably linked with the spiritual events of our lives. So why not go on a nature walk of thanksgiving this April? Set off on your stroll and give thanks to God for all that you see as you go. It becomes a most rewarding and powerful way of praying. It also helps you to take in things you might otherwise not see. Expect new miracles to “spring forth and burst out”. You may even discover the Risen Christ. Christ is fond of gardens. “Tis very sure God walks in mine”' A very happy Easter to you all.

On the third day he rose again.” Tell us, Mary, what did you see that early morning on your way? “I saw his tomb, I saw the glory of Christ, now risen, angels who gave witness. I saw the cloths that covered his head and body. I heard him speak my name and turning, saw he was alive At daybreak I came weeping to the garden for the one I lost. But now, the Sun risen, it was paradise, and I, a new Eve, had news of life for all the living.”

Following the No Smoking Day campaign supported by all the major health organisations I now give details of the effects of smoking on the health of the public, particularly children. It is obvious that society should do as much as possible to stop people starting and if they do we should encourage them to quit. The cost of smoking is high. In health terms, it is responsible for an estimated 120,000 premature deaths in the UK each year: 46,000 from cancer, 40,000 from circulatory disease and 34,000 from respiratory disease. It is also responsible for a range of other diseases and conditions, including impotence and infertility (Callum 1998). Smoking has been identified as the primary reason for the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor. Among men, it is responsible for more than half the difference in the risk of premature death between the social classes (Jarvis and Wardle 2006). Children who smoke become addicted to nicotine very quickly. They also tend to continue the habit into adulthood. Around two-thirds of people who have smoked took up the habit before the age of 18 (The Information Centre 2006). Because the risk of disease is related to the length of time a person has smoked, people who take up smoking before the age of 18 face a greaterthan- average risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease (Royal College of Physicians 1992). Children and young people who smoke are two to six times more susceptible to coughs, increased phlegm and wheezing than their non-smoking peers (Royal College of Physicians 1992). The habit can impair the growth of their lungs and is also a cause of asthma-related symptoms in childhood and adolescence (Muller 2007). In recent years, little progress has been made to reduce the number of children aged 11–15 who take up smoking. Between 1982 and 1998 the proportion who smoked regularly1 fluctuated between 8% and 13%. Since 1999, rates have remained steady at between 9% and 10%. In 2006 in England, 9% of 11–15 year olds said they smoked regularly – equivalent to more than a quarter of a million young people. Up to age 13, boys and girls are equally likely to smoke on a regular basis. However, from age 14 girls take the lead: 14% of girls aged 14 and 25% of girls aged 15 smoke regularly (compared with 10% and 16% of boys, respectively) (The Information Centre 2007). The highest prevalence of smoking is among people aged 20–24 (37% of men and 30% of women) accounting for more than one million young adults (The Information Centre 2006). Access to cigarettes Children and young people usually get cigarettes from friends, family and shops, especially small corner shops. However, they also buy them from adults who sell them from their own homes and from others involved in organised criminal activities. In a 2004 survey of more than 9000 pupils in 313 schools across England, 66% of children aged 11–15 who smoked currently had bought cigarettes from a shop. Just over half (52%) said they had been refused a purchase at least once. Sixty three per cent of children and young people who smoked were also likely to have been given cigarettes by friends (58%) or by siblings (13%) (The Information Centre 2006). Factors associated with smoking The factors associated with the uptake of smoking include environmental, sociodemographic, behavioural and individual characteristics. Having a parent or sibling who smokes is particularly strongly associated with uptake, as is parents’ approval or disapproval of the habit (Goddard 1992; Stead et al. 1996). Tobacco use in adolescence is associated with many other behaviours that can adversely affect health, including the use of alcohol or other drugs (The Information Centre 2007).

The Cross of St. Francis One day in the opening years of the 13th century, a young man named Francesco Bernadone, son of a wealthy merchant, entered the tiny deteriorating church of San Damiano, a mile from Assisi in Italy. The young man had all the advantages a prosperous family could offer, but uneasy, he searched for something more. Only one noticeable object was left in the unused, neglected church - a large life-sized cross hanging above the dark, dusty altar. The Icon of Christ Crucified came strangely alive, with great powerful eyes that looked everywhere. As Francis knelt in prayer, the eyes of Jesus fixed on him. The lips moved and spoke: “Francis, go and rebuild my church which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” In response, Francis of Assisi began restoring the old church building and some other neglected churches nearby. But soon he realized the voice was calling him to something more. He was to take into his hands, not bricks and stones, but human beings. Francis was to rebuild the Church of God, bringing his neighbours the simple joy of the gospel of Christ and making them “living stones” standing beautiful before God and the world. All his life afterwards, St. Francis followed that message he heard from the cross: “Rebuild my church.” Anyone approaching the cross will hear the same message: love those whom Jesus loves, looking on all as your brothers and sisters. Devotion to the cross of Christ gives you a loving heart to help rebuild the lives of others.

We find many references to feet in Scripture. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace.” Handel took this verse and composed one of the most beautiful solos in his Messiah—a powerful yet gentle offering of peace and glad tidings to all God’s people. In the New Testament, a woman anoints Jesus’ feet with precious oil, and it reminds us of his eventual burial. Jesus himself tells his disciples that if they are not welcomed in a town, they should shake the dust from their feet and leave. And then, on this most holy of nights, St John tells us Jesus “knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,” laid aside his garments, girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet —this man that the woman at the well just a couple of Sunday’s ago recognized as the Christ, this man knelt to wash the feet of his followers with humility and love and perhaps deep sadness, knowing what probably awaited him in the next hours. Perhaps, as Jesus held those feet, he thought of where these friends has been with him and where their feet would take them in the years to come. These feet would take these disciples into the midst of God’s people to proclaim the Good News, to offer comfort and healing, to teach and preach, to convict and challenge. This Good News is now ours to share.

Jesus was rejected and executed, but instead of responding with hatred, instead of “an eye for an eye,” Jesus suffered alone, in our place, for our sake. His new commandment – “love others as you love yourself” – bears no resemblance to hate. Jesus carried a cross in our place, to make us free. Let us seek the joy of others rather than our own. Let us enter into the suffering of our Saviour, so that we can also enter into the suffering of our brothers and sisters. In Graham Greene’s novel, The End of the Affair, Maurice confuses love and hate, but his married lover Sarah, who breaks off the relationship with him, sees the truth. Her final prayer is ours as well: "I wish I knew a prayer that wasn’t me, me, me. Help me. Let me be happier … Me, me, me. Let me think of the agony of those who are dying. Let me see my husband's face with the tears falling. Let me forget me. Dear God, I’ve tried to love and I’ve made such a hash of it. If I could love you, I’d know how to love them. I believe the legend. I believe you were born. I believe you died for us. I believe you are God. Teach me to love. I don’t mind my pain. It’s their pain I can’t stand. Let my pain go on and on, but stop theirs. Dear God, if only you could come down from your Cross for a while and let me get up there instead. If I could suffer like you, I could heal like you. Amen."

It has been a long time since I studied chemistry with that wonderful Douglas High School teacher, W.A.G. Leece. As time goes on, I have forgotten most of it. However I do remember sodium as a very active element which needs to be kept in a special container. I also recollect from WAG’s lessons that chlorine is a poisonous gas with an unattractive odour. But when these two elements combine they form sodium chloride a most useful compound, - the common salt which adds flavour to our food. This thought leads me to a parable comparing truth and love. When truth and love go hand in hand, we have what Jesus wanted - people who are the salt of the earth. But when they are separate, there are all sorts of problems, and problem people with undesirable characteristics. Truth and love were found in perfect harmony in Jesus Christ. During his trial before Pontius Pilate Jesus said: ‘I am come to bear witness to the truth.’ As a pharmacist I know from my lengthy training with kind teachers that truth spoken in love is an immense force for good. However, truth, not spoken in love, can be unbalanced and offensive. Imagine telling a patient who has been diagnosed with a serious illness the truth, but with no sensitivity. It is a tragedy that some people settle for one but not the other. This results in many of the problems for the world and its people. When truth and caring love are separated, the salt loses its saltiness. Let us ensure that the truth we tell, is combined always with love.

We are chopping down the tree and forging the nails; or, at the very least, and quite as bad, we are watching others as they chop and forge. We have more choice than at any other time in history to be of service to our neighbours; we know how our being rich makes others poor; we know how our being prodigal wrecks the global ecology; we know where people are being tortured. At a more personal level, we know about the dynamics of human relationships; we know about self esteem and self respect; we know about inclusive language. And yet; and yet, the world seems to be no happier a place than it ever was. Why? Because we cannot take this knowledge and compress it into the patient wisdom that is love; we cannot abandon the commercial trade contract and simply give; and we cannot love just by letting people be what they are. We chop down the tree of Eden and forge the nails of Babel. We chop down the tree of innocence and we forge the nails of judgment. Unlike those who saw Jesus die, we have all our worldly knowledge and wisdom supplemented by the awesome mystery of the Resurrection and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; yet we are still chopping down the tree and forging the nails. May God have mercy upon us.

Below is some information about the Quitting Aids: Gum. When you chew nicotine gum, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth Patches Nicotine patches work well for most regular smokers and can be worn round the clock (24 hour patches) or just during the day (16 hour patches) Microtabs The are small tablets containing nicotine which dissolves quickly under the tongue Lozenges These are sucked slowly to release the nicotine and take about 20 - 30minutes to dissolve. Inhalators These look like a plastic cigarette. They release nicotine vapour which gets absorbed through your mouth and throat. If you miss holding a cigarette, these may suit you. Spray The spray delivers a swift and effectivedose of nicotine through the lining of your nose. On prescription Zyban and Campix. Also NRT is available over the counter A smoker who gives up a 20 per day habit saves £36 per week i.e. 1872 per year.

The following is a press release from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. If you want to Quit, the pharmacy can help. In fact visiting a local pharmacy should be the first step for smokers who want to stub out their habit on No Smoking Day, an annual event, being held on 12 March. This year’s theme, The Great No Smoking Day Challenge, will challenge smokers to go without cigarettes for one week in the UK’s biggest mass quit attempt. The campaign will also highlight the benefits of stopping smoking and how to get help. Pharmacists are at the front line of helping people to stop smoking, and can provide expert advice and support. They are also among the most accessible of healthcare professionals, with branches open in the high street at convenient times, often when GP surgeries are closed. 99% of people can reach a pharmacy within 20 minutes. Appointments are usually not required and many pharmacies now offer private consultation rooms. Surveys indicate that approximately 70% of current smokers would like to give up altogether. However, stopping smoking requires real commitment, planning and motivation. Pharmacists are ideally placed to offer guidance and support, and information on treatments available, to give people a fighting chance of giving up smoking for good. Smoking facts and figures • Around 12 million adults smoke cigarettes in Great Britain • Surveys indicate approximately 70% of current smokers would like to give up altogether • About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their addiction • Every year, around 114,000 smokers in the UK die from smoking related causes • Over 80% of smokers start as teenagers Figures from www.newash.org.uk • Ten years after quitting smoking an ex-smoker's risk of lung cancer is reduced by 30 to 50% compared with that of a continuing smoker • Smokers who stop before the age of 35 have a life expectancy not significantly different from that of a non-smoker • A smoker who gives up a 20-a-day habit will save £36 a week equating to £1872 a year Figures from www.nosmokingday.org.uk No Smoking

Tom, Good luck with your chemo. Your blog is brilliant and it is inspirational to us lesser mortals - not that you agree with the mortals bit. Charles

We are often urged to buy local, to reduce the impact of climate change. Apart from the fact that this is unlikely to help the Third World, does it in fact reduce climate change? The relationship between food miles and their carbon footprint is not as clear as it might seem. That is often true even when the environmental impact of shipping goods by air is taken into consideration. Adrian Williams, an agriculture researcher at Cranfield says “People should stop talking about food miles. It’s a foolish concept: provincial, damaging, and simplistic.” He has been commissioned by the U.K. government to analyze the relative environmental impacts of a number of foods. “The idea that a product travels a certain distance and is therefore worse than one you raised nearby-well, it’s just idiotic,” he said. “It doesn’t take into consideration the land use, the type of transportation, the weather, or even the season. Potatoes you buy in winter, of course, have a far higher environmental cost than if you were to buy them in August.” Williams pointed out that when people talk about global warming they usually speak only about carbon dioxide. Milk or meat production contributes less CO2 to the atmosphere than building a house or making a washing machine. But the animals produce methane and nitrous oxide, and those are greenhouse gases, too. “This is not an equation like the number of calories or even the cost of a product,” he said. “There is no one number that works.” So perhaps we need to ask where is the evidence before we assume that we are doing the World a good turn by simply buying local produce without considering the wider implications of doing so. We should ensure our decisions are based on clear scientific evidence rather than simple mantras which trip of the tongue. In our house we do not have to buy much food locally, as we grow it. But whatever we do buy, of course, we give priority to Manx produce, but it could be that all of us need to ask for the scientific evidence that it is beneficial to the World as well as to our own economy. It may be that these questions will be increasingly raised in the future, as climate change looms ever larger in the perception of people. Perhaps we will need to adapt what we grow to take this into account.

THE THINKING WALL at ENERGY EXPO 2008 February 21-23 2008 At the Expo, Island 21 set up a “Thinking Wall” offering visitors the opportunity to have their say on what was most concerning them. There were three sections: What we like best about the Isle of Man What we like least about the Isle of Man and What we would like to see happening Opinions and ideas ranged widely, of course, and the fact that this was an Energy Expo obviously influenced comments. Here the comments and suggestions are roughly grouped by area: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST? Great variety of landscapes and environment in small area – a microcosm Unique Island - perfect for setting up renewable energy systems Safe for children Nice place for children Safe for children The peace, quiet, tranquillity Heritage Peace Way of life relatively peaceful and community-aware Generally law-abiding Low level of crime We love the beautiful countryside Lovely flowers Footpaths for walking Fresh air All the beautiful nature walks and animal reserves It's still a beautiful place. The coastline is wonderful - just don't build too many housing estates on too many green fields! The Bunscoill Laxey Wheel Free travel passes for “seniors” - cuts down on car use Mild winter Facilities No tower blocks! Farmers' markets Increasing pride in local food and products Small marina, Port St Mary Churches – church cafe, social support Free prescriptions and low-charge prescriptions Work permit system helps - protects local jobs and doesn't stop people with skills I love it – I am Manx WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST? The Island's complete dependence on using fossil fuels Government attitude to renewables Increasing influence and demands of finance sector – taking over the Island Constant pressure for “growth” Too many houses Monopoly of major developments Too much building in the wrong places All new houses built in fields – animals are being killed! High costs of, for example, fuel, food, transport off the Isle of Man Cost of getting off the Island Steam Packet monopoly Large supermarkets Damp Violence Excessive planning restrictions in conservation areas At times the planning department does not respect conservation of buildings We don't like rubbish everywhere Marinas blocking harbour access for fishermen Poor state of some footpaths – Millennium Way in poor condition Huge demands on health care and education with larger population Large prison - instead of tackling underlying issues, e.g. spending more on mental health care WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPENING? Transport: Better public transport signage Commuter trams Restored rail link between Ramsey and Peel Main-line trams and trains treated as normal means of transport, not curiosities for tourists Get the trams back on the tracks A proper, inexpensive, well organised public transport system More public transport – buses, trains and trams - especially to and from airport and hospital Properly built footpaths in suburban areas, so people can walk, push buggies, etc. to shops and other amenities Fewer cars on roads Power: More renewables Solar panels and wind power Wind power anywhere Use the water wheels in Laxey Progress “Canute” idea Renewables, please Use tides and winds for energy purposes Wind turbines Use existing water wheels Wind farms - they can be beautiful! Turbines in rivers Off-shore wind farms Renewables There is plenty of wind here – let's use it to make electricity More use of tides and winds for energy purposes Recycling: More recycling Need a salvage yard Recycling – why can't the Island lead the way? More recycling Swap and exchange facilities at all civic amenity sites Kerbside recycling Kerbside recycling – and incentives to encourage it Various: Eco-friendly houses No more houses Homes for homeless people Stop/reduce immigration More local/organic veg in shops and markets Less waste of food More push for local food More beach clean-ups Better public loos Fair Trade “CittaSlow” for the Isle of Man? More qualified workmen needed Tax on bottled water We don't need power showers More confidence in local knowledge Government attitudes: Less dependent on the UK government Less reliance on the finance sector Improvement in quality of service generally Address climate change Protect the coastline Protect agricultural land from building We would like the government to be more forward-thinking Harmony with the living world Bolder, greener, more coherent government, with coherent aims for a socially inclusive Island life And finally ... Queen's Pier up and running again More female MHKs

THE THINKING WALL The “Thinking Wall” at Energy Expo 2008 came up with a wide range of ideas contributed by visitors to the exhibition at the Villa Marina on February 21-23. The “Thinking Wall”, brain-child of sustainable development promoters Island 21, invited visitors to share their ideas in three areas – what you like best about the Island, what you like least, and what you would like to see happening. Visitors' favourites ranged from the Bunscoill to the Laxey Wheel. Various comments stressed the relative peace and tranquillity of life, and the beauty of the Manx countryside. Children and adults alike saw the Island as a safe place for children. The Island is seen as a world in miniature, a society small enough to encourage respect for one another and the environment. The least favourite things included the Island's dependence on fossil fuels - seen as risky in terms of financial and environmental cost and security of supply. Thoughtless pressure for “growth” was a worry, as was an over-reliance on green-field sites for development. That's all about things as they are now. So, what about tomorrow's Island? What would the “brick-layers” of the Thinking Wall like to see? As this was an Energy Expo, it's no surprise that energy issues loomed large. The good sense of using wind and water as power sources seemed obvious to many. Wind farms had a number of enthusiasts – though there was a possible bias in favour of off-shore installations. “Wind farms are beautiful!” enthused one “brickie”. And, by the way – why not put the wheels at Laxey, and elsewhere, to work? Public transport had plenty of enthusiasts. It's time to take the buses, trains and trams seriously as ways of getting people where they want to be – not as curiosities for tourists. “Get the trams back on the tracks” was one loud demand! More emphasis on recycling and more convenient recycling arrangements would help, as would some kind of salvage yard, or swap and take-away facilities at all the civic amenity centres. Many of the hopes on the Thinking Wall need Government action. So people also wanted more forward-thinking Government, with a coherent vision for a socially inclusive Island, and better protection for the coastline and for agricultural land. Some items on the wish-list clearly need decisive Government action. The Thinking Wall is very much the voice of the voter (and a few future voters who aren't quite old enough yet!). Island 21 hopes our elected representatives are taking note and will be taking action accordingly. Oh – and one “brick” in the Thinking Wall asked for more female MHKs. There's one for the voters.

You need to ask him yourself. I know as far as I am concerned I have never ever been paid a penny for my political work over a few decades. No pay, no expenses -zilch! I have no knowledge about other people's expenses.

How can we be sure that global warming is happening and that we are responsible? The IPCC 4th Assessment Report (2007) - drawn from research of over 2000 scientists and endorsed by 130 governments - reports that temperature rises are UNEQUIVOCAL. The IPCC can now say with 90% certainty that human activities are responsible for higher concentrations of CO2 (the highest in 650,000 years) and other Greenhouse gases (ghg) in the atmosphere, and hence the corresponding overall warming of the climate. Human activities primarily attributed to this are fossil fuel use, land use change and agriculture. How much have temperatures increased since the pre-industrial era? The climate is 0.76°C warmer than in pre-industrial times (pre-1850). Some scientists report a 0.5°C rise in temperatures in the last 30 years. 11 of the 12 warmest years recorded since 1850 have occurred in the last 12 years. If we don't change our emitting habits, how much will temperatures rise by 2100? If CO2 concentrations remain at current levels or increase, we could see rises in temperature of anything between at least 1.8 - 4°C by 2100. What minimum rise in global temperatures can the planet and humans realistically sustain? A 2º C rise in global mean temperatures over 1990 levels has for some time been recognized as a dangerous ‘tipping’ point that would unleash almost certain ‘runaway’ climate change on a global and horrifically destructive scale. A 6 ºC rise in global temperatures has been credited with causing a mass extinction of at least 90 percent of life on Earth about 250 million years ago. The cause of such massive releases of greenhouse gases has been put down to volcanic eruptions sustained over a period of half a million years. How much do we have to reduce emissions to safeguard the future of our planet? In order to keep global warming below 2 degrees, ghg emissions must be reduced to 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. Currently we could be on track to see global emissions doubling by 2050. Which regions will be most affected by climate change? Africa is likely to face the worst impacts, through a combination of affects on the climate, and the vulnerability of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa – reliance on agriculture, dependence on weather, and a lower capacity to respond. Higher latitudes will experience greater warming. Northern and central Asia are likely to heat up 40% more than other parts of Asia. The link between high temperatures and increasing mortality rates is already known. An intense heat wave in India in May 2002 led to the loss of 1000 lives. Will climate change affect people’s access to food? Changes in rainfalls and temperatures as well as increasing occurrences of extreme weather events will change the food production potential in many parts of the world. In countries where most of the population is reliant on the food they produce themselves, this could have devastating consequences. Two thirds of the poorest people of the world live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Around 850 million people are currently at risk of hunger. What impacts will climate change have on poor people’s health? 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of diseases directly attributable to climate change by the end of the century. The WHO estimates that climate change is already responsible for over 150,000 deaths each year. This is through an increase in cases of diarrhoea, malaria and malnutrition, predominantly in developing countries. A rise of 2-3°C will lead to water scarcity for 2 billion people.

I can now confirm that the Leisure and Amenity committee will meet with members of Island21 on the 21st February so that our marketing ideas can be discussed with them. I hope this will be a positive step to assist in retaining and improving the service.

Mr Christian has now agreed to ask the Douglas Town Council to meet us as a result of this press statement which was a response to his criticism quoted by IOM Newspapers of the 28th January 2008 of "experts", i.e. according to the newspaper identified as members of Island21. Mr Christian has told me he actually meant unidentified members of this Forum using anonymous user names. I am happy to report that Councillor Christian wishes to retain the service and reports that he does not are completely untrue. Island21 welcomes an opportunity to speak to Councillors who we trust will be prepared to listen to constructive ideas on how to regenerate and stem the losses of the current service. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Island21 Press Release on Council Leaders Statement Source: Island21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Council leader scorns ideas to regenerate horse trams Members of the island sustainability forum Island 21 have reacted with incredulity to Douglas Council leader David Christian's response to their offer to provide free specialist marketing expertise for the horse tram service. Mr Christian has been quoted by a number of sources as saying, "There are a lot of experts crawling out of the woodwork telling the council how to do it – I don't know how we've managed to run it all these years". "Mr Christian would be well advised to rein in his sarcasm," said Island 21 chairman Charles Flynn, "especially considering that the council managed to lose a staggering quarter of a million pounds on the service last year. In the circumstances, rejecting free advice from experts whilst pouring ratepayers' money down the drain is the height of irresponsibility." Committee member Richard Falk, one of the most successful advertising copywriters in Europe, agreed. "There are hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money and more than a century of heritage at stake here, and all Mr Christian can do is make ironic remarks and trivialise the issue. Notwithstanding his inappropriate comments, I have emailed him requesting a meeting so we may discuss this matter, and share a number of ideas that I believe could increase revenues, but so far I have not had the courtesy of a reply. I remain extremely concerned about the future of the trams – whilst I am glad the idiotic suggestion of non-stop end-to-end journeys has been rejected, cutting the service and the season is not the answer. Reducing investment is the last thing you do to a brand in trouble – more effective revenue generation is the answer." Mr Falk has, however, succeeded in speaking to Adrian Earnshaw, the Minister for Tourism and Leisure, and the two men shared a number of ideas, which Mr Earnshaw hopes to take up with Douglas Council. "Sadly, this is all too symptomatic of the rather arrogant attitude of our local politicians," concluded Charles Flynn. "Mr Christian says he is always willing to listen to ideas, but when someone has the temerity to express differing views, this is how he reacts. "Does anyone really believe our elected Councillors are delivering value for money? When was the last time you even encountered one on your doorstep? I would be very interested to see a breakdown of Councillors' responsibilities and expenses, and believe this matter highlights some very serious issues as we approach a local election." - Ends -

I am often asked what services do pharmacies provide? Pharmacists (sometimes called Chemists) are experts in medicines and how they work. They play a key role in providing quality healthcare to patients. Working in the community, primary care and hospitals, pharmacists use their clinical expertise together with their practical knowledge to ensure the safe supply and use of medicines by patients and members of the public. The services that may be available from your Pharmacy are: Medicine Use Reviews (MUR) Prescription dispensing. Emergency contraception. Diabetes testing. Blood pressure monitoring. Pregnancy Testing. Cholesterol Testing. Truss fittings. Incontinence supplies. Stoma. Needle exchange. They can also advise on minor ailments, including: Bugs and viruses. Minor injuries. Stomach complaints. Women's health. Skin conditions. Allergies. Aches and pains. Children's problems. Examples of new services that pharmacy now offers include pathology services where we are helping to shorten the patient journey drastically; diagnostic services where patients are tested for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure; public health, helping people cut down on alcohol or stop smoking; sexual health services and greater involvement in the treatment of those with long-term conditions and comorbidities, such as when a patient has high blood pressure and diabetes combined. A CLINICAL PROFESSION Pharmacists are at the forefront of healthcare and like other healthcare professionals, are rapidly developing their clinical skills to improve care for patients and the public. Working as part of the NHS team in the community, primary care and hospitals pharmacists are taking greater responsibility for the clinical care of patients and the health and well-being. Pharmacists can help you decide whether you need to see a doctor. You can talk to your pharmacists in confidence - even about the most personal symptoms, and you don't need to make an appointment. Ask for a confidential discussion with the pharmacist if it is necessary. A pharmacist also has to be registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and have worked for at least a year under the supervision of an experienced and qualified pharmacist, either in a hospital or community pharmacy (local chemist's shop). Further information: Contact a localpharmacy Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain NHS Costs and Exemptions from the DHSS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. For 14 years or so, I have been acting as HONORARY PLANNING OFFICER to the SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE MANX COUNTRYSIDE & ENVIRONMENT (S.P.M.C.& E.). At the half-year point I gave notice to the Society that I intended to retire from this post at the end of the 2007 planning year. This was effectively last Tuesday 14th . January 2008. As I hold the records and planning data for 2007, I shall continue to receive and file on-going Decision Notices, Appeal matters etc. bearing the 07 (or earlier) pre-fix but everything with an 08 planning number should be sent to the Society's Chairman who is taking over my duties. All forward planning issues will similarly be his responsibility. I shall very much miss both the work and the interaction with so many interesting people, both in the private sector and in Government. Alas, age and failing eyesight make it inevitable. With kind regards to all concerned, Ian K Bleasdale, Chartered Surveyor etc. Dear All, The Society greatly appreciates the work Ian has done voluntarily on planning issues over such a large number of years. He has always been professional, diligent and independent in his stance on individual applications. I remember when he first started that he made it very clear he was not interested in who the applicant was i.e. their name, only in the merits or otherwise of the planning application. He has been true to his word. Week after week he, and latterly with the help of Elizabeth, has concientiously attended the Planning Department, meticulously examining the detail of the applications, noting omissions, ensuring everything was in order as regards the multitude of regulations etc and then sending in comprehensive notes to the Society for our approval, and passing the final article to the Planning Committee. Moreover he has attended Appeals, Inquiries by the dozen. On behalf of all my colleagues at the Society I wish to pass on our most heartfelt thanks and good wishes to Ian and Elizabeth for all their work and friendship. I wish them a long, healthy and happy retirement. Well done you good and faithful servant. Yours sincerely, Charles Flynn. Chairman, SPMCE.

Island 21 concerned by horse tram changes At its Annual General Meeting, the island’s sustainability forum Island 21 expressed dismay at changes to the horse tram service proposed by some Douglas councillors. Citing the horse tram not only as a vital part of the island’s heritage but also an excellent example of green transportation, the committee felt that the Corporation should be looking towards additional marketing rather than service reductions to address the £270,000 deficit accumulated by the service over the last year. In particular, the committee explored a range of ideas including corporate sponsorship of individual horses, a range of horse tram souvenirs that could be sold onboard and via a souvenir shop at Derby Castle, and extensive promotion of stable visits. “The suggestion that losses could be stemmed by introducing a non-stop end-to-end service is frankly absurd,” said committee member Richard Falk. “As a season ticket holder and regular tram user, it is clear to me that many journeys are made by tourists from the Sea Terminal or Derby Castle to their hotels. A non-stop service would lose all these revenues and prevent residents who live on the promenade from making full use of the service. As a marketing specialist, I would be happy to work with the Corporation to take the service to the next level, and failing that call on the Minister for Tourism and Leisure to take over this unique service before the Corporation’s mismanagement loses it forever.” Island 21 chairman Charles Flynn, a former horse tram conductor himself, agreed. “With only two working horse tram services left in the world, we cannot afford to be complacent. Throughout my life, the horse tram has been an intrinsic part of the island’s unique Victorian transport system and one of its major attractions for visitors from around the world, and its loss or degradation if simply unthinkable. The horse tram may never generate a profit, but with effective operation and marketing I believe losses can be significantly reduced – and you can’t put a price on heritage.”

MILLIONS RISK HEALTH BUYING DRUGS ONLINE Millions of Brits could be playing Russian Roulette with their health buying prescription-only medicines from rogue internet sites, according to research conducted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). In response to this growing online danger, the RPSGB today rolls out the Internet Pharmacy Logo, a visual tool to help the public identify if a website is being operated by a bona fide pharmacy in Britain. The research shows that over two million people across Britain now regularly purchase medicines via the web. While a number of legitimate pharmacies provide online pharmacy services, there are also a number of suppliers operating from websites offering to sell medicines who have no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise. In many cases, medicines purchased from such sites are counterfeit, substandard or unapproved new drugs, which put public safety at risk. The research also reveals that almost a third of people admit to not having a clue about online regulations. All pharmacies across Britain, including those offering internet services, must be registered with the RPSGB. The new logo will be visible on the homepage of participating online pharmacies and features the unique RPSGB membership number of the pharmacy operating the site. A link from the logo to the RPSGB registration pages allows visitors to check the legitimacy of a website and the pharmacists running the practice before making a purchase. 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN Tel: 020 7572 2335 Fax: 020 7572 2503 News release RPSGB Director of Practice and Quality Improvement, David Pruce, says: “The internet presents a real danger to people’s health. Dishonest traders are selling medicines online without any relevant professional qualifications or healthcare expertise. The products they sell can be poor quality at best and dangerous at worst. People who wish to buy medicines over the net should do it at a legitimate registered online pharmacy. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and can lawfully and safely supply them over the internet. “The public must be vigilant and we recommend that they use the presence of this logo in conjunction with a routine of checks when deciding whether or not it is safe to buy.