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From the front line…

We must learn to live with alpha, beta, gamma, delta. And adapt!

BY JACQUELINE CURZON

Over in California, Alberto Montemayor (34), a truck driver,has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 42,000 lb of pistachio nuts. Central California produces most of the country’s pistachios, almonds and walnuts, creating almost 50,000 jobs and over $5 bn (£3.6 bn) in economic value, but robbers have disrupted nut distribution since 2014 by posing as truck drivers to steal the product, then selling it off as their own. More than $7.6 million worth of nuts was squirreled away, and last August a 23 year old was arrested for stealing 2 trucks of pistachios, with a street value of $294,000. Local police were alerted, but they said it was a hard case to crack.

In China, couples are now permitted to have three children, following a decline in population growth. From 1979 couples were subject to the one-child policy, amended to a two-child policy from 2016. Pregnant workers frequently complain that employers discriminate against them, often demoting them or cutting their salary, so it’s not clear if the population will increase without financial incentives. Closer to home, the end of the line has finally arrived for Benjamin Netanyahu (71), after 12 years in power. A coalition cross-party government has been formed, initially to be led for two years by Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yamina party, thereafter the centrist leader Yair Lapid will be in the driver’s seat. Three of the coalition leaders were defectors from Likud, and consequently siphoned off support. This now concludes the array of inconclusive elections held in Israel since 2019. A massive put-down by Netanyahu showed an unfortunate lack of magnanimity, with him saying [Bennett] had neither sufficient ‘international standing, credibility, capability, knowledge nor governmental support to ensure a solid defence against Iran.’ Ra’am, an an Islamist party, which Bibi has maligned for years, will also be part of the coalition. Like Trump, Netanyahu showed a lack of generosity to others in his defeat. Netanyahu nonetheless achieved much during his tenure, including making Jerusalem the Israeli capital (2017), continuing operations against Iran, expanding Israel’s military power, and making peace with several Arab states, including UAE. Unlike Bennett, Netanyahu was more cautious when considering military action and although he had a reputation for being a peacemaker, his own career was ultimately dogged by a trial for alleged corruption. It will be interesting to see if Bennett has the necessary gravitas to pull all sides of the coalition together.

In India a new variant of coronavirus has emerged: the Delta + . At least 22 samples of it have been discovered in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon, in the state of Maharashtra in Kerala, and in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned this could precipitate a third wave, in a country with already 500,000 deaths. It is causing concern in the UK, as it transpires that 41 cases of the Delta + have been found here.

In the latest chapter of political nonsense, Stonewall - the controversial LBGTQI charity - has called for teachers to drop the terms girls and boys, claiming it is both divisive and non-inclusive. They claim the word ‘learner’ should be used instead. This comes on top of recent criticism for use of the terms woman and man. I’m sure I said this yonks ago, very soon I will not be allowed to define myself as a married woman, the mother of 4 girls and 3 boys. I will be a person with female body parts - real or acquired - in a formal, legal arrangement with a person with male body parts and between us we have 7 children, gender currently unspecified. I’m told there are over 150 different genders, so it would be interesting to hear what Adam and Eve might say on that one…. We are ultimately only a few steps away from being redefined as ‘it.’ At that point there’s nothing to offend or upset those with more fluid notions of their gender. Or mine. One of my young friends who is in college has a female lecturer who insists on variously being called he, she or they, according to how she feels when she gets up in the morning. This is a tough ‘woke-up’ call for students to try and get right. One of Britain’s top girls’ schools has decided to dispense with the term Head Girl, as it is ‘too binary.’ Pupils at St Paul’s Girls School wanted a more inclusive title, and have settled on Head of School. This should give the Head Teacher pause for thought, as she must surely be considered the ultimate Head of School. One of their former alumni is Dame Kate Bingham, head of the UK Vaccine Task Force, and another alumni is Amanda Spielman, the current head of Ofsted, who was in favour of the school using ‘natural’ language, although it is unclear whether she included traditional terms within that terminology. What, I wonder, is the woke protocol for a woman, who identifies as a male, or other, if they are being honoured by the Queen? Are they entitled to insist they are called Mr, Lord or Sir? Should the Queen perhaps introduce an alternative title to appease those who feel the awards system is too binary? Or redefine the Empire medals so not to offend those who dislike imperialist references? I ask, only partly in jest….

There’s an expression ‘depends who you ask!’ The question which precedes it often starts with ‘can I,’ ‘must I,’ or ‘what would the Rabbi say?’ An alternative response might be, ‘if at first you don’t succeed - ask someone else!’ John Bercow seems to have taken this to heart. Having been humiliatingly passed over for his expected elevation to the House of Lords, he has now jumped ship to the Labour Party. Funny that, given many would have thought him a die hard Labour politician with all his interference whilst he was Speaker of the House. Certainly his blatant disregard for fair and unbiased refereeing in the Commons left none in doubt as to his political bent. Now Mr Bercow (how he must hate being a mere Mr) is evidently hoping he will still be promoted, albeit belatedly, by Sir Keir Starmer. As a politically unsophisticated individual I always considered his predecessor Betty Boothroyd a model of middos, and only twigged after her retirement that she was in fact a Labour MP. What a difference a positive personality makes.

Giorgia Meloni (44) has the makings of a good leader. Wouldn’t you agree? You do know she is tipped to become Italy’s first female prime minister!? No? Abandoned by her father and bullied by her peers for being fat, she became the leader of the hard-right Brothers of Italy party 4 years ago. Originally a minority (noch, fringe) party with <4% of the vote, they are now looking strong, and this could see a coalition in place should Mario Draghi resign as the incumbent PM. Interestingly Meloni is opposed to any further union with the EU, which she says has ‘tragically failed.’ In Germany the army has installed a rabbi as religious counsellor for the first time since 1918. Hungarian Zsolt Balla (42), a father of three, took up the post this week, and will officiate to the 300 serving Jewish soldiers. On a different battlefield the Euro 2021 match between England and Scotland proved a non-event, with a nil draw. Over 20,000 Scots fans however made the journey south to support their team, even though only around 3,000 had a ticket. Such was the anti English sentiment being expressed on social media that Ms Sturgeon was forced to appeal for an end to racist singing, with Scots fans screaming that they hate the **** English. Now the FM must appreciate this is what you should expect if you cultivate hatred. Nicola Sturgeon’s most prominent internal critic, Joanne Cherry, has recently quit the SNP National Executive Committee, claiming she was being prevented from fulfilling her mandate to improve transparency and scrutiny. This followed the party treasurer, Douglas Chapman, who also resigned, claiming he was not allowed access to information sufficient to do his job. John Swinney, the deputy FM, denied claims that the police were investigating a shortfall of £600,000 in party funds, and several officials resigned a few months ago, over the refusal of Peter Murrell (SNP Chief Executive and Sturgeon’s husband) to show the full accounts. Ms Sturgeon was likely further incensed to hear Michael Gove speculate that there will be no referendum until 2024, a comment which doubtless went down like a house of cards. All is not so cheery in the House of Holyrood.

Sacha Dench, known as the ‘human swan’ for her daring adventure following the migratory routes of swans in a paramotor from the Russian Arctic to the UK, is undertaking yet another ground-breaking expedition. The Round Britain Climate Challenge will see her circumnavigate Britain using an electric paramotor. Her journey is expected to take six weeks and will see Sacha flying around our coastlines and landing to talk to some of Britain’s most inspiring individuals and communities. She plans to end the journey in Glasgow to coincide with the Cop26 Climate Talks. Good luck Sacha. From paramotors to scooters now. Further casualties involving e-scooters have unfortunately made the news; Shakur Pinnock (20) was hit by a VW Golf, with his girlfriend riding pillion. She was seriously injured, and his death comes two years after TV presenter Emma Hartridge (35) died in an e-scooter accident with a lorry. In Northumbria a man of 55 is in critical condition after falling behind the group of 12 riders he was with. It is believed he collided with a vehicle and was not wearing a helmet. Let’s say it again, e-scooters are illegal and should not be ridden on public roads or pavements. If you must take one out, at least wear a suitable helmet.

As a long-time supporter and fundraiser for Jami and to celebrate her 81st birthday, my amazing friend Sarah Schiller will be walking 101 miles this summer. A news item will be included shortly, but in the interim please refer to the following link to donate and support Jami. https://jamiuk. org/donate/fundraising.

And now, the end of the academic year creeps slowly into sight, with the mirage of good weather and summer fun. Travel will become the eighth wonder of the world, and all being well, a journey east might even be on the расписание уроков (agenda). Watch this space….

Jacqueline Curzon

PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY

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