Andy Onchan Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 55 minutes ago, Moghrey Mie said: It's to replace somebody who is retiring and has done a brilliant job in setting up Biosphere IOM from scratch. What's the purpose of it, other than employing at least one person on £50Kpa? There's a veritable legion of people in the "Green" Cabinet Office.... surely it would have made economic sense to use the resources that already exist? The application wasn't a "do or die" scenario, was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Onchan Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 16 minutes ago, code99 said: There is also an inherent contradiction in this concept. If a country has a fragile precious Biosphere then in order to protect and sustain it, that country should dissuade hordes of tourists from trampling on it. This. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 17 minutes ago, Declan said: Do the government see Biosphere as a marketing tool? That's the problem. Or rather that they only see it as a marketing tool. As always with these things it's helpful to look at the details in the job pack: Biosphere project officer.pdf You'd expect such a job to concentrate on projects to improve the Island's biosphere, but if you look at the long list of what it's supposed to involve, there's really none of that. What's being promoted is the Biosphere status, it's all about bragging about it rather than improving it. Similarly the actual projects described on the Biosphere website aren't really about improving the Island's environment, protecting its wildlife or whatever, it's all 'awareness raising'. All poetry and picnics and posters, rather than peatbogs or planting. It's like to when Ramsey applied for some climate fund money and were told that they couldn't have it for things, only reports about things. The purpose of all this spending isn't to make things better for us or the environment, it's to provide well-paid employment for a certain class of people, those who deal in words rather than facts. You'd expect most of these involved in such projects to come from relevant scientific backgrounds, but in reality they're mostly from PR and similar. It's all about looking good not doing it. 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 hour ago, Moghrey Mie said: Applications to UNESCO don't write themselves and Biosphere status is not given lightly. He/she must have been a good bullshitter given the times that IoM has managed to breach environmental/eco concerns, poisonous silt into Peel Harbour etc. Do we still dump whey into Douglas Bay too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 hour ago, Declan said: Do the government see Biosphere as a marketing tool? Yes Among other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 (edited) Can anybody explain why the Manx Budget increased Income Tax and earmarked the money for the National Health Service and Social Care while Jeremy Hunt has decreased National Insurance? Is it purely a cynical move to gain votes or don't they need the money in the UK? Edited March 7 by Moghrey Mie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 hour ago, Moghrey Mie said: Applications to UNESCO don't write themselves and Biosphere status is not given lightly. Don't we have enough DEFA workers idling away and leaving early to do a bit of genuine work and fill out an application form? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 10 minutes ago, Moghrey Mie said: Can anybody explain why the Manx Budget increased National Insurance contributions and earmarked the money for the National Health Service and Social Care while Jeremy Hunt has decreased National Insurance? Is it purely a cynical move to gain votes or don't they need the money in the UK? Wasn't it the tax increase that was ring-fenced for health? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Gladys said: Wasn't it the tax increase that was ring-fenced for health? Don't forget the temporary bit... 🤭 And how are the Minimum Wage deliberations going on, Alex? Isn't it strange, all the Govt workers got 6% to help them cope with inflation and the cost of living but for those trying to cope on the Minimum Wage, there needs to be lots more research and consideration. Edited March 7 by Non-Believer Extra bit 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 6 minutes ago, Gladys said: Wasn't it the tax increase that was ring-fenced for health? Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 12 minutes ago, Moghrey Mie said: Can anybody explain why the Manx Budget increased National Insurance contributions and earmarked the money for the National Health Service and Social Care while Jeremy Hunt has decreased National Insurance? Is it purely a cynical move to gain votes or don't they need the money in the UK? No 1 minute ago, Gladys said: Wasn't it the tax increase that was ring-fenced for health? Yes The Manx budget didn’t increase NI. The vast majority of NI is spent on state pension and contributory benefits. A very small amount used to be spent on health. That proportion was increased, to about 10%, during covid. The Manx and UK NI schemes are neither linked nor reciprocal. The vast majority of the Health Care budget is raised by General taxation. Reducing NI in the UK just means a reduction in the money coming into their NI fund, which is in deficit already, so it will have to be topped up from the income tax, customs duty and VAT revenue streams. Its just a sleight of hand, cynical, election bribe. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 41 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: That's the problem. Or rather that they only see it as a marketing tool. As always with these things it's helpful to look at the details in the job pack: Biosphere project officer.pdf 345.32 kB · 1 download You'd expect such a job to concentrate on projects to improve the Island's biosphere, but if you look at the long list of what it's supposed to involve, there's really none of that. What's being promoted is the Biosphere status, it's all about bragging about it rather than improving it. Similarly the actual projects described on the Biosphere website aren't really about improving the Island's environment, protecting its wildlife or whatever, it's all 'awareness raising'. All poetry and picnics and posters, rather than peatbogs or planting. It's like to when Ramsey applied for some climate fund money and were told that they couldn't have it for things, only reports about things. The purpose of all this spending isn't to make things better for us or the environment, it's to provide well-paid employment for a certain class of people, those who deal in words rather than facts. You'd expect most of these involved in such projects to come from relevant scientific backgrounds, but in reality they're mostly from PR and similar. It's all about looking good not doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cissoltt Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 17 minutes ago, Max Power said: Don't we have enough DEFA workers idling away and leaving early to do a bit of genuine work and fill out an application form? They seem quite busy with their new peat tractor, making sure the peat is extracting the carbons...seems like if they just left it alone it could do its carbon thing on its own 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Onchan Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 minute ago, cissoltt said: They seem quite busy with their new peat tractor, making sure the peat is extracting the carbons...seems like if they just left it alone it could do its carbon thing on its own Eh, peat tractor? Wosaltharabowt? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarndyce Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 2 hours ago, Non-Believer said: Unless we have been employing God as well? That’s the CM, isn’t it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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