Exploring a summer of unease (UK focused)

The summer of 2022 started Summer with the equinox on Tuesday, 21 June and will end on Friday, 23 September.

I don't aim to cover everything here, and neither do I have all the answers. Apologies to any that are hooked by the information or thoughts held here. Like you, I am a student of life, and at times I need to explore the circumstances that I connect to and discover what is currently the Truth I can see. Which doesn't mean that I am closed to seeing where I can be further guided to the actual Truth.

The continued impact of:

the inflation surge as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began in 2020, has continued, and the year has seen the lifting of COVID restrictions, and the reopening of international borders. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, has caused the displacement of 14.9 million Ukrainians (8 million internally displaced persons and 6.9 million refugees) and has led to international condemnations and sanctions, the withdrawal of hundreds of companies from Russia, and the exclusion of Russia from major sporting events.

^Refugees queue at the Medyka crossing on the Ukraine-Poland border. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images The "Homes for Ukraine scheme":

The government has created three visa schemes for people fleeing the war in Ukraine: the Ukraine Extension Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme, and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine. There is no cap on the number of people who can come under the Ukraine schemes, and the total number of people eligible for the schemes is not known.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme, which opened on 3 May 2022, allows Ukrainians (or their close family members) who were in the UK on temporary visas on or before 18 March 2022 to apply to extend their stay for three years. The visa permits access to benefits, work, and study, but does not provide a pathway towards settlement in the UK. The application is free and does not require applicants to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The Ukraine Family Scheme, which opened for applications on 4 March 2022, is a visa scheme for people fleeing Ukraine who are the family members of either British citizens or people with settlement in the UK. Ukrainians on temporary visas are not eligible to bring family members under the Ukraine Family Scheme. This policy requires people to apply for a visa from outside of the UK.

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine, opened for applications on 18 March 2022. This scheme allows any Ukrainian citizen fleeing the conflict, or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen, to come to the UK if they can find a sponsor within the community. The Homes for Ukraine visa lasts for three years.

The Sponsorship scheme has different arrangements for sponsorship in Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Wales and Scotland introduced ‘super sponsor’ schemes, where the governments of these nations act directly as sponsors, with local authorities finding accommodation rather than it being provided by individual sponsors. However, these super sponsor schemes were temporarily paused as of early June 2022, with the Welsh scheme closed to new applications from 10 June 2022, and the Scottish scheme closed to new applications from 13 July. The government has said that a second phase of the Homes for Ukraine scheme would allow for private or public organisations, such as charities or businesses, to act as sponsors, although at the time of writing this has not been rolled out, and it is unclear when it will be. - The Migration Observatory at Oxford University provided the above on August 24th, and explores their impact of them. The Migration Observatory informs debates on international migration and public policy. From the same source: How does the UK’s approach compare to that of other European countries?

There are two key areas of difference between the UK approach and the approach taken by EU countries: the visa requirement, and the eligibility criteria.

On 4 March 2022, the EU rolled out a ‘temporary protection' status for those who have been displaced. Under this scheme, those who have been displaced as a result of the war do not need to apply for asylum but can receive temporary migration status. This status is initially for one year but may be extended to three years depending on how the situation in Ukraine evolves.

Before the war began, Ukrainian citizens were already eligible to travel to the EU without applying in advance for a visa. Ireland previously required a visa for Ukrainians (its visa-free travel list has traditionally been coordinated with the UK as a result of the Common Travel Area), but lifted the requirement on 25 February 2022, the day after the Russian invasion, in order to enable people with family in Ireland to travel there quickly.

The UK’s approach is thus more restrictive than the EU’s in two respects. First, not all Ukrainians are automatically eligible; they need either UK family connections or sponsorship. And second, they must apply for a visa in advance. The same source again: How many people have come to the UK under the Ukraine Schemes, and where do they live?

The government releases regular statistics on applications and visa issuances for the family and sponsorship schemes. These show that as of 16 August 2022, the Ukraine Family Scheme, which opened for applications on 4 March 2022, had received 57,700 applications (with one application required per person), with 49,700 visas issued. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), which opened on 18 March 2022, had received 148,300 applications as of 16 August 2022, with 127,300 visas issued. This means that as of 16 August 2022, a total of 206,000 applications had been submitted across both schemes, with 177,000 visas issued. However, only 115,200 of these visa holders had actually arrived in the UK as of 15 August 2022: 33,500 under the Family Scheme, and 81,700 under the Sponsorship Scheme. Notably, these figures do not take into account those who applied for visas, received them, entered the UK – but have now returned to Ukraine.

This means that in a period of under six months, more people received protection in the UK under the country’s two main Ukraine Schemes (i.e., 115,000 arrivals), than the total who received protection under the country’s asylum system and refugee resettlement routes in the six years from 2016 to 2021.

Statistics are also published on the Extension Scheme, which show that as of 16 August 2022, 14,300 applications had been received, with 9,800 applications granted, and 4,300 awaiting a decision. The data show that at least one person has been sponsored to live in properties in each of the UK’s 374 local authorities. The average local authority has 245 Homes for Ukraine visa holders connected to nominated properties there. The local authority with the most sponsors’ properties was Buckinghamshire, where 1,526 Homes for Ukraine visa holders’ sponsors had their nominated property. London is a particular hotspot for sponsors’ nominated properties, with around 15,000 visas being issued to individuals whose sponsor’s property is in the capital. This is an average of 458 visa holders across London’s 33 local authorities (its 32 boroughs, plus the City of London), which is 213 more than the local authority average for the UK. The Office for National Statistics estimates using 2019 data that there was a relatively small population of Ukrainian-born residents in the UK, around 38,000 – putting Ukraine in 52nd place in the league table of the most common foreign countries of birth among people in the UK. (Note that these are pre-pandemic figures, which are more reliable than 2020 estimates.)

The Office for National Statistics has also published an early release of data from the 2021 England and Wales Census, which has not yet been adjusted upwards to account for people who did not respond. This suggested that there were 38,000 Ukrainian-born people in England and Wales in March 2021. Just under 19,000, or half, of the Ukrainian-born population, lived in London, and all of the top ten local authorities that were home to Ukrainian migrants were in London. The largest numbers at the local level were found in Newham (1,340), Ealing (1,140), Hounslow (1,120), and Waltham Forest (1,070). These figures suggest that the existence of diaspora is a good predictor of where Ukrainian refugees will move to in the UK.

Reliefweb provides: "In response to ONS survey on Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Enver Solomon, CEO of Refugee Council, said:

“We welcomed the fact that thousands of British people that came forward to open their homes, however these hosting arrangements in the long – term were always going to encounter challenges.

“We are already aware of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees, predominantly women and children, at risk of homelessness due to complications with their hosting arrangements, and now the additional burden of [the] cost of living on families here in the UK poses a further threat to vulnerable Ukrainians.

“That is why it is so vital that the Government provides hosts and refugees with the right support, funding and advice – including a review of funding, and help to make arrangements for long-term accommodation so Ukrainians can live independently and avoid the risk of homelessness.

“Both Homes for Ukraine and the Family Visa scheme need sufficient attention and support to ensure they are fit for purpose, to protect refugees in desperate need of a safe roof over their heads, and for families and hosts who have opened their doors to be able to support them effectively.”"

^Anti-war demonstrators and Ukrainians living in the UK, gathered around 10 Downing Street to protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on February 25, 2022, in London, United Kingdom. Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Thoughts: The tide seems to be turning in the war. Many atrocities will have occurred on both sides. This is not the only area in the world where conflict is happening. Conflict is part of life; unfortunately.

My sincere empathy and sympathy are extended to anyone who has lost loved ones, war causes casualties on both sides. Understanding and forgiveness can really be hard at times. Greif and the desire for retribution or answers; are places we put the effort of love when we have lost where it once went.

Sending Metta In Times Of War And Aggression

March 12th 2022 my priest delivered the following dharma talk and wrote the following: "I’ve been watching the news of the war in Ukraine and the shutting off of the Russian people from reality in the world. I have a heavy heart. How is it that we are in the year 2022 and yet, here we are? How is it that just three weeks ago, the people of Ukraine and Russia and Eastern Europe were going about their busy days - children playing, dinners bubbling away on stoves, shops filled with goods, people working and living their normal lives? In an instant - all gone.

Our feelings of sadness, anger, and helplessness are the ripples of war and aggression that affect us all. Now, what do we do with that?

How do we take feelings of helplessness, despair, anger and transform them into wisdom?

The very first thing we can do is seek to change the seeds of anger, aggression and ignorance within ourselves. We must be peace to see peace.

We can donate to reputable organizations that are helping to get much-needed food and medical aid to people in need. There are many and every bit helps. This is practising with the teachings of Generosity and Right Action.

And we can pray.

And chant.

At the end of service and sitting periods, we say the verse of Transferring Merit, Fueko. This is an external acknowledgement of what has already happened. That is, the sending of the good energy we have generated through practice out into the world. I totally believe the ripples of this move in the world. Are we going to stop a war? Probably not. But if I were a mother in Ukraine or Russia right now, I’d sure like to know that a mom across the world was praying for me. This is what I can do today.

In the Zen tradition, we chant The Heart Sutra. This is the most widely chanted sutra in the world and speaks to us of emptiness and interconnectedness. Roshi Joan Halifax and Kazukai Tanashi translated this sutra into modern language:

In preparation for a seated meditation period, I prepared a guided Metta. Please find a comfortable position, sitting or lying down. Try to keep your eyes open and focused on a point just ahead of you and down about 45 degrees. But if this is not comfortable for you today, feel free to close them. Let’s begin to breathe deeply in and out from our bellies. In….and out. In…and out…In…and out

Sending Metta (Loving-Kindness)

In Times Of War and Aggression

Recognizing that I am not separate from those experiencing the horrors and turmoil of war:

• May I not become a victim to my emotions of sadness, despair, and anger. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• Breathing in and Breathing out, may I transform my negative reactions into compassion for all beings. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• May I embody peace in my everyday life. In my actions and my speech. In the way, I treat others and the way I treat myself. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out I breathe out peace.

• May we bring to mind all who suffer the effects of war, poverty, and oppression. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• May all those who seek safety and shelter, find safe havens amid their struggle. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• May all those who are hungry and cold, find food and warmth. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out I breathe out peace.

• May all those who are sick or injured find medicine, and healing. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace

• May all those who are separated by war be reunited. Breathing in I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• May all the grieving and anguished hearts find peace. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.

• May those in power come to see that peace is the answer. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace

Let us begin our sitting meditation period of 25 minutes.

Ring Bell Three Times - bow to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

At the end of the 25 minutes Ring Bell Twice

Ending the session with a chanting The Heart Sutra in the tradition of our lineage, and offering Fueko.

Thoughts: I came to Zen during the pandemic, in September 2020. I chose to take Kai Sanbo in Septemeber 2021. I took Jukai in May 2022. My friend of over 10 years, and now my priest offered the above, I would say that it is very reflective of the contemplative advice she gives to us, day in and out. What I have learnt of Zen through her and the other guiding teachers she has put me in touch with also reflects the above. I have found a way that brings me a level of peace as it eases my suffering, based on the core of what is above. It brings me the comfort I allow it to bring me. I find it strikes a cord within. The Buddha's 1st Noble Truth: Life is suffering (dukkha). The Way is somehow to release our wish to control and accept what we can of what is. It is not the answer everyone wishes to hear. The above, to me, feels more sincere and genuine than the frequently "sending thoughts and prayers" of empty sentiment. I truly do know that not everyone's is empty of genuine sentiment.

I think the key difference, perhaps, and certainly to me at this moment, is that first line "Recognizing that I am not separate from those experiencing the horrors and turmoil of war:"

- if all of us are not free, then non of us are free. 🤷‍♀️ These past 2 years have been difficult for everyone. In different 'boats', we ride 'parallel storms.' Perhaps comprehending certain parts but not ever completely understanding what the other person's boat and storm look like. So why not extend compassion and a tad more generosity? The metta verse above has been an anchor, through my own storms, internal and external. My zafu (cushion) is my 0,0,0,0 in this 'crazy' ephemeral world. Refuge for me has been found in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, despite not having a physical Zendo: besides the small corner, I have created for myself, in my home and in this world. I truly hope that you are touched by the metta (lovingkindness) that is out there. I wanted to explore the events of the past few years here in the UK (and globally where applicable), re-educating myself and allowing myself the 'objective distance' from some of the stormy events we have ridden. It is not claimed to be easy to do this in the moment. Indeed it is the practice of a lifetime.

Gassho Shinjin

Party-gate, and the handling of Covid-19

*Facts as established by UK law, are underlined. Boris Johnson announced his resignation on July the 7th as leader of the Conservative party and plans to stay on as a 'caretaker' prime minister until a new party leader is elected in the autumn. This follows after more than 50 members of his government resigned in protest against a series of ethics scandals during the pandemic.

Christopher Pincher stepped down from his government post after being accused of groping two men. Johnson initially denied any knowledge of similar, previous accusations against Pincher, but changed his story twice as new information was published in the media, and was accused of lying.

Some of the many members of his government who resigned said Johnson's handling of the Pincher affair was the last straw. Over the past few months, Johnson narrowly survived a vote of no confidence by his party, and was fined by police for violating COVID-19 restrictions during Britain's pandemic lockdown: when he attended parties at his official residence, now referred to as "Party-Gate". Party-Gate: Reports of events had attracted media attention, public backlash and political controversy. In late January 2022, twelve gatherings came under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, including at least three attended by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister. The police issued 126 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to 83 individuals whom the police found had committed offences under COVID-19 regulations, including one each to Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson, and Rishi Sunak, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, who all apologised and paid the penalties. For many it simply isn't enough. The first reporting was on 30 November 2021 by the Daily Mirror of 10 Downing Street staff gatherings during the 2020 Christmas season. Johnson said rules had been followed, and Downing Street denied that a party took place. A week later, a video of a mock press conference in 10 Downing Street was broadcast in which joking comments about a party having taken place were made. Downing Street apologised to Queen Elizabeth II for two events on 16 April 2021, the day before Prince Philip's funeral, during the third lockdown across England. Reports followed of a gathering celebrating Johnson's birthday in June 2020. Public disquiet over the events led to a decline in public support for Johnson, the government and the Conservatives, and is thought to have contributed to the party's loss of the 2021 North Shropshire by-election and poor performance in the 2022 UK local elections. In early 2022, a number of opposition, and a few Conservative, politicians called for Johnson's resignation or a confidence vote.

The public disquiet was because the government could clearly be seen the be flaunting the rules they had set in place AND that amongst those rules many had not even been able to attend funerals for those who had passed during this time frame. The public had also had to "cope" with changes and u-turns in the government's Covid-19 policies. Christmas gatherings were also effectively "banned":

The UK-wide lockdown began on 23 March 2020 under a new statutory instrument. (I was in the final semester of my B.A. degree.) This was a stay-at-home order that prohibited all non-essential travel and social gatherings. Those on the "Shielded Patient List" were eventually placed under stricter rules to "ease the pressure on the NHS". Between March 2020 and September 2021, the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) identified and regularly reviewed the underlying clinical conditions for which people should be considered at high risk of complications from COVID-19 infection.

NHS Digital developed a clinical methodology, a ruleset to identify patients who met these clinical conditions based on coded information in their health records. This methodology was updated as appropriate to reflect the guidance provided by the CMOs. My household was one such household, as were my parents; essentially prohibiting us from venturing out for 18 months or risk exposing our loved ones to the virus. The Cabinet Office received the list for the purpose of delivering the government's extremely vulnerable persons service, which provided additional support to clinically extremely vulnerable people (including food-bank-provided food parcels) as well as to the local authorities affected by national and local restrictions. This sharing ceased on 17 September 2021 based upon the government’s announcement of the end of shielding in England.

Supermarkets did not receive the SPL. You had to register with them and have them verify that you were on the list, not a speedy process, during a time when home-delivery slots were extended but also highly in demand. Food banks were already under pressure as even households of 2.4 children with 2 full-time working parents were, prior to Covid, taking on a second job and STILL having to rely on them. Food banks do not stock frozen food, meats, or dairy products and can only provide a number of other non-perishable, in-date food items. They are solely stocked by supermarket surplus = tinned goods and lightly damaged items and what is donated by the public at a range of places, such as schools, churches, and businesses, as well as supermarket collection points. The Dominic Cummings scandal, or the Dominic Cummings affair, was a series of events involving the British political strategist Dominic Cummings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The events include at least one journey that Cummings, then-chief adviser of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his family made from London to County Durham after the start of a national lockdown in March 2020 while they were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Reports of the trip first emerged in May 2020 following investigations by the Daily Mirror and The Guardian. Questions arose about whether the conduct of Cummings and his wife was lawful and appropriate within the framework of government advice and guidance, given that the public was ordered to stay at home, that all but non-essential travel was forbidden during the lockdown, and that infected persons had been instructed to self-isolate.

Cummings denied he had broken any rules in a press conference a few days later. Durham Constabulary investigated the trip, concluding there may have been a "minor breach", but did not take any further action. The scandal led to criticism from Members of Parliament (MPs) within and outside the ruling Conservative Party, backlash in the media and from the public, and calls for Cummings to be sacked or resign. Prominent politicians in the government, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, rejected these and expressed support for Cummings. Polling suggested support for the Conservative Party and confidence in the British government's pandemic response fell as a result of the scandal. Some rules were incrementally relaxed; starting from 13 May, "two people from separate households were permitted to meet outside in a public place". Six people were allowed to socialise outdoors by June, and indoor social gatherings were permitted from 4 July (only between members of two households). My family and many others on that risk list were still housebound. It was no surprise that my university cancelled our graduation ceremony. The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (EOHO Scheme) was one of the Government’s policy measures aimed to support businesses reopening after the COVID-19 lockdown period. It formed part of the Chancellor’s summer economic update on 8 July 2020. Under the Scheme, the Government provided 50% off the cost of food and/or non-alcoholic drinks eaten in at participating businesses UK-wide.

It applied all-day Monday to Wednesday from 3 to 31 August 2020. The discount was capped at a maximum of £10 per head.

Overall, £849 million was claimed under the Scheme across 78,116 outlets. Over 160 million individual meals (covers) were claimed; the average claim per cover was £5.24. The total amount paid under the scheme was £840 million (slightly lower than the amount claimed due to some rejected claims or errors in payment details). This exceeds the £500 million forecast by the Treasury at the time of the Scheme announcement.

The scheme boosted customer demand for eating out on the Scheme days in August. However, dining-out dropped from mid-September as restrictions were re-imposed on hospitality venues. The government and its advisors had assured us that if we were eating or drinking in public it was safe to do so. I came to Zen in September 2020. At this point our family of 3 had been housebound and adhering to the rules for 6 months, in approximately 85sq meters.

With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a second national lockdown started in England on 5 November 2020. A regional tiered lockdown system replaced this on 2 December.

^Image focuses on "The North"

London was initially placed in "Tier 2", was moved to the highest level "Tier 3" on 16 December, and finally placed under a newly introduced stay-at-home order, "Tier 4", on 19 December. Socialising between households or outside of support bubbles was not allowed throughout this period. Household mixing and socialising for Christmas itself was also restricted to a small number of households and only permitted on 25 December across much of the UK, and in London was cancelled altogether.

On 5 January 2021, a third lockdown began across the whole of England. This was gradually lifted in a series of steps beginning March 29th, with social contact limited to groups of six from no more than two households and outdoors, into April.

I started working remotely on government-contracted telephony lines in the January, on several occasions I was supporting the NHS and the Office for National Statistics. My partner returned to work in April, he would be classed as an essential worker within the country's logistics, dealing with drivers from all over the world. In October 2021 my mum lost her battle with her medical conditions. She passed in the hospital. My Dad had to ring to arrange to see her, because of the rules. At the time of her passing, her ward was on Covid-lockdown. He last saw her, in good spirits: laughing and joking with the nurses 3 days before she passed. It had been some time since I had seen her, because of Lockdown and shielding. We spoke on the phone the day before. We were fortunate for it to happen during a time when the UK was allowed to host a small gathering for funerals and wakes. Though with the NHS backlog and availability of funeral services, there was a difficult to endure period between the two. Would it have been any less difficult to endure if it was shorter? We are now at a point where guidance states that you do not have to isolate if you had Covid, you do not have to wear a mask in public: though some places still insist on it.

Essential workers: According to the Office for National Statistics: Health and social care was the most common key worker occupation group.

Education and childcare employed the highest proportion of women key workers, at 81%. 15% of all key workers were at moderate risk from COVID-19 because of a health condition

Food and necessary goods key workers were most represented in the lowest-paid decile.

Of all households with dependent children, 6% were key workers and lone parents.

14% of those in key public service occupations reported being able to work from home.

16% of key workers report travelling to work by public transport. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), "The coronavirus crisis has demonstrated how much we all owe to healthcare staff, care workers, retail and delivery workers, public transport workers, teachers and support staff, energy workers and so many others. Despite this, millions of key workers remain underpaid and in insecure work. The nation [literally] applauded the efforts of key workers through the peak of the crisis and there is strong public support for ensuring key workers are treated fairly." ... "The crisis also starkly exposed the huge inequalities faced by workers, especially related to pay, security, safety and voice at work. Unequal impacts have fallen along existing lines of inequality; including class, gender, ethnicity and other inequalities. Key workers who have kept the country running are more likely to be women and more likely to be Black or Minority Ethnic (BME). All workers who have been on the frontline of the crisis need to be rewarded fairly and treated with dignity."... "The TUC estimates that 6 million key workers would stand to benefit from public sector pay increases and planned minimum wage increases. Both these levers are directly within the government’s control. But there are signs that pay increases may not materialise.

We believe the minimum wage should be set [to] at least £10 an hour for all workers. Our

analysis shows that 3.6 million key workers would benefit from this increase. The Low Pay Commission recently consulted on an increase to £9.21 an hour. This would increase the pay of at least 2 million key workers, with 1.5 million of them in the private sector. However, there have been calls from business groups to keep the minimum wage even lower than this level. Ministers and officials are understood to be discussing applying an “emergency brake” which would slow down increases in the minimum wage. The TUC believes that rowing back on a planned pay rise for 2 million key workers would be the wrong decision."

Clap for Our Carers, also known as Clap for Carers, Clap for the NHS, Clap for Key Workers or Clap for Heroes, was a social movement created as a gesture of appreciation for the workers of the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) and other key workers during the global pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which spread to the United Kingdom in January 2020.

The idea originated in Europe and was adopted in the UK by Annemarie Plas, a Dutch woman living in London, who promoted a campaign which took place every Thursday evening at 20:00 between 26 March and 28 May 2020. Many celebrities, influencers, politicians, and public figures supported the campaign.

Thoughts: We have struggled to ride these particular storms. Challenged and questioned the rules at times. Challenged and questioned the representatives of these rules, in our healthcare, in the shops and so on. Challenged and questioned our key, essential workers. Some have chosen to take the anger, fear and frustrations out on staff; spitting and lashing out at them. We all question and challenge life daily. To question and challenge leads to change. Some for the better. Some for the worse. How we manage the emotions of being hooked, to ask those questions and challenge authority is up to us. Professionals are 'expected' to manage the emotions stirred when confronted. Trained to be compassionate. But we all, even as Buddhists, have our own personal thresholds. Buddha did not say we had to roll over and take abuse. To be a doormat for others. Respect can move mountains, and yet it will only get you so far. Compassion, love and empathy likewise. Meditation allows a space to bring some calmness into our lives. Self-reflection and introspection, allow us to see what we carry and where it might stem from.

A 'limbo state'

How is Boris Johnson still serving as prime minister after resigning? In Britain, prime ministers are not directly elected by the public. General elections work more like congressional elections in the United States, where the public votes for local representatives to send to the U.K.'s legislature, the parliament. The leader of the party that wins the most seats in parliament generally becomes the prime minister. The next United Kingdom general election is scheduled to be held no later than Tuesday 28 January 2025, after the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

Britain's Conservative Party, which holds the majority of seats in parliament, will now select a new party leader to replace Johnson, and that person will become the new prime minister. In his resignation speech, the Prime Minister said it was “clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader” – and so the party is due a leadership election. Johnson has said he will continue to serve until a replacement is found.

What is involved in finding a replacement?

The process to elect a new Conservative Party leader traditionally involves a number of candidates putting themselves forward, and then the field is whittled down through a series of votes among sitting members of parliament. When only two candidates remain, members of the wider Conservative Party from across the country vote for who they want to be their next leader.

Choosing a new leader in this way would typically take several months. Critics say Johnson remaining prime minister for this period of time would hurt the country, which IS experiencing a number of issues including rising inflation and fuel prices.

The rules for choosing a new party leader are determined by a committee of Conservative members of parliament called the 1922 Committee.

The 1922 Committee is a parliamentary group made up of all of the Conservative backbench members of Parliament. It meets weekly while Parliament is in session and offers backbenchers the opportunity to discuss views and concerns away from frontbench MPs.

Confusingly, the 1922 Committee was actually formed in 1923 by a collection of MPs elected in 1922 – the year when Conservative MPs successfully triggered a general election by withdrawing from a coalition with David Lloyd George.

The 1922 Committee will be essential in the Tory leadership election; there was an election on July 11th, in which Conservative backbenchers voted on new officials for the roles. Candidates needed to be nominated by two Conservative colleagues, and it is a first-past-the-post voting system, meaning the person with the most votes in each category wins. It is thought that the timetable, agreed by the 1922 Committee and Tory Party HQ, could see Mr Johnson replaced as leader by early September, despite initial suggestions that he could remain in place until October.

Who is in the running?

^Members of the U.K. Conservative Party prefer Foreign Secretary Liz Truss over former Chancellor Rishi Sunak as their new leader, according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls based on the most recent available polls.

UK Conservative Party race: The dirtiest in history?

Even when the race was just one week old, Conservatives were serving up dirty dossiers, claims of backroom stitch-ups, explosively timed Whitehall leaks and bitter behind-the-scenes briefing wars, adding up to what many observers judge has been the dirtiest Tory leadership contest of recent times. Voting for the house to elect the next MP closes at 5pm Sep 2nd.

Thoughts: Now that it is down to these two, they continue to pick away at each other: which happens in all political races. Last Friday Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss was accused by rival Rishi Sunak of putting vulnerable people “at risk of real destitution” after she indicated she will put tax cuts and fracking above support payments for families facing unaffordable fuel bills. All the while the media feeds on the "news" and distributes a fear-based rhetoric over just about everything - what is the truth? Can we trust the media? In whom do we place our trust? Can we work toward putting a little more trust in ourselves and finding our own places to trust? The truth in these matters is that not-one person has all the answers. These two and other cabinet ministers were complicit in what occurred during Borris' term and there will be those that do so again and again. Whistleblowers have to be supported, yet what they raise; questioned. The Truth investigated. Regulate emotions, question and challenge.

The UK experiences temperatures of 40°C for the first time

during July the Met Office issued the first ever Red warning for exceptional heat. It was also the driest July for England since 1935. We have seen hose-pipe bans in many areas where reservoirs are low.

Fires: While Londoners were shocked when dozens of properties were hit by fires in the heatwave, firefighters in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece were all battling forest fires across tens of thousands of hectares.

^A new map has revealed that every area in the UK is at risk from a hosepipe ban. Picture: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 4 August, Lbc News reported that The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has developed a new tool which shows just how water deprived each area in the UK is and highlights where could face hosepipe bans in the next few weeks.

An eight-stage scale has been developed, depicting areas from 'Extremely dry' to 'Extremely wet' and alarmingly most of the Southern regions are marked as 'Extremely' or 'Severely' dry.

Whilst Central England, North Wales, East Scotland and parts of the North East are classified as 'Moderately dry'.

Forecasters have warned that there is "very little meaningful rain" on the horizon for parched areas of England as temperatures are set to climb into the 30s next week.

The Met Office said parts of England could see temperatures rise to the low or mid-30s by the end of next week due to an area of high-pressure building from the Atlantic into the South and South West.

The "wrong kind of rain": The Met Office issued warnings of flash floods on August 17th, and predicted thunderstorms after weeks of record-breaking heat.

Experts said that although the temporary wet weather may be refreshing it was ‘not the right kind of rain’ to restore Britain’s scorched pastures. Meteorologist Clare Nasir when speaking to Sky News, said “When we are looking at thunderstorms, it is the wrong kind of rain we need. What we are looking for is moderate rain.” Dr Robert Thompson from the University of Reading’s Meteorology department carried out an experiment to show the phenomena of water running off dry soil. Available on tiktok

The UK scientist filmed himself flipping over a cup full of water on to the same ground in different weather conditions.

While wetter grass had a higher absorption rate, the dry ground after a heatwave left the cup full, footage showed.

The simple experiment demonstrated one of the causes of dangerous flash floods across the country. In the video below he talks us through the same information, with views of how badly some areas are affected by drought and previous flash floods.

I live near the River Mersey, not far from the flood plain. So far we have not been affected by floods in this area.

The usual range of the River Mersey here is between 0.27m and 1.80m. It has been between these levels for 90% of the time since monitoring began.

The typical recent level of the River Mersey here over the past 12 months has been between 0.25m and 0.70m. It has been between these levels for at least 151 days in the past year.

In January 2021, Borris did a flying visit to our area of the Mersey as thousands of homes narrowly escaped serious flooding as river levels came "within centimetres" of breaching defences in Manchester. 2,000 homes were evacuated at that time overnight.

Richard Kilpatrick, a local Lib Dem councillor, at the time said "Many people decided to stay in their homes and ignore the evacuation advice because they were scared about the virus.

"It was a major issue. It was also so hard to convince vulnerable residents to leave their homes when they've been told for so many months to stay home."

Fears continue to grow over a potential global food security crisis

- dubbed 'heatflation' - as European farmers struggle to save their crops from the extreme weather events. Where climate change-driven staple crop losses that could see already inflated food prices reach new highs this autumn, deepening the cost-of-living crisis. According to www.tradefinanceglobal.com - Published on August 9th, 2022. Last modified August 16th 2022.

Source Sigma Earth:

Competition

When droughts destroy crops, there is very little food available for people. Therefore, competition begins among them where the person with the most money can buy the food. Thus, prices rise.

The heatwaves in India are increasing the cost of wheat. India is the second largest wheat producer in the world.

Last year, researchers studied seasonal temperatures and price indicators in 48 countries. The team found that the unusually high temperatures during summer had the most significant and long-lasting effect on food prices.

Global Demand Is Exceeding Supply

Commodity and global markets set the price for grains like rice, maize, and wheat in advance. They set the costs based on forecasts of harvests. An expectation of a food shortage will manifest itself about four to six months after the harvest period. This is why we don’t feel the impact of heatflation immediately after an extreme heat event has occurred. We feel its effects over the coming months.

Because the harvest season has already started for many crops, the July heat waves in many parts of the globe did not have a significant impact on the global food supply. But heatflation still has the potential to hit the world hard.

We are already in an energy, food, and cost-of-living crisis because of COVID-19. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated this issue. In a disrupted market like this, where global demand is exceeding supply, the loss of harvests will fuel an increase in food prices. In May 2022, the financial service company Allianz found that food prices in the European Union (EU) increased by 14%.

Heatflation also has a significant impact on livestock farming. Outdoor domestic animals like cattle cannot stand extreme heat. That means we have to keep them indoors. Once indoors, farmers also use energy to keep them cool. Heat also changes animal behaviour: it causes chickens to lay fewer eggs and cows to produce less milk. This contributes to heatflation.

Maize, wheat, and rice account for nearly half of the world’s food supply. These crops are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events like droughts and heat waves. Without timely help, these crops, the staple food for nearly half of the world, will succumb to climate shocks. Climate change is already causing crop failures, rising food prices, and increased hunger and malnutrition.

Adaptation

Hotter temperatures will become a regular occurrence in the future. How can food systems adapt to reduce the impact on costs for consumers?

Some farmers are turning toward producing crops that are more resistant to extreme heat and droughts. Many countries are deciding to switch from current crops to those resistant to climate shocks. An international network of crop breeding centres is improving crops for that very reason.

But this won’t be possible for everyone all around the globe due to varying geographical and climatic conditions. In some areas, climate change is causing temperatures to rise so high that farmers cannot use their land for agriculture.

Another option is to rethink how global food systems work. Our current food model is super-efficient and delivers food just in time. Above all, it maintains cheap food prices. But resilient food systems have more in-built storage, diverse supply routes, and more decentralization rather than big processing and distribution centres.

A resilient food system is expensive. That means no cheap food. But, resilient systems would ensure that our food was resistant to climate shocks. It would benefit consumers and increase political instability.

In June 2010, heatwaves in Ukraine and Russia reduced crop yields to around the same amount as the current conflict has. The result was a drastic price hike in wheat flour. The heatflation affected the whole globe. It increased food insecurity, civil unrest, and poverty in many countries.

Cheap Food Coming To An End

In 2021, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that the increasing occurrence of record-breaking extreme weather events in the future is inevitable. As climate change progresses and becomes more intense, the issue of heatflation will get bigger.

The cost-of-living crisis

UK Sterling fell to its lowest since mid-July against the dollar on Monday as surging energy costs and a summer of strikes highlighted the UK cost of living crisis and intensified fears for further economic slowdown. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk - The ‘cost of living crisis’ refers to the fall in ‘real’ disposable incomes (that is, adjusted for inflation and after taxes and benefits) that the UK has experienced since late 2021. It is being caused predominantly by high inflation outstripping wage and benefit increases and has been further exacerbated by recent tax increases. In early February, the government announced some measures to respond to high energy prices, a particular flashpoint of the crisis. In the spring statement, the then chancellor Rishi Sunak announced some more general policies to support squeezed household budgets. A much larger package of household support for energy bills was announced by Sunak in late May.

However for many low-income households, inflation is still expected to increase more quickly than post-tax and benefit incomes this year. Today Rishi Sunak, now one of two front runners for the position of MP, has suggested workers earning around £45,000 annually could also struggle to cope with soaring living costs. With the new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said things will be “really hard” for middle-earners, as well as society’s most vulnerable.

The cap is set to rise by 80% by October, pushing the average household’s yearly bill up from £1,971 to £3,549.

Industry regulator Ofgem warned the Government it must act urgently to “match the scale of the crisis we have before us” as Britain faced the bleak news on Friday. A new Focaldata poll just out suggests almost half of Brits (47%) blame the government more than fuel firms for the rocketing bills. The government can’t act until it has a new PM in place, which won’t happen for at least another week and a half. The current favourite to win Liz Truss has a piece in the Mail this morning promising “decisive action on entering No.10 to provide immediate support” to struggling households. “To those of you feeling the squeeze, my message is clear: I will ensure support is on its way and we get through these tough times,” she promised. We’ve come a long way from “no handouts.”

How is the UK inflation is calculated

as the average change in the price of typical goods and services purchased by UK households over 12 months. This is tracked using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), calculated by the Office for National Statistics using a sample of 180,000 prices of 700 common consumer goods and services. The latest data has the current CPI at 10.1% in the 12 months to July 2022. The Bank of England aims to keep the CPI rate of inflation at 2% plus or minus 1% (i.e. between 1% and 3%) and adjusts interest rates to achieve this. However, CPI excludes the cost of housing. An alternative measure of inflation produced by the ONS, the Consumer Prices Index with Housing (CPIH), is in some ways a better measure of inflation as it includes owner-occupiers’ housing costs. Current CPIH is currently a little lower than CPI, at 8.8%. The latest Bank of England forecast has inflation peaking at 13.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is largely driven by the £693, or 54%, increase from 1 April of the energy price cap and a forecasted further increase of 75% in October.[4] Inflation is expected to remain high for the next two years: the Bank expects that inflation will not reach its 2% target until the third quarter of 2024. Why is it happening? The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is an important driver behind the cost of living crisis, but there are many other variables that have contributed to the ‘perfect storm’ afflicting UK household budgets in 2022: Covid: the effects of the pandemic cannot be underestimated. As well as the health impact, it has brought social and economic upheaval, from the multi-billion pound cost of furlough to devastation for the transport, travel, hospitality, entertainment and leisure industries. This economic fragility means the country is ill-prepared for the cost of living crisis. Weather: an unusually cold winter in 2020/21, especially in parts of Asia, saw demand for energy rocket on international wholesale markets, which had an impact on supply and therefore on prices. The cost of gas was going through the roof long before Russia invaded Ukraine. Economic resurgence: as Covid receded, the manufacturing and distribution sectors kicked back into life, triggering a further surge in demand for energy and more upwards pressure on prices. Regulation: more than 30 UK energy suppliers have gone bust since the start of last year with the cost of managing their customers shunted onto household bills. Now questions are being asked about why so many companies were allowed to flourish only to be brought down by higher wholesale prices. Environmental concerns: most UK electricity has traditionally been produced by burning fossil fuels in power stations. The rise of the green agenda has seen a movement towards renewable sources of energy to produce electricity, such as wind and solar, with older power stations – particularly coal-fired ones – being closed as a result. But renewables are not yet able to provide sufficient power, meaning continued reliance on gas – which remains eye-wateringly expensive. Supply chains: lorries need drivers and fuel. Both have been in short supply, and when the cost of distribution increases, so too does the cost of goods on the shelves. Looking at the international picture, where it used to cost £3,000 to ship a container from Asia to the UK, it now costs £15,000. Agriculture: the farming and food production sector is a huge energy consumer – that’s one source of cost pressure. It also relies heavily on fertilizers that are produced using large amounts of energy – that’s another. And it needs an efficient and affordable distribution system, which has been lacking of late. Farmers are also paying higher wages because, thanks to Covid restrictions, there have been fewer European workers available for picking and packing tasks. All this means farm-gate inflation and higher prices in the shops. Commodity prices: the price of raw materials has risen due to escalating transport and distribution costs, and that inevitably contributes to inflation across the board. Worryingly, Ukraine and Russia produce significant proportions between them of the world’s wheat supply, along with other staples such as vegetable oil, so the longer the war goes on, the greater the effects will be felt elsewhere.

How are some of the general bills affected?

Council Tax (essential): In April 2022, Council Tax was hiked for millions of UK households. The average Band D council tax bill set by local authorities in England for 2022-23 is now an annual £1,966, which marks an increase of £67 or 3.5% on last year’s figure of £1,898. However, as part of the Government’s wider package of support (more on this below), every household in Bands A to D in England will receive a £150 council tax rebate in 2022/23 which will not need to be repaid. Council Tax payments should be considered as a priority, as you can be taken to court by your local authority for failing to pay.

Home entertainment (non-essential): Netflix customers have been absorbing the roll-out of price hikes first announced back in March. The cost of a basic Netflix package has risen from £5.99 to £6.99 a month, while a standard package has increased from £9.99 to £10.99 a month and its premium package from £13.99 to £15.99 a month. Price hikes have been rolled out gradually with 30 days’ notice. They were necessary to ‘sustain its content output’ and compete with rivals including Disney+ and Amazon Prime, according to the streaming giant.

Amazon Prime subscriptions (non-essential): Amazon has announced that, from 15 September 2022, the cost of its Prime service for UK customers will increase. Monthly subscriptions will rise by £1 to £8.99, while annual Prime membership will rise from £79 to £95.

Mobile and broadband (many see these as essential): Customers of BT and EE, Plusnet and TalkTalk, among others, were all hit with higher prices in the spring due to a clause that allows providers to hike costs once a year mid-contract by an amount linked to inflation in the preceding December. It’s the same story with customers of mobile networks such as BT and EE, Three and Vodafone, whose bills have also risen due to inflation-linked mid-contract price hikes.

Hikes affect consumer borrowing: Consumer credit grew at a rate of 6.5% in the year to June, according to the Bank of England’s latest Money and Credit Report. Borrowing is rising quickest on credit cards at an annual rate of 12.5%, marking the fastest pace since November 2005. And more than one-in-five (21%) adults reported they had to borrow more money or take out more credit in the past month compared with a year ago, according to an ONS report which canvassed public opinion between 6 and 17 July. If you have credit card debt, make it a number one priority to transfer it to a 0% balance transfer deal (bear in mind that most charge a fee). If this is not possible, perhaps due to your credit score or an insufficient new credit limit, always try to pay more than the minimum payment required by the provider.

How has the government pledged to help so far?

Back in May, then-Chancellor, Rishi Sunak confirmed a £400 windfall payment that every household in Great Britiain will receive towards the cost of their electricity bills, called the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The cash, which does not need to be repaid, will be automatically added to the balance of households’ energy accounts over the six months starting from October when the new price cap kicks in. For households on prepayment meters, £400 will either be added to the meter balance or paid in vouchers. Cost of living payments: Eight million households on means-tested benefits will each receive a £650 payment. The cash will be paid in two instalments. The first has already bank accounts between 14 July and 31 July, while the second will land in the autumn. Those on tax credits will receive their payments in autumn and winter respectively. To qualify, you will need to have received one of the following benefits (or started a successful claim) since 25 May: Universal Credit Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support Pension Credit Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit The money will be paid automatically and does not need to be repaid. Rishi Sunak also announced that pensioners who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022/2023, will receive a lump sum of £300. It will be paid alongside the regular payment from November and is in addition to any cost of living payment. Finally, there is a £150 cash payment to those in receipt of disability benefits which will be paid automatically from September. Rise in benefit payments: The Chancellor also announced that benefits payable in the UK from April 2023, including the state pension, will rise in line with CPI as measured in September. This is effectively a re-introduction of the ‘triple lock’ scheme which sees increases each tax year by the highest of three measures: consumer price inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%. Other financial support: Rishi Sunak had also previously announced a rise in the threshold at which National Insurance Contributions (NICs) become payable on earnings, bringing it into line with the income tax allowance of £12,570 per annum. This took effect on 6 July. The Government’s Household Support Fund was doubled from £500 million to £1 billion. This took effect on 1 April. All households in council tax bands A to D received a £150 rebate. This took effect from 1 April. There was a 5p-a-litre cut in fuel duty for 12 months. This took effect on 23 March. And from 2024, there will be a 1p in the pound cut in the basic rate of income tax when the rate will fall from 20p to 19p in the pound. However, this should be taken in the context that real pay is falling at the fastest rate since records began. Support for many may not come before October.

Pay and job vacancies

According to the ONS, once rocketing inflation is accounted for, the rate of regular pay – which excludes bonuses – fell by 2.8% between March and May this year. Total pay, which includes bonuses, fell by 0.9% during the period. However, the number of job vacancies in April to June 2022 stood at 1,294,000, according to the ONS. This is 498,400 higher than from pre-pandemic January to March 2020.

How are we advised to survive the crisis?

Advisors, like Martin Lewis, have the following to offer;

There is certainly no magic wand that will end the cost of living crisis. But there are some cost-free strategies that could make a worthwhile difference to your household budget’s bottom line. Look for cheaper insurances: Certain costs such as your mortgage or rent, council tax, and are simply immovable. But when it comes to annual insurance policies, such as for your home and car, make sure that you have compared costs from the wider market before auto-renewing with the same provider. Switching is quick and easy and could save hundreds of pounds over the course of the year.

Find out if you can fix energy: Some energy customers may be able to fix in with their existing supplier when their current fix ends. However, the cost is unlikely to be cheaper than the prevailing standard variable tariff (SVR) which is charged at, or near, the price cap. Fixed-rate energy deals are not currently available on comparison websites.

Stop paying credit card interest: If you have credit card balances which you are unable to clear, paying interest (at a typical 20% APR, variable) is cripplingly expensive and, essentially, money straight down the drain. It’s possible to move balances from several card providers up to, say 90% or 95%, of your allocated credit limit, to a 0% balance transfer card. While you’ll need a top credit score to be accepted, applying through an eligibility checker means you can view your chances before making an official application. This protects your credit report from visible searches which could put off subsequent lenders.If you find you are leaning on your credit card to pay for essentials, swap it for one that offers an interest-free period on purchases. Some of these deals offer up to two years at 0% to the most credit-worthy applicants. So if you are forced to borrow, at least you can do it without paying interest. Spring clean your current account: It’s worth going through your direct debits and standing orders to uncover any costs that you are forking out for unnecessarily – for example, subscriptions or services that you are no longer using. Find out if you are entitled to any benefits: When you are satisfied that your regular outgoings are as lean as they can be, check to see if there are any income-related benefits or grants you could be missing out on. With a few key details from you and your partner, this is easy to do with a government-approved benefits and grants calculator such as Turn2Us.org. If you are working and have a child aged between three and four, make sure you are collecting the Government’s 30 hours free childcare if you are eligible. If the sums simply aren’t adding up, check to see if you qualify for The Household Support Fund. Available through local councils, it’s designed to offer financial support to help pay for essentials such as food, clothes and utilities. And the Government has doubled its funding from £500 million to £1 billion from April 2022. Acceptance criteria vary between councils so check the relevant website for more details.

Make the most of free digital Using your bank’s app, if you aren’t already, makes organising your finances a lot easier and means you can keep track of your spending whilst on the move. You could go one step further with a budgeting app like Snoop, Yolt, or Money Dashboard. Using an open banking agreement, these apps allow you to view all of your accounts in one place which can provide greater transparency around the reality of your spending. If you opt for the basic version, many are also free. Take advantage of supermarket discount/rewards If you haven’t already, download your supermarket’s free loyalty app. As you’re very likely to have your phone with you, this makes it easy to scan and collect any points you’re entitled to. These can then be redeemed for a pounds-and-pence discount off the cost of your grocery shop. Make positive lifestyle changes Small changes to ingrained daily behaviours can also pay dividends over time. For example, making a commitment to use less energy. This could simply mean hanging out washing as the weather improves rather than using the tumble drier, turning the heating down by a degree or two, or switching off lights or radiators in rooms that you don’t use. A good starting point when it comes to energy-saving is to understand which home appliances use the most energy compared to others. A simple and energy monitor is a clever and inexpensive tool that can help with this.

Energy consumption charges have peak and off peak times.

The exact hours of off-peak rates vary by supplier, but are generally between 10pm and 8am. The National Grid is currently consulting on an initiative that will pay customers to use energy at off-peak times this winter. It’s based on a trial with Octopus Energy earlier this year. The scheme offered discounts to 100,000 households who reduced their energy consumption during two-hour windows, such as 9am to 11am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm. The aim was to rebalance demand at the grid. The trial took place in February and March. Those who cut back received credit or had the option to receive money straight back into their bank accounts. Octopus said consumers on average saved 23p per each two-hour trial window, but some participants saved up to £4.35. If rolled out nationwide, households would have the option to save money by using energy-draining devices such as electric car chargers when demand is low. The National Grid Electricity System Operator is understood to be working on an announcement for the plan which could be in place by October. Those with smart meters could get up to £6 per kilowatt hour (kWh) saved at a time when bills will be sky-high. One kWh is enough energy to power a dishwasher for less than an hour, or use an electric shower for six minutes. A tumble dryer uses roughly 4.5 kWh per cycle, according to estimates.

Outside of the home, changes such as seeking out free parking, and swapping a bought lunch and coffee for one you’ve pre-packed can mean that a day that might have otherwise cost £25, costs nothing.

Beware of scammers! The growing demand for credit products, such as loans and credit cards, resulting from the cost of living crisis has presented particularly fertile ground for fraudsters, resulting in the proliferation of scams. According to the 2021 Fraudscape Report published by fraud prevention firm Cifas, there were 360,000 fraud cases recorded on the National Fraud Database last year. Identity fraud (such as taking out credit under someone else’s name) accounted for around two-thirds (63%) of this figure and grew by 22% during the course of 2021. The vast majority (91%) of fraud reported last year was carried out online, with people aged over 61 disproportionately affected accounting for 24% of cases. It’s more vital than ever to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself against fraudsters. Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Fraud can take a huge financial and mental toll on the victims and their families. Not everyone is able to recover the funds stolen and this can have a lasting impact.”

If you are getting into debt

For the first time in June, debt charity StepChange reported that the ‘rising cost of living’ was the most commonly cited reason for people making contact, with nearly one-in-five (18%) of clients suggesting it was the underlying cause of their financial problems. If you are worried about getting into debt, the following charities offer free, impartial advice. Never pay for advice around debt and never share details with companies contacting you by email or phone. Sadly, even debt advice is a target for scammers. National Debt Line Turn2Us (also offers benefits and grant eligibility calculators) StepChange Citizens Advice Christians Against Poverty

Thanks to https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/energy/cost-of-living-crisis/

Lovingkindness in times of uncertainty

When we are uncertain, we can get caught in catastrophizing; born of fear. We can grasp aimlessly for control, continuously looking for solutions. we act and speak out of that place, sending further ripples of uncertainty. We can start with self-care and self-soothe our fears. Taking care of what we can and loosening the grip of fear where we can. Meditation can start with just 3 breaths - what we call the sacred breath - a place to centre ourselves. Slowly we can build this up to sitting with ourselves for 20 minutes - we may need help and assistance with this, which is where sangha can be a comfort. We may also need professional assistance. My priest's metta from above, as I said has been an anchor, as you read it consider where it applies to areas of your life and what is going on around you:

• May I not become a victim to my emotions of sadness, despair, and anger. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• Breathing in and Breathing out, may I transform my negative reactions into compassion for all beings. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• May I embody peace in my everyday life. In my actions and my speech. In the way, I treat others and the way I treat myself. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out I breathe out peace.
  

• May we bring to mind all who suffer the effects of war, poverty, and oppression. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• May all those who seek safety and shelter, find safe havens amid their struggle. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• May all those who are hungry and cold, find food and warmth. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out I breathe out peace.
  

• May all those who are sick or injured find medicine, and healing. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace
  

• May all those who are separated by war be reunited. Breathing in I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• May all the grieving and anguished hearts find peace. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace.
  

• May those in power come to see that peace is the answer. Breathing in, I breathe in calm. Breathing out, I breathe out peace

The above can be adapted to suit, your life (boat), and your circumstances (storm). All ride storms in our boats. We have parallel storms and different boats. Sometimes we share the boat, sometimes the storm. When we are calmer, it may be possible to see other options open to us. Sometimes those options open further when we can assist others. Sometimes we need to ask for help; there is no shame in asking for it. Wherever you find yourself, there are people who care.