Nuclear Watch Out

Sellafield, la infame central nuclear del Reino Unido que sufre accidentes graves y que contamina la costa oeste de la isla, no está tan lejos.

Lei hace un tiempo en algún sitio que trenes transportan material radiactivo a través de Londres regularmente. Las vías de ferrocarril y metro del Reino Unido están en estado muy precario, resultado de décadas de abandono. Actualmente, consorcios privados, como Metronet, invierten en mejorar el sistema ferroviario sólo una parte del ingente dinero público que reciben.


El desecho nucler pasa muy cerca de donde vivo. En realidad, pasa demasiado cerca de cualquier habitante de Londres. Un accidente puede contaminar un radio de kilómetros considerable. La contaminación radiactiva parece ser particularmente insidiosa en cuanto a sus efectos. No tengo más información al respecto, sobretodo porque las autoridades locales no están legalmente obligadas a proporcionármela. De hecho, tampoco tienen planes de emergencia, protección civil o evacuación porque no es su competencia.

La basura peligrosa es democrática en su recorrido: lo mismo atraviesa los más populares barrios como Stratford y Hackney que los exclusivos y sólo Wandsworth y Hampstead. La ruta incluye los túneles de Sevenoaks, Primrose Hill y Hampstead Heath.


Transporte nuclear - un desastre anunciado. No podemos saber qué día ocurrirá, pero sí a qué hora; Greenpece publica los horarios de tránsito del material radiactivo.

Swans invasion

Swans have a tainted reputation of serving as tacky symbols of tender love and aristrocat elegance.

You only need to see the picture of the entry 'Swan' at the otherwise self-contained Wikipedia. Or any porcelaine sculpture from Lladró or other traders of bad taste.

I remember having seen a couple of swans taking care of their eggs at Canada Water. The nest was anchored in the middle of a canal only a few meters away from a pedestrian bridge. Please used to stop and marvel at the scene. Unfortunately the eggs were abandoned before hatching, probably by too much disturbance from passers by.

I wasn't prepared to change my perception of swans as a nasty plague...


While visiting the popular riverside of Kingston-upon-Thames I saw the densest concentration of huge white swans that I have ever seen.

I took the following picture from the left side of the Thames, by the Barge Walk.









Now look closer. Just below the bridge over Charter Quay there are literally dozens of those pesky huge monsters.

I suspect that the culprits are on the boat on the right of the picture. They must be feeding those beasts day and night. The phenomenon is clearly out of hand now and it can even be seen from satellites. The proof?





This is a recent view from Google Maps of the epicenter of this public health disaster.






These are the coordinates in case the Army, or the Navy for that sake, decide to take action: 51.412163,-0.304184 to 51.406809,-0.313926













And this is a view from one of the flats whose price must be plummeting down:

The Mayor

When: 08:50 a.m Friday 20th April 2007.
Where: Swiss Cottage tube station, Jubilee line. North West London.
Who: Ken Livingstone



Yes, that's right. Walking by the tube corridors I crossed The Mayor. He was alone wearing an unpreposesing jacket and no tie. He walked slowly like an old man minding his own business.

This is the same week when his Tube Tzar, Bob Kiley, the American who was supposed to make the tube work, admits being an alcoholic to the press.