30 September 2013

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This Shirley poppy grew on Rev. Wilks grave in St. Johns graveyard, Shirley
Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya
Editor, linguist, outspoken campaigner
on local and national issues. Loves opera,
books and libraries.
Russell Elliott
Passionate believer and advocate of
alternative - Just cos something has
always been done a particular way
doesnt make it the best!
Andrew Pelling
Former Shirley resident, Councillor,
London Assembly Member & MP.
Investment Banker & commentator
for insidecroydon.com
Robert Dil
Graphic Design Consultant and
Co-owner of TD Studio in Addiscombe.
Loves making music & diving.
Giovanna Ricciardelli
Travel Consultant specialised in Events.
Loves entertaining, swimming, cooking
Italian food. Seriously interested in
architecture and interior design.
Andrew Dunsmore
Top London photographer, runs
Picture Partnership in his Shirley
Studio or on location. He helps
you take better pictures.
Nathalie Baron
Ayurvedic therapist, loves natural remedies,
nature, books & writing
Elizabeth Ash
Library campaigner, tweeter,
interested in education and social
media, enjoys cooking.
Nadia Nazir
IT Consultant and Interior
Decorator, loves to sew, knit
and bake.
Helen Campbell-MacDonald
Practitioner of alternative medicine
and regular contributor to
Alternatives page.
Jill Latter
Miniaturist, Shirley resident for
more than 50 years, makes
beautiful cakes.
Tom Dunsmore
Family man. Retired engineer. Has
worked abroad. Speaks Spanish.
Enjoys travel.
Interested in
being part of our
online magazine?
Please contact us
on
shirleylife@rocketmail.com
Charles Park
of Planning Partnership Ltd, Shirley.
The man to look for if you want
something special for your home.
3
Contents
Shirley Life 5
Lets Talk about Food by Editor 11
A picture from Brighton, Sussex 16
Slimmin World with Orla 19
The Alternative Daily 22
The blackboard 23
Veg boxes and a recipe by Riverford 24
About a car in Shirley, Croydon by Marzia 25
Useful websites 30
Repetita iuvant or Repeating does good by Marzia 32
Total Policing 34
The Chestnut Clinic has moved ... 36
Nathalies Column: Six Tips for Winter Wellbeing 38
12 Strategies to Strengthen Your Immune System 40
News from Shirley Community Centre 44
A big thank you after the Big Coffee Morning 48
Andrew Dunsmore, Picture Partnership, Shirley 50
Picture Partnership Competition 54
Shirley Library: October Activities 56
Green Thumb: Chapter 5 60
Public Inquiry Document by Dave Davies 66
Front Cover: Big Coffee Morning at the Shirley Community Centre
Editorial Team
Nathalie Baron, Tom Dunsmore, Jill Latter, Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya
(Editor), Andrew Pelling, Russell Elliott (Advertising Consultant), Robert Dil
(Graphic Design Consultant) and Nadia Nazir (Website Administrator).
Contacts
T: 07940 415532

E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com

W: www.shirleylife.com
Blog: http://shirleylifeblog.wordpress.com
4
Is Life too short to do-it yourself?
Garden maintenance & grass cutting
Painting and decorating
Flat pack furniture assembly
Shelf, mirror, picture hanging
Jet washing of drives, patios, decking
Changing of light bulbs
Garages and sheds cleared
NOG Property Maintenance
Free estimates and no call out fee
Just call NOG for a no obligation quote on
07909 948118 or 8776 1909 or email nogpm@tiscali.co.uk
5
has been a very busy month and so
many things have happened.
SL is being uploaded on 30
September instead of 27 because I
went down with food poisoning, just
before the fundraising for the
Macmillan Nurses. Old fashioned remedies got me back on my feet:
there are a good article about strategies to strengthen our immune
system and Nathalie is giving us tip for our winter wellbeing. We do
not know what to expect this year but we will probably get out fair
share of grey skies and snow and we should be prepared.
Public Inquiry
When I was about to upload SL, Paul
Pickering sent me a compelling
document written by Dave Davies
regarding a Public Inquiry to be
launched: There are 4267 people a
year dying in London from pollution
(the Mayors own statistic in 2008). In
the 4 years that he has been in
office the Mayor has implemented
improper and failed emissions
strategies which have seen no
reduction in pollution. Tens of
thousands of people are being exposed to harmful pollution on a daily
basis, including all of Londons Transport workers, commuters, cyclists
and pedestrians. If 80 people a week, each and every week, were killed
in a terrorist attack, a train crash or road accident there would be
outrage and there would be an immediate Public Inquiry to prevent it
ever happening again. It should be the same with the deaths from
pollution and the only way action will be taken is if a Public Inquiry
investigates why this has happened and why it continues.
I attached the document as an appendix to this issue. Please read it
and support http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/39537.
It is an act of self-defense. The petition closes at 15:50 on 1 October!!!
TD STUDIO
353 LOWER ADDISCOMBE ROAD
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Getting tough
Issue 61 of Your Croydon, labelled the primary source of community
information, has just been delivered in my road. It is bombastic in
content and shameless propaganda I pay for through my Council Tax.
However, there was an article that made me laugh: the Council is
getting tough and has employed four enforcement officers who will
patrol the borough on the look out for crimes against the environment.
They will work from early morning into the evening, and also at
weekends. I can understand that A 75 fine is waiting for anyone they
catch littering but I am puzzled about errant dog owners. It might not
be the best choice of adjective. I took the picture below in the heart of
Croydon Central: it beggars belief.
Croydon Council should deliver the services residents pay for and keep
the town clean. Four officers cannot do the job when the system has
broken down. This is a Council administration in denial that has lost
sight of reality: they ignore the meaning of accountability and
transparency.
Editor
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11
LETS
TALK
ABOUT
FOOD
A few years ago, one could not get a decent espresso anywhere but
in Soho. Matters have greatly improved but I never eat at an Italian
restaurant because the food is just so non Italian.
Here are a few horrors: overcooked pasta smothered in ketchup,
sipping cappuccinos during dinner and slabs of bread covered in
inferior olive oil.
Accademia Barilla, a well-respected food institute based in
Parma, Italy, has announced 10 food faux pas that foreigners get
wrong about Italian cookery in order to 'teach them how to avoid
culinary horrors'.
1 Never sip a cappuccino during a meal. Cappuccino, a double
espresso with milk froth, is drunk for breakfast, ideally with biscuits
or a pastry. Espresso is to be consumed at different times of the
day and after a meal. You can order a cappuccino after a meal but
you should know an Italian would never do so. A latte? Dont even
ask!
2 Risotto and pasta are not meant to accompany other dishes (apart
from specialities such as l'Ossobuco alla milanese). Pasta served
as if it were a veg is a mistake committed in many other countries,
but in Italy is considered sacrilegious. Pasta and risotto are a first
course.
3 Don't put oil in the boiling water where you cook pasta. Cook pasta
al dente.
4 Ketchup on pasta: this really shocks Italians. Ketchup may be fine,
but only with chips. Do not expect to find it everywhere in Italy and
certainly not in good restaurants.
5 Spaghetti Bolognese? It may be Italy's most famous dish abroad,
12
www. shi r l eyel ect r i cal . com
A contemporary cafe with great food
served in a pleasant and friendly
atmosphere at 219 Wickham Road,
in the Library Parade
13
yet there isn't a restaurant in Bologna or any other town in Italy that
serves it. The famous sauce, rag alla bolognese is traditionally
eaten with tagliatelle, not spaghetti. Moreover, what Italians think
of bolognese is a far simpler dish with fewer
ingredients.
6 Pasta with chicken never in Italy.
7 Caesar salad: unknown in Italy, even if its
inventor, Caesar Cardini, was an Italian who
emigrated to the USA.
8 Red and white checked tablecloths. They do not
really exist in Italy, even though we see them in
every Italian restaurant abroad.
9 Fettuccine Alfredo, a dish of noodles with butter and Parmigiano-
Reggiano, celebrated in the States as being characteristically
Italian. But not according to the report, which calls it completely
unknown in Italy. Invented in Rome by Alfredo Di Lelio, it never took
off in Italy, at least with that name.
10 Respect tradition and a mother's advice, namely that Italian food is
to be shared with those you love. Love and family are tutto
(everything). Now there's a rule we can agree with.
After reading the article, I decided to add a few observations of
my own to the horror list above:
1 Espresso: I drink it less and less outside my kitchen. I hate being
served burnt and bitter coffee that is cold by the time it gets to my
table. Italians drink espresso quickly and when it is hot.
Cappuccino is often caffellatte, i.e. hot milk with a little coffee. The
price of espresso is absolutely ridiculous in this country. I import
my own, Lavazza Carmencita.
2 Bruschetta is not really what you see if you watch the online video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxvEHKop-A. By the way, the
only thing that Mr. DAcampo got right was the pronounciation!
The letter k does not exist in the Italian alphabet but the letter c
followed by h sounds like the English k. Bread, in Italy, is always
on ones table (absolutely no butter!) but you will not find olive oil on
a plate where you dip your bread unless you are in the countryside
and ask for it. The texture of the average Italian bread is firm and we
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do not have sliced bread.
3 Pasta comes in a great
number of shapes and
there are some 350
different kinds of pasta. It is
not an hyperbole: go to the
pasta aisle of an Italian
supermarket and count.
Pasta should be eaten al
dente and never
overcooked. It is also never
drowned in sauce and, yes,
it is your first course. The
average portion is 60
grams.
4 Pizza is thin and crusty: no
pineapple or meats. The secret is in a proper oven and a good
tomato base. Look for a wood-fired oven and ask for mozzarella
di bufala, light and tasty.
6 In Italy, one only buys Panettone, the most typical Italian Christmas
cake, a week or so before Christmas. Any panettone left over in
shops and supermarkets after Epiphany (6 January) is sold at
ridiculous prices because nobody would eat it after Christmas. It is
depressing for me to see panettone on sale in August.
7 It is incredibly difficult to buy decent Italian wines at normal prices:
it is so annoying that I have stopped drinking wine altogether. I drink
mineral water and I drink San Pellegrino because I cannot find
Levissima or Uliveto in Croydon or London. Not all waters are the
same!
8 I have also given up on ice-cream because I cannot find the lemon
or coffee ice-cream I like. By the way, in my home town , the
gelaterie (where most of the ice-cream is made and sold) are
closed in winter.
When I chose to live in England I was fully aware that I had to
adjust to different customs. I am still alive after many years and it
only takes 1 hour and 40 minutes from Gatwick to Pisa.
Editor
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Orla at the Co-op in Shirley
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Orla at the Shirley Community Centre
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Consider subscribing to The Alternative Daily: it is free and it keeps
you informed on a number of topics, from natural health, to diet and
fitness and alternative news.
You can sign up at www.thealternativedaily.com and unsubscribe if
you do not like it.
It is also an inspirational website without evangelical undertones.
Thought of the month:
Make a list of what is important to you
and start to prioritize
23
All compromise is
based on give and
take,
but there can be no
give and take on
fundamentals.
Any compromise on
mere fundamentals
is a surrender.
For it is all give
and no take.
Mahatma Gandhi
Save over 50% on your first box of Riverford Organic Veg, only
5.99* (normally 12.95)
To take advantage of this offer visit www.riverford.co.uk or call our
Customer Services Team on 01803 762059 and quote Shirley Life
* Half price veg box offer is open to new customers setting up a regular order.
Look up recipes and cooking tips on www.riverford.co.uk/recipes
24
About a car in Shirley, Croydon
NOG spotted a red car that had been
dumped in front of the Shirley Community
Centre and reported it to the Police. It had
been vandalised and a brick put through
its windscreen. The car had been stolen
from West Sussex on Sunday night, 15
September, and Police were looking for it.
Croydon Police attended the scene and
placed a notice on it.
The car was still there on 30 September,
parked on double yellow lines.
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USEFUL WEBSITES
NEWS AND BLOGS
If you want to know what is going on in Croydon
insidecroydon.com/
If you are interested in police matters
http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/
If you are interested in checking facts
http://fullfact.org
FOOD AND HEALTH
Bradleys for the best frozen fish around
(quality, price and great choice)
www.frozenfishdirect.co.uk
For books and health products that might change a few
things in your life for the better
www.credence.org
For organic food on your doorstep, check
www.riverford.co.uk and discover, once more, what real
food tastes like
For a fun and inspirational blog full of gluten free recipes
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.co.uk/p/site-index.html
If you want to make a difference about better prices, decent
working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of
trade for farmers and workers in the developing world
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
LIFESTYLE AND BEAUTY
For Ayurvedic theraphy, enter the peaceful world of
www.gardenofpomegranates. com and enjoy beauty, the
natural way
When you need a freelance make-up artist, check
www.mimidmakeup.com
For a hairdresser with a difference
www.wickhamstudio.co.uk/
WEBSITES
If you are looking for a reliable person to build your own
website, check www.nadianazir.com
TRAVEL
Before travelling and planning an outing, DO check
www.tripadvisor.co.uk for real feedback
SERVICES
For superb and traditional shoe repairs
www.traditionalshoerepairs.co.uk
For electrical work
www.shirleyelectrical.com
LIBRARIES
Save Croydon Libraries Campaign
soslibrary.blogspot.co.uk
Alan Wylie's Stop the Privatisation of Public Libraries
http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/
The Library Campaign
http://www.librarycampaign.com/
Voices for the Library
http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/
27
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Repetita iuvant or Repeating does good
I read a lot of alternative websites and I came across a well written
article that dealt with 20 ways to reuse coffee grounds and tea leaves.
I was familiar with some of the uses (that are already part of my life
style) but the article also contained novel ideas so I thought it was a
good idea to share what Melissa Breyer wrote on Monday, 19
November 2012 at 6:07pm:
It takes a brave and hearty (and Spartan) soul to give up coffee and
tea in the name of food miles. Many do, but morning caffeine is the
guilty pleasure that whispers in a voice too alluring for many to resist.
One thing is for sure: it's generally a long journey for beans and leaves
to travel from exotic climes to the kitchen counter - so we may as well
honor them with some extra chores before condemning them to the
trash. For those who add their spent dregs to the compost bin, you
can still do so in many of these applications once their mission has
been accomplished.
What to do with coffee grounds
1 Soften skin
Exfoliate with a body scrub made of coffee grounds, coconut oil
and a little brown sugar. Gently massage it on in the shower, rinse,
be soft.
2 Please the flowers
Use coffee grounds as mulch for acid-loving plants - roses,
azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens, hydrangeas and camellias.
They like coffee grounds for the natural acidity and nutrients they
add to the soil.
3 Sadden the ants
Sprinkle coffee grounds around areas of ant infestation to deter
them.
4 Deter gastropods
Used grounds are said to repel snails and slugs, so sprinkle them
in problem areas.
5 Simplify fireplace cleaning
Before cleaning the fireplace, sprinkle with dampened used coffee
grounds, which will weigh down the ash and thus eliminate clouds
of smoke-flavored dust.
29
6 Make a sepia dye
Soak used grounds in hot water and use as a dye bath for Easter
eggs, fabric and paper for a lovely, soft brown tinge.
7 Keep cats at bay
Keep kitties out of the garden with a mixture of orange peels and
used coffee grounds distributed around plants.
8 Encourage the carrots
To boost a carrot harvest, mix seeds with dried coffee grounds
before sowing. The extra bulk makes the wee seeds easier to
manage, while the coffee aroma can nourish the soil and help repel
pests.
What to do with tea leaves and tea bags
Some tips call for dried leaves, heres how.
When youre finished brewing tea, place the
leaves into a large strainer or colander. Press
out as much moisture as possible, and then
spread the leaves on paper. Let the leaves dry
thoroughly, turning over several times in the
process. Also note that wet tea leaves stain,
so if you are using wet tea leaves on or near a porous surface, be
sure to test in an inconspicuous place first.
9 Tame stings and burns
Cool tea bags can bring relief when applied to bug bites and minor
burns, including sunburn. For overall skin irritation, put spent tea
leaves in a bath and soak.
10 Soothe your eyes
The tannins in tea have anti-inflammatory effects, which is why cool
ones are often employed on puffy eyes. (The chill also helps with
swelling.)
11 Feed the garden
Use tea leaves as food for garden plants green tea is high in
nitrogen, and as a bonus, the leaves can ward off pests and
insects. This is also good for houseplants, so add old tea leaves to
their water.
12 Boost potted plants
When potting plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the
30
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31
drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before adding soil. The
tea bags will help to retain water and will also leach some nutrients
into the potting medium.
13 Quell the cat box smell
Sprinkle used, dried tea leaves in litter boxes to help reduce the
smell.
14 Eliminate other pet odors
Sprinkle dried, used green tea leaves on your pets pillow, bed, in
the doghouse, or other smelly spots to eliminate odor.
15 Freshen the carpet
Sprinkle dry tea leaves onto the carpet, crush them lightly and let
sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh the carpet and
deodorize your vacuum cleaner and bag. (Especially helpful if you
have pets.)
16 Treat the dog
As an extravagance, loose leaf gunpowder tea is a treat for dogs to
roll around in. Its great for the aroma and luster it adds to the coat.
17 Freshen mats and beds
It is common in Southeast Asia to wash straw sleeping mats in
tubs of water to which tea has been added. The tea works as a
deodorizer, so you can apply this method to yoga mats and air
mattresses.
18 Save the fridge
If youre out of baking soda, place dried, used green tea bags or
leaves in a small open bowl in your refrigerator to help absorb
odors.
19 Wash your hands
Rid your hands of food odors (garlic, onions, etc.) by rubbing them
with wet green tea leaves, an instant deodorizer.
20 Deodorize kitchen surfaces
Rub wet tea leaves on cutting boards and counters to remove food
odors.
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/stories/20-ways-to-reuse-coffee-grounds-tea-leaves
We drink espresso and have a lot of coffee grounds so I tried the body
scrub suggested by Melissa. It is a bit messy the first time you make
it but it does work. Moreover, I love the subtle smell of coffee on the
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skin and, most of all, the idea that nothing is wasted. I also tried to mix
the coffee grounds with my favourite shower gel. It works too and it is
an easier option. I now keep a small container of coffee grounds in the
shower room, of course in a nice coffee jar.
Coffee Grounds Facial Moisturizing and Scrub Mask Recipes
I then looked around for recipes. Not easy and, again,
I tried a few before settling for one. I did try salt but it
was too drying and abrasive. There is no need for high-
priced (and too often chemically laden) spa treatments
to get your skin glowing.
Moisturizing Facial Mask Recipe
You can indulge in a coffee grounds facial to soften the
delicate skin on your face. Simply mix together these
ingredients:
2 tablespoons of coffee grounds;
2 tablespoons cocoa powder;
3 tablespoons of whole milk or heavy cream or yogurt;
1 tablespoon honey.
Massage this chocolatey delicious mask into your skin in the morning
for a quick perk up.
Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes.
Then rinse it off thoroughly.
This delectable mask will help tighten pores and remove oil. The coffee
grounds will help reduce puffiness and swelling, while the cocoa,
honey and milk will add moisture to your skin.
Exfoliating Facial Mask Recipe
Mix together 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds with a little bit of
coconut oil and a scoop of shea butter.
Stir until you get a paste-like consistency.
Using your fingers, apply is sparingly on your face by rubbing in small
circles.
Let dry for 10 to 12 minutes.
Slough off with warm wash cloth.
You will get proper moisturizing in addition to the exfoliation benefits of
the coffee grounds. The caffeine in the coffee gives you a great
morning pick up.
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Marzia
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Total Policing
The Safer Neighbourhood Team in Shirley has been forced to relocate to
Addington Village Police Station as part of a policy implemented by the
unelected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Mayor Johnson. Many
Shirley residents are not even aware of this and did not know that there
had been a MOPAC consultation in Croydon.
There is strong evidence to confirm that the extra officers promised have
not arrived and Croydon has fewer officers than ever. Check the Met
websites. This is re-affirmed by officers being replicated in some wards.
Residents who are not online will find the situation disconcerting and will
perhaps feel abandoned. We have not received any alerting leaflet in my
road so I am simply spreading the news by word of mouth.
According to the information given during the MOPAC consultations
local residents should continue to have a say in policing and there should be
democratically constituted ward panels to represent communities in the
Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs).
36
The Chestnut Clinic
Specialising in the Identification &
Treatment of Allergic Disorders
Home Visit Service
Tel: 01959 572055
Email: Chestnuthomeopathy@virginmedia.com
Website: www.chestnuthomeopathy.co.uk
63 Steeple Heights Drive, Biggin Hill, Westerham, TN16 3UN
Tel: 020 8688 0844 Mobile: 07860 795836 Email: paul@ccrltd.co.uk
6 Commerce Way Croydon Surrey CR0 4XA
37
The Chestnut Clinic has moved
to
63 Steeple Heights Drive
biggin Hill TN16 3UN
38
Nathalies Column
SIX TIPS FOR WINTER WELLBEING
Wellbeing is a blend of physical, mental and
spiritual wellness. In Ayurveda, we see each
person as a combination of several elements
(ether, air, fire, water & earth). Each
combination is unique and makes our individual
constitution. This constitution as a whole is made of
3 inter-dependent parts which are the mind, body and spirit. Wellbeing
is perfect balance between the 3 parts. It is when the mind is calm and
sharp, the body healthy and functioning properly and when the spirit
is strong. Balance is achieved by being mindful of our habits and
actions, by eating and digesting our food well, by coping well with
stress and cultivating the spirit. Wellbeing is the perfect state of
happiness when our mind, body and spirit are healthy and we are
happy and contented. When imbalances occur, discomforts, diseases,
low moods and premature ageing follow.
Wellbeing is living in balance with our constitution and in balance with
nature and this includes the season we are in as our health regime
should be changed according to the natural rhythm of the season.
There are 6 health tips that you can follow to ensure ultimate Winter
Wellbeing.
1 A diet fit for winter
Your food nourishes your cells so a healthy diet full of whole grains,
high quality protein, vegetable and fruits and some dairy products
promotes healthy cells. In winter to stave off the cold and gloom of
grey skies, eat food with warming, calming and comforting
properties. For instance, start the day with porridge made with milk
and a touch of cinnamon, which is a warming spice. Potatoes,
carrots, swede, turnips are all in season and this is the perfect time
of the year to make heart warming stews. Citrus fruit such as
oranges and lemons are also in season and good source of vitamin
C which will help strengthen the immune system and is also a
39
powerful antioxidant. Red and green peppers, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts and potatoes are also good sources of this vitamin.
2 Look after your digestion
For optimal wellbeing, healthy food must be followed by a healthy
digestion. According to Ayurveda, digestion is one of the most
important functions in the body. If you experience frequent
indigestion, heartburn and bloating it means that your food is not
digested properly. And, no matter how good is the food you put in,
if you cant digest it properly, it most likely will lead to mal-absorption
of vitamins and minerals which means that your cells wont be
nourished as they should be.
A healthy digestion is important all year round to provide good
nutrients to our cells but it is even more so in winter when we tend
to eat more comforting food which is heavier to digest. In winter it is
advisable to eat mostly hot food and increase the use of spices like
garlic, ginger, cumin and cinnamon which are warming and help
stimulate the digestive process. A good tip to ensure optimal
digestion is to eat when hungry. The rumbling of your stomach is
your body talking to you and telling you it is ready for another meal
so listen to your body for a healthy digestion.
3 Hydrate your cells
Central heating is very drying and so are cold, windy conditions.
Ayurveda advises to start the day with a hot lemon and ginger drink.
Lemon is cleansing and therefore assists the detoxifying process
whereas ginger stimulates the digestive fire which helps get your
body ready for the first meal of the day.
Throughout the day, drink plenty of warm water-herbal teas are ideal-
and avoid cold icy drinks which will disrupt your digestive fire and
make you feel even colder. Warm water will hydrate your cells and
skin from inside out and will also help clear away toxins.
Next months 3 tips are about exercise, the importance of me-time
and how to boost your immune system. Keep well & healthy,
Nathalie
40
12 Strategies to Strengthen Your Immune
System
Infections are as inevitable as death and taxes. You spend your first
years catching colds, influenza and strep throat. You sniffle, scratch,
cough, vomit, ache, sweat and shiver. Your immune system
remembers the microbes it has encountered and protects you the next
go around. At the other end of life, your immune system wearies from
years of fighting. In that great expanse of active, productive life in
between, you still get colds and flus and stomach bugs. You may
wonder why you are sick more or less often than your partner, co-
workers and neighbours. You may wonder why one person hacking on
the airplane successfully sickens the passenger to his right but not the
one to his left. The answer is that not all immune systems function
alike. A number of factors affect immune system health. Some you
cant control: the very young and the very old are vulnerable. Surgery
and wounds give microbes a chance to sneak into the inner sanctum.
Other risks include chronic disease, poverty, stress, living with lots of
other people (dormitories, low-income housing), and drinking tap water
(with its local microbes) in many foreign countries. Fortunately, there are
ways you can strengthen your immune system.
1 Eat Like Peter Rabbit. Malnutrition impairs immune function. French
fries, soft drinks and bourbon dont build strong white blood cells
either. No, its those virtuous, self-righteous diets high in fruits,
vegetables and nuts that promote immune health, presumably
because theyre rich in nutrients that the immune system requires.
Adequate protein intake is also important; the source can be plant or
animal. Medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake and reishi
contain beta-glucans (complex carbohydrates) that enhance immune
activity against infections and cancer and reduce allergies (cases of
inappropriate immune system activity). While studies have focused on
purified mushroom extracts, fresh shiitake and maitake mushrooms
are delicious sauted in a little olive oil. One substance to avoid is
simple sugar. Brigitte Mars, herbalist and author of The Desktop Guide
to Herbal Medicines, notes that sugary foods and juices impair immune
function; research bears her out. If youre a new mother, breast milk
provides essential nutrients and immune system components to your
41
developing child. Compared with formula-fed babies, those nourished
at the breast have fewer serious infections.
2 Stress Less. When youre stressed, your adrenal glands churn out
epinephrine (aka adrenaline) and cortisol. While acute stress pumps
up the immune system, grinding long-term duress taxes it. For
instance, psychological stress raises the risk for the common cold and
other viruses. Less often, chronic stress can promote a hyper-reactive
immune system and aggravate conditions such as allergies, asthma
and autoimmune disease. While most of us cant move into a spa, we
can learn to save our stress responses for true emergencies and not
fire them up over stalled traffic, bad hair days and aphids on the
begonias. Stress-reducing activities such as meditation produce
positive changes in the immune system. Massage has shown to
improve immune function in studies of Dominican children with HIV.
Quiet music can aid recovery from everyday hassles and may therefore
buttress immune function.
3 Move Your Body. Moderate exercise discharges tension and stress
and enhances immune function. In a 2006 study, researchers took 115
obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women and assigned half of them
to stretching exercises once a week and the other half to at least 45
minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week. At the end of
the year-long study, the stretchers had three times the rate of colds as
the moderate-exercise group.
4 Sleep Soundly. Sleep is a time when growth-promoting and
reparative hormones knit up the raveled sleeve of daily life. Sleep
deprivation activates the stress response, depresses immune function
and elevates inflammatory chemicals (which cause you to feel ill).
Chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of the common cold. Mothers
whose small children interrupt their sleep have more respiratory
infections, particularly if those wee ones go to day care. In one study,
after researchers inoculated volunteers noses with cold viruses (a
reward was involved), men and women who habitually slept less than
seven hours a night were almost three times more likely to develop a
cold than those who slept eight hours or more.
5 Socialize More. People with richer social lives enjoy better health and
longevity than loners do. You may think that the more people you
interact with, the more chances you have for picking something up. Not
so. Again, researchers blew cold viruses up peoples noses and sent
them into the world. Compared with the lone wolves, the social
butterflies were less susceptible to developing common colds, and, if
they did get sick, they had fewer symptoms for a shorter period of time.
Many of us count furred and feathered companions as friends, and it
turns out they do us a world of good. Animals such as dogs and horses
get us outside exercising. Stroking an animal stirs feelings of well-being,
lowers blood pressure and, according to recent research, boosts the
immune system. Researchers assigned college students to pet either a
stuffed dog or a live dog. Those who petted a real dog had a significant
increase in levels of salivary IgG, an antibody (immune protein) that fights
infection. Those who petted the stuffed dog just felt silly.
6 Make more love. While having lots of friends is healthy, science also
shows that intimate, sexual relationships have immune system perks.
Michael Castleman, renowned health writer and publisher of Great Sex
After 40, writes, A 2004 study shows that the close contact of
lovemaking reduces the risk of colds. Specifically, this study found
that college students who had sex once or twice a week had 30
percent more salivary IgA antibody than those who had sex
infrequently.
7 Shun Tobacco Smoke. Tobacco smoke triggers inflammation,
increases respiratory mucus, and inhibits the hairlike projections inside
your nose (cilia) from clearing that mucus. Children and adults exposed
to tobacco smoke are more at risk for respiratory infections, including
colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and middle ear infections.
8 Consume Friendly Bacteria. Beneficial microorganisms colonize
our intestinal, lower urinary and upper respiratory tracts. They
outcompete bad bugs and enhance immune function. You can
consume such bacteria in the form of live-cultured products such as
yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi. Probiotic supplements, available at
natural food stores, may reduce the risk of antibiotic-induced diarrhea,
viral diarrhea, vaginitis and respiratory infections.
9 Expose Yourself. Vitamin D plays a number of roles in promoting
normal immune function. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with asthma,
cancer, several autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), and
susceptibility to infection (including viral respiratory infections). One
42
43
study linked deficiency to a greater likelihood of carrying MRSA
(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in the nose.
Unfortunately, nearly one-third of the U.S. population is vitamin D
deficient. Because few foods contain much vitamin D, your best bet is
to regularly spend short periods of time in the sun (without sunscreen),
and to take supplements in northern climes during the colder months.
Guidelines for the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin D,
currently set at 400 IU/day, are being revised. Experts predict that the
new RDA will be about 1,000 IU/day (25 ug/day).
10 Choose Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Wisely. Studies link
deficiencies of zinc, selenium, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, D and
E to reduced immune function. But scientists have yet to pinpoint exact
levels of these nutrients for optimal immune function, much less whether
dietary supplementation really helps the average, well-fed American. For
instance, research on vitamin C for prevention and treatment of the
common cold has been inconclusive. Some micronutrients, notably
vitamin A, can be toxic in overdose. Excessive levels of zinc
paradoxically suppress immune function. A varied, plant-based diet and
a good multivitamin supplement should meet your needs.
11 Immunize Yourself. Routine vaccinations have had a huge impact
on reducing, and in many cases nearly eradicating, a number of
infectious diseases. Most immunizations occur during childhood.
Vaccinations for adults to consider include yearly influenza vaccines,
tetanus boosters, the shingles vaccine for people 60 and up, and the
pneumococcus vaccine for people over the age of 65. For more
information, check with the Centers for Disease Control. (Many
disagree with this strategy.)
12 Familiarize Yourself With Immune-Enhancing Herbs. A long list
of medicinal plants contain chemicals that enhance immune system
activity, including echinacea, eleuthero (also called Siberian ginseng),
ginseng (Asian and American), astragalus, garlic, and shiitake, reishi
and maitake mushrooms. Garlic is the favorite choice of many. In
addition to boosting the immune system, its anticancer and
antimicrobial against a variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
Key ingredients dont survive cooking, so add a clove or two of raw,
minced garlic to meals just before serving.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={7A34E284-D274-4A21-B221-1EFC51207C55}#ixzz2eW6vt37Y

44
NEWS
from the Shirley Community Centre
SCCA wishes to thank:
Phillip Stentiford, Customer
Service Manager at Wickes,
West Wickham, for helping
the Centre with sound advice
and very keen prices for tools
and paints.
It was a real pleasure to meet
him. We hope to see him at the
Centre soon.
The BT Crew of
volunteers
who
decorated
the hall in a
professional
manner and
in a single
day.
They were very
friendly, efficient and
hard-working. The hall
looks light and airy.

The Friday Club who meet every Friday between 2 and

5pm would be happy to welcome new senior residents.
There is no charge and you can enjoy a chat over tea (or
coffee) and biscuits plus games and bingo. Just drop in!

You can hold your parties at the Centre on

Saturdays and Sundays. Contact the Site
Manager, NOG, on 020 8777 4298 from
Monday to Friday from 9 to 11am or
Friday afternoon. He will be happy to show
you around.
The Centre is available for hire during the morning and
early afternoon. We are gradually populating the day slots:
please consider meeting at the Centre for your group or
association. Groups now hold training courses and
interviews at the Centre at very competitive prices.
SCCA (Shirley Community Centre Association) would like
to welcome new Trustees. If you are interested in helping
the Centre become an even more lively place, please email
scca-shirley1@hotmail.co.uk for further details. We are a
Charity and need people who can contribute actively to
the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction
to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals
and setting targets and evaluating performance against
agreed targets. A Trustee should be aware of Nolan's
seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity,
objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and
leadership.
The Shirley Community Centre Association will hold its
AGM on Tuesday 12 November 2013. All Shirley
residents are cordially invited to attend.
45
Another epic day at
the Centre!!! The
decoration of the
hall was completed
in one day. Thank
you, BT boys and
girl.
Another epic day at
the Centre!!! The
decoration of the
hall was completed
in one day. Thank
you, BT boys and
girl.
Pictures by Marzia
A
big thank you to Jill
Latter, Andrew Dunsmore
of Picture Partnership,
Maurine and Tom Dunsmore, Orla
of Slimming World, Nathalie of
Garden of Pomigranates, Sasha of
Wickham Studio, Elizabeth Ash,
Peter Staveley and all the guests
who raised 166.47 for the
Macmillan Nurses Big Coffee
Morning on 27 September 2013.
A special mention goes to Gerry
who entertained all with his great
music. He is a real charity
champion.
50
Andrew Dunsmore,
Picture Partnership,
Shirley
Winstons Wish
By the time you read this, the Big Macmillan Coffee Morning
will have been and gone. A great and worthy cause which
helps many in the local community and offers over 1.7 million
people currently affected by cancer life-changing care and
support .
I hope that the numerous Coffee Mornings will have been fun
and successful.
In addition to Coffee Mornings there are many other fund
raising opportunities for many different causes.
One I am getting involved with later in this month of October,
is a The Great BIG Halloween Portrait Marathon.
This is a Nationwide Photographers challenge to work for
24 hours to help raise money and awareness for Winston's
Wish, a Childhood Bereavement Charity helping bereaved
children of all ages and their families in the UK.
Helping others less fortunate than ourselves is always a good
cause in my book and, whilst none of us ever wants to lose
someone close, it will happen at some stage in our lives. It is
good to know there are people and charities that can help
when one needs help. So how can you help them help you,
your friends and your families?
On Saturday 26 October 2013 starting at 12.00 noon until
Sunday at 12.00 noon, Picture Partnership, Shirley will be
open for a 24 hour photoshoot.
51
www.picturepartnership.co.uk
@PPPictures
You may book a session
or just turn up - and take
a chance as to how
busy we are when you
arrive.
For a small donation,
your choice, but a
minimum of 1 is
required, we will take a
variety of pictures of you
in our studio - dressed
for the night before going
out, or on the way back
- thats if you remember
to call in at 2.00am. :)
Its your photo-shoot,
your choice of clothes,
casual, smart or
dressed to impress, in
your pyjamas, or it could
even be with your pet on the way back from a walk in the
evening or the early morning. After the shoot, choose your
favourite picture and we will print it for you there and then.
We are hoping to have a number of other offers including
raffles and prizes from other local businesses.
But you have to be here to enter to win, to help others.
Our address is :
213 Wickham Road, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8TG.
Tel: 020 8656 4024.
Picture Partnership are six doors away from
the Co-Op opposite Shirley Library.
54
A few comments from the judge:
The number of entries was very pleasing and the standard was very high.
To be honest I had expected quite a few snapshots, but I had a lot of very
good photographs which showed that people had thought about the
picture, the composition and the lighting.
The winning picture may have been taken on
a Panoramic camera, but may also be part
of a taller picture, but cropped to be a
panoramic drawing the eye to the beach
scene with the horizon, the pier, the sea,
blue skies and the green grass of England.
What more could you want on holiday. A
very worthy winner.
Looking at the entries there are some great
pictures which could have been much better
if only... cropping had been looked at.
A picture is what you shoot through the
camera, but can be enhanced with cropping
afterwards. One example we had was of a
couple with a lot of what, at first glance,
Picture Partnership Competition
looked like flowers, but were actually padlocks - but the drainpipe ruined
the picture.
Another picture from Verona is great but cropped to look balanced would
be even more dramatic, and may even have won if presented as such.
However, they were very good entries in many ways, but please do not
forget the final presentation when entering your next photo competition.
55
The winner is: Bournemouth Panoramic
56
SHIRLEY LIBRARY
October 2013
Full of Life Week
1 hour introductory sessions to the family history website Ancestry on Tuesday 1
October from 9.30 to 10.30am and 11.30am to 12.30pm. Please reserve your place
at the library.
Barrie McKay will give a talk entitled The Curious Story of The Crystal Palace Lost
Railway on Thursday 3 October from 2.15 to 3.30pm. Please reserve your place at
the library.
Drop in family knitting session on Friday 4 October from 2.30 to 4.30pm
Manned Arthritis Care stall offering help and advice on Friday 4 October from 11am
to 12 noon.
Family Learning Week
Cup cake decorating with Rania for adults with children aged 5+ on Monday 7
October from 4 to 5.30pm. Please reserve your place at the library.
Drop in family card making session for adults with children aged 5+ on Tuesday 8
October from 4to 5.30pm.
Themed Story and Craft session on Thursday 10 October from 4 to 5.30pm.
Learn A New Rhyme Rhymetime on Friday 11 October from 10 to 10.30am
Black History Month Celebrations
Gesmay Paynter, author of Sharing Bananas: as a bunch we could do more, will give
a talk on Monday 14 October from 2.15 to 3.30pm. Please reserve your place at the
library.
Elaine Tsopotsa, author of The Zebra Crossings, will give a talk on Monday 21
October from 2.15 to 3.30pm. Please reserve your place at the library.
African mask making session for 4+ on Tuesday 15 October from 4.30 to 5.30pm.
Half Term Activities
As a continuation of our Black History Month celebrations we will have an African
safari craft session on Monday 28 October from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Halloween crafts on Tuesday 29 October from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Pirate crafts on Thursday 31 October from 3 to 4.30pm.
Paper beads crafts on Friday 1 November from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Free Regular Activities and Events Children and Teens
Storytime: 2.15 to 2.45pm on the following Thursdays: 3,10,17,24 and 31.
Rhymetime: 10 to 10.30am on the following Fridays: 4, 11, 18 and 25.
57
Once upon a Rhyme: 10 to 10.30am on the following Saturdays: 12 and 26.
Saturday Crafts: 2.30 to 4pm on the following Saturdays: 5 and 19.
Chatterbooks is a reading group for children aged 8-11 years old. Just like the Teen
Reading Group it meets once a month and its a chance to discuss all things book
related whilst playing some fun games and quizzes. Friday 25 from 4 to 5pm.
Teen Reading Group: This group meets once a month to read and discuss books,
recommend books to each other, choose new books for the library and do lots of
other book related activities such as quizzes and games or any other activities that
the members suggest. Thursday 24 from 4.30 to 5.30pm
Free Regular Activities and Events for Adults
Board games: Do you like playing Scrabble, Monopoly, cards, chess and Battleship?
We have a selection of games which can be used in the library any time.
Monthly Craft Workshop: Card Making on Tuesday 1 from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Stitch, Knit and Natter from 2.30 to 4.30pm Friday 4 and 18.
Work Club on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon. The Work Club is here to offer
support with job search, help with typing CVs, help filling in application forms and
there is access to the internet and email. No appointment is needed, just drop in.
Computer sessions for beginners: Learn to set up an email account, use Facebook,
do online shopping, use Word, Excel and Powerpoint or improve your typing skills.
These sessions are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays in the morning and afternoon
and on Saturday mornings. Please contact the library for further details.
Display boards
Our display boards are available for use free of charge to advertise your club or
society. Please contact Fiona or Irene at Shirley Library on 020 8726 6900 or email
croydon.shirleylibrary@laing.com
58
http://www.wickhamstudio.co.uk/
Wickham Studio Teen
Are you between 13 and 19 and would love to save
40% on all hairdressing and nail services for a year?
Simply join our Teen Club by purchasing a Teen
Club Card for only 20.00. Simply email
wickhamstudio@yahoo.co.uk and leave your name
and contact details telling us that you are interested
in joining Teen Club.
58
READING
GROUP
FOR ADULTS
The group will discuss Three cups of tea by Greg Mortenson on Thursday 17
October at 6pm.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a
Time ) is a book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin published by Penguin
in 2007. For four years, the book remained on the New York Times nonfiction
bestseller's list. Three Cups of Tea describes Mortenson's transition from a
registered nurse and mountain-climber to a humanitarian committed to reducing
poverty and promoting education for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Following
the beginnings of his humanitarian efforts, Mortenson became co-founder of
the Central Asia Institute (CAI), a non-profit group that, as of 2010, reports it has
overseen the building of over 171 schools. CAI reports that these schools provide
education to over 64,000 children, including 54,000 girls, where few education
opportunities existed before in the remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The book's title comes from a Balti proverb: "The first time you share tea with
a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored
guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family...
Free monthly talks om authors or speakers
There will be three talks this month:
Thursday 3: The Curious Story of The Crystal Palace Lost Railway by Barrie
McKay;
Monday 14: Black History Month Celebrations by Gesmay Paynter;
Monday 21: Black History Month Celebrations by Elaine Tsopotsa.
Tea and coffee will be served afterwards.
59
60
Green Thumb: Chapter 5
One was terrified when one read the Lawn Scarification Notes and
expected destruction of ones slowly recovering lawn.
Nothing of the sort happened, although thatch and moss were
removed in heaps, raked and bagged into precisely two bags. The
lawn before the scarification is picture number 5 on page 67.
The lawn after the scarification is in the picture below. It looks lighter
61
and happier. It did not need re-seeding
and top dressing.
It was a longish session and two people
came. One was warned of a very strong
smell but it did not really matter because
one does not spend much time in the
garden.
Green Thumb tell us that the process
will improve growing conditions for the
grass plant and air flaw in the sward.
They sprayed the lawn with a
micronutrient feed that gives good
colour and helps with the control of
moss.
One pays 18.77 per month, which is
reasonable because the grass is
improving and the weeds have gone. It
costs much less than the various
treatments that ones husband applied
to the lawn without great results.
The treatments last between ten and
twenty minutes and the lawn experts
have always been very polite and helpful
when one asked questions.
One will keep the readers informed
about the progress of the treatment.
Green Thumb said that the lawn would
look much better after the
Autumn/Winter Treatment.
61
1
2
3
4
5
62
GB GARDENING SERVICES
All aspects of garden maintenance undertaken
LAWN CARE AND CUTTING
WEEDING, PLANTING AND PRUNING
HEDGE TRIMMING
LEAF CLEARING
FENCE AND SHED TREATMENT
JET WASHING OF PATHS AND PATIOS
NO JOB CONSIDERED TOO SMALL
All your gardening needs catered for using our own
tools. Removing all debris from site and leaving
your garden clean and tidy
ALL AT COMPETITIVE PRICES
FREE NO OBLIGATION
QUOTATIONS
Contact Greg:
Mobile: 07968 404 448
Email: greggiebrown@yahoo.co.uk
www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com
Jill Latter Jill Latter Jill Latter
DOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS
CariAd
D
olls H
ouse
F
urnishings
66
Public Inquiry Document by Dave Davies
There are 4267 people a year dying in London from pollution (the
Mayors own statistic in 2008). In the 4 years that he has been in
office the Mayor has implemented improper and failed emissions
strategies which have seen no reduction in pollution. Tens of
thousands of people are being exposed to harmful pollution on a
daily basis, including all of Londons Transport workers (Taxi
Drivers, Bus Drivers, Train Drivers, Station Staff), passengers,
commuters, cyclists and pedestrians.
If 80 people a week, each and every week, were killed in a terrorist
attack, a train crash or road accident there would be outrage and
there would be an immediate Public Inquiry to prevent it ever
happening again. It should be the same with the deaths from
pollution and the only way action will be taken is if a Public Inquiry
investigates why this has happened and why it continues.
Certain characteristics can be identified in those public inquiries that
have taken place:
Widespread loss of life
Threats to public health or safety
Failure by the state in its duty to protect
Failure in regulation
Shocking events
1 Allegations of serious misconduct and prima facie merit have been
made against those acting, or purporting to act, on behalf of the state
and
2 Those allegations are sufficiently widespread and are being treated
sufficiently seriously by those outside Government to undermine the
publics confidence in the integrity of the State and in the rule of law
and
3 The allegations relate to a sufficiently defined event or series of events
to allow an inquiry to be given proper and clear terms of reference and
4 An inquiry would represent the most effective means of establishing
the merit of the allegations made and so of restoring public
confidence.
This website gives a clear guide about the process:
http://www.publicinquiries.org/determining_the_need_for_an_inquiry
67
Terms of reference for judge-led Inquiry
To inquire into the culture, practices, and ethics of The Mayor and
Transport for London including:
1 The failure of The Mayor and TFL to comply with Public Law in their
decision making process. Decisions are required (by Public Law) to
be evidence based, rational, reasonable, proportionate, and
consistent. (This includes Air Quality strategies and the policies relating
to London Taxis). The Taxi Age Limit has put hundreds of London Taxi
Drivers out of work, yet will do nothing to reduce pollution. The
decision was improper and unlawful; it was not evidence based (no
testing was ever done) and it has also been exposed that the
Consultation process was improper as it involved the Taxi
manufacturers.
Tim Yeo , a senior Tory MP who initiated the Taxi Age Limit, is also the
Chairman of Eco City Vehicles (the company selling the new taxis).
When the improper involvement of his company in the Age Limit
consultation was exposed, Tim Yeo and the CEO of Eco City Vehicles
resigned, yet no action has been taken. In fact, The Mayor has even
denied their involvement in a letter to an MP. A High Court Judicial
Review overturned a Taxi Age Limit in Newport Wales for exactly the
same reason; an improper consultation process had taken place. The
Department of Transport had actually advised against a Taxi Age Limit,
as older taxis may be no more polluting than newer taxis, but the
Mayor ignored this.
2 The Mayor/TFL have failed to reduce emissions in London. Their Air
Quality strategies have failed miserably and as a direct result 4267
people a year have died (19201 in the last 4 years) from pollution
related illness and many more suffer poor health and a diminished
quality of life. The Mayor and TFL have failed in their Duty of Care to
implement effective strategies to protect the health on Londoners.
3 The Metropolitan Police have refused to investigate allegations of
fraud, corruption and Misconduct in Public Office. In 2008 a High
Court Judge ruled that TFL had made unlawful decisions (which
constitutes Misconduct in Public Office) and no action has been taken.
The Local Government Ombudsman and the Standards Committee
have also chosen to ignore or refused to investigate any complaints.
4 The Environmental Audit Committee published a damning report in
68
November 2011 which was extremely critical of the failed Air Quality
standards in London and yet the Government has taken no action.
The Mayor and TFL have not been held to account by any agency.
5 The Mayor and TFL have tried to cheat Air Quality measurements by
spraying dust suppressants at Air Quality measurements stations. This
is a clear fraudulent attempt to hide the pollution problems and a clear
admission that ALL Air Quality strategies have failed miserably.
6 The EU could impose fines of 300 million for Londons failure to
comply with emissions standards, which will be passed on to
Londoners.
7 The Mayor and TFL have unreasonably ignored any suggestions of
valid ideas to improve emissions i.e. a peak time delivery ban or a
clean up process for diesel vehicles.
8 In 2009 The mayor ignored attempts by the Labour Government to
force him to take action to reduce emissions.
9 The Mayor and TFL have no effective and robust strategies in place
going forward, so there is no likelihood that the situation will improve.
In his recent manifesto The Mayor did not even mention any proposals
to reduce emissions in London, which would suggest he has no
intention to do so.
During the Mayoral election all of the candidates (except Boris) formally
supported a call for a Public Inquiry into the failed Air Quality and 34
London MPs wrote to the Environment Secretary to challenge the Public
Health Fraud because TFL were using dust suppressants at the
measurement locations to cheat the readings.
The Leveson inquiry has exposed the serious issues of corruption in the
media, the Metropolitan Police and Public Office and a similar Inquiry will
expose the reasons why The Mayor and TFL have failed which has
resulted in thousands of deaths.
The Mayor and TFL knew in advance that there were thousands of
people dying from pollution and also that their proposed strategies would
not reduce emissions at all, yet he continued to do nothing.
In 2009 the Labour Government tried to force the Mayor to take action
to reduce emissions and this was ignored.
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2172187/boris-johnson-
resisted-labour-appeal-tackle-london-air-pollution
69
In September 2010 TFL/The Deputy Mayor were sent details of an
engine clean up process, which would have reduced the emissions of all
21000 London Taxis by 30-50% and would have been extremely cost
effective. This process could have been used for ALL diesel vehicles in
London ie taxis, buses, trucks etc (which are the biggest polluters) yet it
was completely ignored.
On 6 June 2010 the Mayor was sent a document which outlined
effective ideas for emissions reduction. It also gave technical details of
why past and future proposed strategies had and would fail;
1 The failed taxi emissions project
2 The failed LEZ project
The Mayor has continually been given solid technical evidence as to why
his strategies are not effective. He has ignored this evidence before,
during and after these strategies have been implemented.
He has ignored or sidestepped ALL questions that have been asked on
many occasions by MPs and Assembly members.
The evidence that ALL of the Mayors strategies have failed is unarguable.
The Environmental Research Group at Kings have said there has been
little or no reduction in emissions in 10 years.
If the Air Quality had improved then why would the Mayor find it
necessary to cheat the measurements by spraying dust suppressants?
A Public Inquiry will expose all of the reasons why there has been no
action taken and establish exactly why thousands of people have died
and continue to do so.
It is alarming that despite the obvious failings of his previous tenure the
Mayor has made absolutely no proposals to improve emissions going
forward. (his manifesto did not even mention pollution let alone suggest
any method for improving it)
Many letters have been sent by MPs and many questions have been
asked by London Assembly Members in relation to failed emissions
strategies. The Mayor has completely ignored, sidestepped or failed to
answer all questions and has flatly refused to conduct any emissions
conformity testing whatsoever. It should be the case that all London MPs
and London Assembly Members give formal support and call for a Public
Inquiry.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/39537