Derailed train lifted off the rails near Cruachan Power Station on Loch Awe, Argyll, Scotland

 Hiya
You will have heard about the train derailment near Cruachan Power Station on Loch Awe, Argyll, last Sunday evening. Eight people had to be taken to local hospitals, luckily only with minor injuries. The derailed carriage at the head of the train was hanging down the steep slope, anchored by the rear carriage and some trees. Due to the location of the incident, above the outflow of the reservoir and overhanging the road platform built out above the loch, the road had to be closed to traffic. It took some time to reinforce it for the heavy crane.
Once again, we have experienced just how tenuous links can be to the "outside world": whole villages were cut off from their trains because replacement buses had to make the long detour via Ballachulish, Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor. It is only since yesterday that a mini-bus service has been put on between Oban and Taynuilt:
http://forargyll.com/2010/06/a85-closure-scotrail-to-run-oban-taynuilt-minibus-from-11th-june/

 
Yesterday, 11th June, the de-railed carriage was at last lifted off the rail. According to the Oban Times, "a one thousand ton crane" was used. It is hoped that the road will be reopened by Wednesday. When the trains will run again still remains to be seen.




and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8736322.stm

21 Sep 2009: Wake-Up Call on Climate Change

Wow, what a day! Even Oban contributed to a wake-up call sent to the world's leaders to take effective, binding, fair action to mitigate climate change. The Oban Times of 24th September has an article on p. 2 with a good photo (better than mine, above); ForArgyll.com has an interesting article and follow-up on their news site. And, of course, the Sustainable Oban blog, Sustaining Oban, has some information.

Click here for a video put together and published by avaaz.org, the organisation that launched this particular boat. Avaaz comment on the video page:
"On 21 September 2009, at more than 2600 events in 135 countries across the globe, we joined together to issue a deafening wake-up call to world leaders on climate change. The breadth and creativity of events is breathtaking, and our message broke through to leaders and international media."

And in a message to those who signed up, Avaaz wrote:
"The Wake Up call was covered by hundreds of major news outlets and made the evening news everywhere from Germany to New Zealand. Europe's environment chief praised 'the mobilisation of so many people by Avaaz.org', and the Spanish environment minister called the action 'extraordinary'. After a deluge of votes and phone-calls from the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown became the first major world leader to agree to our demand to go to Copenhagen, taking a phone-call personally and saying that with 'the pressure that can brought by organizations like yours...what people think is impossible can become possible'.
"World leaders have heard us. But as Tuesday's UN summit showed, one day of action won't be enough to get real progress on climate. We need to come back again and again, louder and louder, until we get a fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty.
"We'll keep the pressure high through the TCKTCKTCK campaign until Copenhagen, with another global day of action on October 24th, and start planning right now for the LARGEST CLIMATE MOBILIZATION IN HISTORY ON DECEMBER 12th, in the final days of the Copenhagen negotiations.
"Avaaz is now 3.6 million members strong in 14 languages, in every country of the world. On Monday, our movement took a huge step forward -- we showed that we can not only send millions of messages to leaders or donate millions to worthy causes, but that in just a few days we can flood the streets and crash phone lines from Mexico City to Mumbai.
"If we stick together, anything is possible.
"With hope and excitement for the future,
"Ricken, Ben, Paul, Milena, Alice, Luis, Brett, Taren, Margaret, Iain, Pascal, Graziela, Paula, Benjamin, Rajeev, Veronique, Raluca, Julius, Yuri, Saravanan, Vladimir, Tihomir, Sam, Emma and the whole Avaaz team
"PS - the video above was made from over 10,000 wake up call pictures and 600 videos uploaded to Avaaz in just 24 hours! There were many tears among people making the video as we saw the amazing dedication of everyone, from the Avaaz community to our TCKTCKTCK campaign partners to people joining the first climate action of their lives. Click here to see the video of this amazing worldwide movement in action."

Way to go! Let's get ready for another global day of action on 24th October!

A mixed bag of things: blogs, Palestine/Gaza, Xmas letters

Hello again

My lovely downstairs neighbours surpassed themselves this past night: at two am, three or four of them came home in a huge commotion, with people probably very drunk, shouting and their dog barking. It sounded like someone was either attacking someone else or being attacked, and the furniture taking a beating in the process. Being ripped out of a deep sleep like that and having to hear their fighting actually made me feel sick to the stomach.
About half an hour later, the police were seen taking two of the miscreants away. However, the pair came back another hour later, rousing the dog that barked again. And so it has gone, with noise disturbing the quiet of this very quiet place every hour or so. I do love my neighbours -- almost to death! ;)

So, rather than tossing and turning, I have been awake and catching up on this and that. One thing was re-reading at leisure all the lovely Xmas circular letters I received over the past month or so. Some of them are true gems, with sophisticated layout and beautiful illustrations. Each one of them contains gems of information, news sad and happy – of dearly loved relatives dying; but also of others making miraculous recoveries after serious illnesses; of weddings; scholarly, professional and publishing successes; and of new babies coming into families; of fantastic holidays undertaken and enjoyed -- it's fascinating and enriching to be allowed those glimpses of dear but distant friends' lives. Thank you, each and everyone: Althea in Basel, Pam & Peter in "Washers" (aka Washington, DC), Philippa, Heidi and Sue in Switzerland, Susan in Surrey, Ros & David in The Netherlands. And thank you, everyone else who sent me messages and greetings. There was quite a laundry line of colourful cards in my hallway. Lovely! And this time I really mean it! :)

On a much more sombre note, one of my friends here has a great blog. Quite apart from some truly spectacular photographs, a post from just a few days ago caught my attention and I would like to quote from it here:
"Israel claims to be waging war against Hamas. Strange, I see pictures of civilians dying in great numbers. I teach small children and it always pains me to see small children maimed, killed and distressed. Today it was reported that the death toll has reached 1000. I know that Israel wants to stop the rocket attacks but there is no justification for this atrocity they are committing. There is no proportionality here.
When will Israel learn [...]?"

Back in 2003, millions took to the streets protesting against the illegal war on Iraq. It's been disheartening to realise that the powers-that-were took absolutely no heed of the people in those colourful protest rallies and vigils. I know many people who have been refusing to buy products "made/produced in Israel" -- I try to avoid them myself. Not buying the products from that country was one of several strategies that helped end the Apartheid regime in South Africa...

And to those out there who smile condescendingly at people like me, I can only say this: just because the vigils and one-person boycotts have seemed to have no effect doesn't mean they were pointless. We need to keep supporting those who are wrongly done by and ostracize those who commit obscenities even though we know that it may not appear to make a difference. From my work with and for amnesty international I know that at least 30% of all the letters written to demand the release of a political prisoner make a big difference in that person's life, even if they may not get the person out of custody straight away.
Yesterday's Oban Times (15 Jan 09, p. 4) carries an article about Andrew Muncie, 34, from Spean Bridge, embarking on a medical supply ship bound for the Gaza Strip from Larnaca, Cyprus, on a voyage organised by the Free Gaza Movement.
Sadly, according to the Free Gaza Movement blogsite, the "Spirit of Humanity", "carrying five tons of supplies and 21 passengers, including three surgeons" (not 30, as the Oban Times claims), was threatened by the Israeli Defense Forces (that's another "newspeak" kind of term blurring the fact that those forces are as much about attacking other countries as defending their own), so the ship has gone back to Cyprus. What a waste!

The people in Gaza lack the most essential supplies. According to the Oxfam site, "As fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas militias has intensified over the last two weeks, the impact on civilians is appalling, with innocent women, men and children being killed and injured. For people living in Gaza, four out of five of whom were already largely dependent on food aid, this comes on top of 19 months of blockade. They now have little or no access to clean water, food or power. Medical and sanitation systems are also on the verge of collapse."

Aerial photographs shown on TV recently revealed the stark reality of mostly parched earth in Gaza surrounded by mostly lush green fields on Israeli territory. I wonder why that is...

Even though the "Spirit of Humanity" has been turned back, people like Andrew Muncie deserve our wholehearted support. Israel has been violating international law and committing crimes against humanity for years now. High time the Israeli government was taken to account!
(And no: I'm not being anti-Semitic, nor do I defend Hamas' often reprehensible actions. But they were elected to power in what was a fairly "clean", democratic process. When you have nothing left to lose, why not toss everything in the balance?)

Car sharing coming to Scotland

Hiya

This week's Oban Times carried a small article entitled "Residents urged to car share" (OT, 30 Oct 08, p. 23):
I can only applaud this. Car sharing makes eminent sense by helping to reduce traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and expenses on fuel.
According to the article, the scheme launched by HITRANS, http://www.IfYouCareShare.com, "is free to register, easy to use and can be used for both regular and one-off journeys. [... It] can be used by everyone, giving members the opportunity to share their journey no matter where they are going. Travellers can identify other poeple who are travelling the same route at a specified time and can register their own preferences, such as travelling with non-smokers, people of the same sex etc. You also have the option of whether or not to participate in a particular arrangement. To register with the scheme, log on to www.IfYouCareShare.com or call 0845 058 3926."
Excellent idea!

Wasteful transport policies in times of skyrocketing fuel prices

Hello again / Hiya!

The local weekly paper last week carried an article that illustrates some of the wasteful policies that beset our lovely world, i.e. two rivalling bus companies operating services to and from Glasgow within minutes of each other, and at roughly the same times as the train.
Have a read yourselves. I'm sure the OT have no objections to my giving their paper some space on this blog (click on the subject line above to go straight to their website).
I am gratified to see that I am not alone in wondering about such wasteful policies, which is why I am including two letters to the editors of the Oban Times, one about the issue of rivalling buses/trains, the other one an appeal from an MP to provide evidence of hardship the high fuel prices are causing to the population here.
I end today's post with a copy of a letter that I just sent off to the editors of the Oban Times. It ties in with the subject.

Cheers! Peace.

***
The Oban Times, July 17, 2008 – Front page:

'Bus war' companies reach agreement
West Coast Motors to resume Citylink service

TWO rival bus companies engaged in a bus war over services between Oban and Glasgow and Campbeltown and the city have reached an agreement.
From September West Coast Motors will resume as the contractor for Scottish Citylink's service between the two towns and Glasgow.
The previous contract between the two companies, which had run for the last 22 years, expired in May [2008] and the companies failed to reach an agreement.
But Scottish Citylink confirmed this week that successful terms and conditions had been agreed between the two parties and a new service contract would start on September 29 [2008].
'Very happy'
Colin Craig, managing director of West Coast Motors, said: 'We are very happy to have agreed terms that will restore network stability for the foreseeable future, which is good news for our customers.
'Our dedicated team of staff will continue to provide the very highest standards of coach travel in partnership with Scottish Citylink.'
Tom Wileman, Scottish Citylink's managing director, said: 'We are delighted to confirm that we will be continuing our long relationship with West Coast Motors after reaching an agreement over the renewal of our contract with them.'
4,000 weekly customers
An average of 4,000 people travel to and from Oban, Campbeltown and Glasgow by bus every week.
The service will run three times a day in each direction to Citylink's current timetable but in West Coast Motor branded buses.
***
OT Letters to the editor
PO Box 1, Oban, Argyll, PA34 4HB
email: editor@obantimes.co.uk
www.obantimes.co.uk
Telephone: [0044] (0)1631 568000
Fax: [0044] (0)1631 568001

Bus service anger
Sir,
Fuel costs are at an all time high, so it is ridiculous and irresponsible that two competing bus operators are offering services between Oban and Glasgow at times within a few minutes of each other.
To make matters worse, the bus times published by Citylink and West Coast Motors are roughly the same times as the train – early morning, midday and evening.
It is an acknowledged fact that a large percentage of the travelling public are seniors or other people whose travel is funded in full or partly out of the public purse. Why is this competition allowed when it is of absolutely no value to the public?
For the most part, these bus services operate at little more than half capacity, sometimes much less.
Doubling up of the bus services confuses the public, is a waste of precious fuel and adds to pollution.
Rationalisation of times so that rail and/or bus services are evenly spread throughout the day would help enormously and encourage more use of public transport, rather than the car as an easy option. To make this work the bus services need to embark on a cohesive marketing strategy to encourage people away from cars.
The West Coast Motors office in George Street [Oban] recently told me there is no bus service this year from Oban to Dundee.
When I challenged this I was told West Coast Motors no longer gives out any information about Citylink services. This type of unhelpful or mis-information could be misleading to tourists and others.
Jim Heward, Oban.

Fuel appeal
Sir,
The high price of fuel is causing severe problems in Argyll and Bute.
I have argued strongly for the government to reduce fuel duty on fuel sold at pumps in remote areas.
I also went with other Highlands and Islands MPs to the Treasury to put the case for reducing fuel duty here. Treasury Ministers promised they will consider any evidence presented to them of the problems that high fuel prices are causing.
I am hopeful we can persuade the government to reduce fuel duty in remote areas, but we need to present the government with evidence of the problems high prices are causing.
I would be grateful if readers could write to me, spelling out the problems that high fuel prices are causing them either personally or to their business if they are running one.
I will present this evidence to the Treasury and use it to try to persuade them to reduce the fuel duty in Argyll and Bute.
Alan Reid MP, 95 Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, Argyll.
***

"Bus War" between Scottish Citylink and West Coast Motors, Oban Times, July 17, 2008
Sir
In reference to the "bus war" between the two bus companies, my Swiss friend wanted to travel back to Glasgow last Thursday morning, July 17, on the first Citylink bus out of Oban. The web-based timetable and the ticket she had bought online both stated the bus would leave at 07:25AM. We were very surprised to find that a West Coast Motor coach did indeed drive up at about that time. The chauffeur, however, turned my friend away, saying she did not have a ticket for his bus and telling her to wait for the Citylink bus, which would be along shortly. When I called Citylink to find out where their bus was, I was told there was no service from Oban to Glasgow at 07:25AM. The Citylink coach only arrived at 07:45AM and actually left, with exactly three passengers on board, at 07:55AM. My friend had a fairly nerve-racking journey to Glasgow, wondering whether the half-hour delay in her travel schedule would allow her to catch her London-bound flight.
I could not agree more wholeheartedly with your writer Jim Heward's letter, published in the same OT as your article on the incomprehensible, wasteful "war" between the two bus companies. Why -- in these times of skyrocketing fuel prices -- they have to wait until September to resume a combined service is absolutely beyond me.
Margaret P[...]J[…], Oban [July 22, 2008]