Ben Niblett
@benniblett
Climate, campaigning, Christianity, some cricket. Live in Staines in the south of England. 3 kids, nearly grown up. Own views and all that.
Really enjoyed The Road Past Mandalay by John Masters. I love WW2 memoirs, and this is very well written. War in Syria and Basra, a holiday in Iran, and the Chindits and then the end of the war in Burma. Fascinating. And insight into how junior imperialists saw things.
People from Egham and Englefield Green at Runnymede to say #StopRosebank Where better than Runnymede where Magna Carta was signed, the home of democracy? No rain for six weeks now as the climate changes. We can't afford to drill any more oil.
🚗In July, 27% of new UK cars were electric. 🔌If you include plug-in hybrids, 42% had a plug. ⛽Petrol and diesel together were below 50%, a big sign. £ Electric cars are now slightly cheaper than petrol or diesel to buy new, and much cheaper to run. www.smmt.co.uk/huge-ev-boos...
Finished this chunky analysis of the 2024 election. Very interesting and stands up now we know what happened next. But an astonishing, studied lack of interest in Northern Ireland. @timbale.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social @willjennings.bsky.social
Enjoyed working in Host cafe at St Mary's Aldermary and then Palestine House this afternoon. Both blessedly cool.
Really enjoyed Iris by John Bayley. Beautifully written mixing his memories of her through their lives, with living with Alzheimers in her last years. Of her novels I loved The Sandcastle, An Unofficial Rose and The Bell, but it's a great book about love whether or not you're a fan.
Very nice weekend with old uni friends in Hebden Bridge. Stayed at this place and liked it very much. www.mayroydmillhouse.uk
More electric cars! 30% of new UK cars in June were electric, nearly a third, and 42.5% had a plug, more than two fifths. A good advance on last year, and a nice landmark that petrol and diesel combined were less than half of new sales. www.smmt.co.uk/ev-market-hi... - pinch of salt needed
Back from the Palestine 🇵🇸 solidarity march in London- great to have such a big turnout. Quakers have some very thoughtful, creative placards and banners
Enjoyed today's interfaith vigils at the start of the #SantaMarta conference on transitioning off fossil fuels. We visited the Colombian 🇨🇴 and Dutch 🇳🇱 embassies in London as they're co-hosting. We had readings, meditations and prayers. And Colombian coffee and Dutch stroopwafels.
Colombian coffee and Dutch stroopwafels are a great way to celebrate the Santa Marta conference on the transition away from fossil fuels. I'll be taking some to interfaith vigils outside the Colombian Embassy at 3.30pm on Friday, and then the Dutch Embassy at 4.30. Do join me!
On the way back from the @togetheralliance.bsky.social march against the far right - absolutely huge, half a million or so. Waited two hours to set off, which is always an encouraging sign.
Finished The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, a proper doorstep. Wow. Very detailed evocative descriptions of mundane moments, a lot of dodgy philosophy from different points of view, insights on German life just before WW1, and the joy of being alive - lots I'll remember and 1000s of words I won't.
In parliament listening to Grace Da Costa, saying why @quaker.org.uk support the right to protest, and oppose the government's plans to restrict 'cumulative' protests in the same area. A good end to a great mass lobby with 40+ organisations and 200+ constituents meeting our MPs.
Almost 1 in 4 new UK cars were electric in Feb, and over 1 in 3 had a plug. Pretty much the same as last Feb. Hardly any new diesels. Feb is the quietest month of the year for new cars, and March the busiest, so we'll see what happens in a month. Via @smmt-ukauto.bsky.social lnkd.in/eSU6SRS3
Back from the solidarity march for Palestine 🇵🇸. We need to stop arming Israel, stop the genocide, and get aid into Gaza.
Did you know less than 1% of all refugees come to the UK? It was great to find out the facts for my blog for Arise. www.ariseuk.org/blog/weekly-...
Really enjoyed this today, lots of people, lots of good ideas and encouragement, and some funding. @churchofengland.org won't completely get to net zero by 2030 but it's having a very good try. The schools are the biggest bit to do, then the churches.
2025 was a good year for electric cars in the UK. 🚗Nearly a quarter of new cars were full electric 🚗Over a third had a plug ⛽Petrol and diesel cars fell by 100,000 Below the government 28% BEV target, but close enough to avoid fines via @smmt-ukauto.bsky.social www.smmt.co.uk/uk-new-car-m...
Loved seeing @modottiband.bsky.social at the Shacklewell Arms last night. Beautiful noisy dream pop songs, played with great power.
Good to see more electric cars and fewer petrol and diesels in the latest UK new car numbers from @smmt-ukauto.bsky.social - transport is the biggest part of UK emissions and this is a big part of getting it to net zero. Dec will probably be even bigger for EVs.
My COP30 summary for Arise - we got some money and some roadmaps, and that was an achievement, but we needed more. www.ariseuk.org/blog/weekly-...
Good to be up early this morning for the #StopRosebank⛔ picket at DESNZ Today the consultation ends. By the end of the year the government will decide yes or no for a new climate-burning North Sea oilfield. Should be an easy decision.
Really enjoyed @theprimitives.bsky.social at Bush Hall - so many great songs, played fast. The band looked like they were enjoying it too, specially Tig the drummer.