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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Policywonk, in a smart coat, LIVE FROM WESTMINSTER

526 replies

policywonk · 01/04/2009 10:13

Hello and welcome

I've got my dongle working! Woohoo!

Today is a briefing day organised by the G20 Voice peeps.

Am networking like a wild thing. Oh look, there's Michelle O. 'Scuse me.

OP posts:
LadyOfWaffle · 01/04/2009 16:10

Aha www.sendmyfriend.org/news/g20-blog

onebatmother · 01/04/2009 16:11

I've got no audio whappen?

policywonk · 01/04/2009 16:12

Is there a way to arrange it so that I don't have audio?

OP posts:
LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:13

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MakeHayNotWar · 01/04/2009 16:16

I'm liking the coat

KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 01/04/2009 16:16

Tsk, I noticed the beard was blue and was going to ask if it was a trick of the light, but I thought I'd already made enough pointless 'ooh, look, a squirrel!' kind of comments already.

gizmo, you know what that analysis tells me? that essentially, people don't give a crap.

Not that they don't care about people suffering and lacking access to common decencies like food, water, warmth etc.

But they just do not connect that with any other measures that are neccessary to address the climate thing.

It's my entirely worthless opinion that Climate Change apathy will increase in the coming years, because no one has yet found a way to make a zeitgeist catching link between pressuring governments into making these changes, and helping those who are being further impoverished.

So far, the strongest words come from the voices that are suspicious that the governments are just interested in another tax trough - and let's face it, shite like the tax havens isn't exactly helping the cause in the other direction.

ahundredtimes · 01/04/2009 16:21

I can't get live feed to work still.

Our PW obsession knows no limits, her coat, her questions, her nodding, her glasses, red cardigan, flawless skin - everything. Was the StC woman hoping to get LOADS of standing order donations from us do you think PW?

I can't wait for the John Pienaar interview. It's like everything that ought to happen is happening, and there's not much at the G20 you can say that about.

LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:21

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gizmo · 01/04/2009 16:23

Sadly Kay, I think your analysis is right, to a large degree.

What makes me spit is that there is an opportunity, right now, to reposition the Cleantech industry as an engine for economic recovery, rather than a necessary evil for avoiding climate change, and very few politicians (with the honourable exception of Obama) are seizing it.

I am talking to our PR agency about a release tomorrow on the current UK policy re smart metering and I hope to be able to channel some of this righteous rage into useful action, but it does feel a bit like screaming at the waves, in honesty.

LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:23

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KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 01/04/2009 16:24

It's kind of amusing - I doubt the organizers thought that the result of inviting an MN blogger would be MNers crooning over...the MN blogger.

We're actually worse than the introspective 'how-can-twitter-solve-world-hunger' people

policywonk · 01/04/2009 16:25

Man is talking about arrangements for tomorrow now.

Poll: how drunk should I get?

a) not at all
b) merry (about five units)
c) drunk and loud (ten units)
d) utterly shitfaced

OP posts:
LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:26

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LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:27

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gizmo · 01/04/2009 16:27

I'd go for around 7 units: inappropriately familiar, but not actually showing my knickers.

Leave something in bag for tomorrow night, so to speak.

snice · 01/04/2009 16:29

Are all the bloggers staying in the same hotel?

Will you be running up and down the corridors at midnight setting off the fire extinguishers and trying to find somewhere to photocopy your bums?

LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:31

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LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:31

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KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 01/04/2009 16:31

I'm teetering between b) and c), PW. Well, not right now, it's only 4.30 on a Wednesday. Loud could be quite funny.

gizmo what is it about human beings that we're such lumbering dunderheads about these things?

I mean, I've been involved in meetings and lobbying yada yada yada, and it's the same whatever is under discussion - this dull reluctance to act decisively for the good.

It's like the human race, collectively, is a bunch of recalcitrant toddlers, dragging their heels instead of running headlong to the park.

policywonk · 01/04/2009 16:34

gizmo

I do NOT want to flirt but I wouldn't mind giving someone the impression that my freelance services would be invaluable to their organisation.

OOoh, here's who we definitely get to see tomorrow:

Mark Watson MP (huh?)
Bob Geldof (MP... do you want to give me that phone number?)
Douglas Alexander
Mark Malloch Brown (bit excited about this one)
Spain (all of it)
Mexico (just the top bit)
IMF
African Union
France

so... if you have questions for those peeps, lt me know

OP posts:
policywonk · 01/04/2009 16:36

Should say, there will be lots of additions to that list tomorrow, but those are the definites so far

WHY are you so desperate to see me on screen when you freely admit there are five more shaggable women here, Lenin?

OP posts:
gizmo · 01/04/2009 16:36

Extraordinary, ain't it?

Last night, I was in a networking meeting with a bunch of technologists/engineers all involved in Clean Energy. Evening billed as a discussion about energy policy in the UK and what contribution we could make to it.

And what we actually did was spend 75-80% of the time talking about the stuff we're familiar with (benefits/problems with each solution, barriers to adoption etc) and only 15% of time talking about stuff we could do to actually effect a change.

Result: no real action. I guess this is what we're seeing here - mostly time spent talking in a comfort zone and less time spent trying to plan a way forward.

LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:38

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JuxaLOTmoreChocolate · 01/04/2009 16:38

God you poor thing PW, it's such a lovely sunny day and you have no ice cream.

LeninGrad · 01/04/2009 16:38

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