Suggested Quality of Life Indicators for South East Cornwall

Roger Lovejoy:- 8th November, 2002

Point 1 | Point 2 | Point 3 | Point 4 | Point 5 | Point 6 |Point 7 | Point 8 | Indicators
Examples: Diggers (Gerrad Winstanley) | Tinkers Bubble (Simon Fairlie) | Hockerton Housing Project
Lastwords: Ideology | Sustainability

There are a number of overlapping indicators as follows:

• Under "Sensible use of Resources" it would be reasonable to monitor road traffic as it is a major user of fossil fuels, likewise is should also be an indicator of pollution.
  
  
•  Another major pollutive input is nitrate run-off from farms. so a measure of it's use and alternative agriculture would be very important.
  Pollution is not restricted to such obvious forms, in fact many years ago these things were not considered, apart from fly tipping and smoke, both which could be clearly seen. Today's there are less obvious forms, which need addressing now before they present the same age old, 'I didn't know it was damaging' mentality. They may include the following:
  • Use of mobile phones.
  • Contamination in foods of toxic chemicals and genetic abnormalities etc.
  • The effect on the environment of supper weeds and further devastation to wildlife by the spread on GM plants.
  • The continuing pollution of the air quality via international abuse, which we have a duty to record, even if the solution is wholly political.
  • Advertising which encourages a get it first competitive mentality especially for young people. This goes to show an inherent disquiet and lack of a mentally healthy environment.
    Maybe there should not be any smoking advertisements in Caradon as an example.
    Do all schools hold "a no-smoking policy throughout the school premises" as expected by the end of 1997 (Councillor Val Cox, chair of the Cornwall County Council's Education Committee. Jan 1997). That means for teachers too!
    Does Caradon have a similar policy in it's buildings and external operations, such as sub-contractors working in the vicinity of the public.
  • A general lack of healthy food in schools. I suppose lobbying the LEA is the only course, or is it?
    
    

EXTRA indicators as follows:

• Ethical partners.
  • Does the council bank with the Co-op. or some other 'green' financial order or does it deal with Barclays, NatWest, or one of the other institutions that invest in and support the following:
    • Rainforest destruction both legal and illegal as in Indonesia via Rio Tinto and the like
    • Huntingdon Life Sciences
• Global interaction by way of lobbying corporate and national bodies to clean up their act.
  • It is no use trying to create a healthy environment locally whilst we say nothing about the affects on us by larger authorities. This is exactly the reasoning behind the US and UK governments desire to act upon Saddam Hussien.
  • Also to challenge issues like the Deforestation and Human rights violations in other Countries or localities. If Caradon works for the people of South eats Cornwall it is not enough to say we take the refuse away, the disquiet that undermines quality of life is that we all know that irreparable damage is being done to human nature and the total environment by our lack of concern, yet most people haven't the time or heart to invest time and money in expressing their concerns, let alone trying practically to do anything about changing it. Statements and challenges by the 'Local Authority' should be made and will raise the profile of not just the real concerns surrounding 'unsustainable' and intolerant finance and political regimes, but will also raise the profile of Caradon, which can only be good for business and investment.
• Personal happiness
  • Individuals need to know they are appreciated and some form of acknowledgement from the council is a good idea other that the 'Rent is this, Council tax is that and the plethora of cold hearted communication that are the norm. Caradon Council does not appear to care for the electorate, only to the services it has to apply by Statute.
  • Acknowledgement of a persons attempts and success at relieving some of their 'unsustainable' habits does not need to be publicised. The affect of publicity is to create envy and competitiveness amongst some and unwarranted and useless news for others. All that is required is a personal letter of acknowledgement and a box of organic chocolates or flowers when credit is due. Far more useful to the recipient and it is not being rubbed in everyone's face via the Caradon Courier or whatever. The only people who may prefer publicity are those who are or who wish to become politicians and councillors etc. We have enough of those.
  • Personal happiness can lead to less illnesses and a reduction in other spirit raisers such as sex, drugs and rock and roll. And lets face it, entertainment is the number one usage of resources and the acquisition and protection of it requires both civil and military protection.

This is not a fully comprehensive reply to your query, far from it, it is a hurried response to the 'Indicators' this Sunday morning; but I hope it does show that someone does agree that there are concerns to be addressed and that like sustainability any analysis has to be dynamic. Thank you for your ideas and I hope my response provokes more in you.

Roger Lovejoy 10th November, 2002