#price rises

[eaglesnick]

“Leverage is the reason some people become rich and others do not become rich” - Robert T Kiyosaki

The privatised water companies have been demanding price rises of between 24% and 91% over the next five years according to the Consumer Council for Water. The mainly foreign owned "English" water companies want to invest £96bn in water and sewage restructuring between now and 2030. New reservoirs, the first for over 30 years, will be built, leaks will be reduced and less sewage will be pumped into our waterways and seas.

Amen to that! But wait…

“English water firms have handed £57 billion to shareholders in the 30 years after privatisation.” (The London Economic: 28/10/21)

We, the consumer, having generously contributed to foreign share dividends for three decades to the tune of £2 billion per year, are now expected to part with even more money to pay for 30 years of private water company neglect. Meanwhile, the CEO’s of these private companies gave themselves a 20% pay rise for the year 2021-22, pocketing £24.8 million.

None of these facts are particularly new but what really irked me yesterday morning was an interview on BBC’s “Today" programme with David Henderson, CEO of Water UK, the organisation that represents all of the privately owned water companies.

Stressing the country’s need for “economic growth", Henderson said this would not be possible unless the water companies were allowed to drastically raise the price of water to cover the cost of investment needed to upgrade our water infrastructure. Talking of the need to increase water supply he stated:

“We have not built a reservoir in 30 years, even though our population has risen by 20% in that time. And that’s because we have been blocked by regulators and by planning officials around the country.”

The cheek!

According to New Civil Engineer magazine (01/09/22)

“There is a seemingly direct link between the 1989 privatisation of water companies in the UK and the ceasing of new reservoirs being built. While there have been a number of flood alleviation reservoirs built by the Environment Agency in this time, the water companies have not invested in potable drinking reservoirs.”

While I have no doubt that some applications for new reservoirs have been refused by planning authorities the main reason for inadequate reservoir capacity is the reluctance of the privately owned water companies to spend money on investment. Despite what David Henderson said on the Today programme this is a headline from the Express:

“Water firms ‘sold off reservoirs that could have eased drought' - Profit ahead of supply" (10/08.22)

In defending the private water companies Henderson was merely doing his job - after all that is what he is paid to do - but unfortunately their behaviour is indefensible. The reason that our waterway infrastructure is near collapse is not because investment plans have been blocked by “regulators and planning officials" but because of greed.

When Margaret Thatcher privatised the previously publicly owned water companies she sold this national asset for a grand total of £7.6bn. In addition she gave the newly created privately owned water companies a “green dowry" of £1.5bn. At time of purchase the water companies were totally debt free.

Fast-forward and what do we find?

“Water firms’ debts since privatisation hit £54bn as Ofwat refuses to impose limits.” Guardian: 01/12.22)

The water companies have spent the last few decades borrowing money, not to improve the water supply and sewage disposal infrastructure, but to pay dividends to shareholders. According to Ofwat’s own figures the water companies have been running ratios of debt to capital value as high as 80%. Water company share holders (70% owned by foreign investors) have received £65.9bn in dividends and it is calculated that 20% of household water bills go towards paying for the debt that rewards these shareholders.

Rachel Reeves much heralded national wealth fund is supposed to be a central plank of the Labour governments “Green Prosperity Plan” but Labour’s earlier promise to nationalise the dysfunctional private water companies has now been abandoned.

David Henderson has issued what in effect is a blackmail ultimatum to the new Labour Government that without massive price rises in consumer water bills, the Labour Party can kiss their dreams of economic growth goodbye.

Today Ofwat, the water regulator, sanctioned an average increase in water bills of 21%, some companies charging as much as 44% more over a five year period. This is a third less than what the water companies demanded, but even a 21% rise over five years is an increase of 4% a year, twice the inflation rate target of the Bank of England.

An interesting case study will be that of Thames Water which has dire financial problems due to building up a debt of £14bn (while still paying out tens of millions in dividends to its shareholders). It remains to be seen if Thames Water will be allowed to go bust or whether the new Labour Government will step in and bail it out but maybe this headline gives us a clue:

“Labour abstain on bid to criminalize water companies for sewage pollution” (Canary: 17/05/24)

[thoughtlessarse]

The price of olive oil and baked beans, among other basic products, could dramatically rise over the next few years, according to new research by the online shopping platform BravoVoucher. The pandemic, soaring interest rates and geopolitical conflicts have resulted in the price of many UK food staples, including olive oil, baked beans and granulated white sugar, rising dramatically. A new study has outlined where prices could go over the next few years. Which products are expected to be most expensive by 2030? According to the online shopping platform BravoVoucher, by 2030, olive oil is expected to be one of the most impacted products. Its price has risen by 113.8% between 2019 and 2024 (to £8.04 by March 2024) for a 500ml 1 litre bottle. Now, BravoVoucher estimates that if inflation does not slow down, olive oil prices could potentially soar to approximately £17.19 by 2030. However, if inflation does manage to come down to 2% by the end of the decade, olive oil prices could rise at a relatively gentler pace, touching almost £9.05 by 2030. Olive oil prices are still being heavily impacted by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, mainly due to the resulting Houthi Red Sea attacks on container and cargo ships causing significant disruption to oil supply routes and stocks in the UK, as well as around the world. 

continue reading

[bluegiragi]

hoard. (full comic on patreon)

[yeyinde]

trying to seduce or rile up Price only for it utterly backfire on you has got to be one of my favourite things ever. especially if it's framed like a reluctant aggressor situation that flips on its head. because while he might not have wanted to do this at first, once he starts, there's absolutely no stopping him until he's satisfied.

which just ends up with you on your knees, barely able to keep yourself up as he folds himself over you, furry chest glued to your spine, forearm shoved under your neck, fingers gripping your shoulder to keep you locked in place as he sets out to make you regret ever trying to tempt him by viciously pounding his pent up aggression into your poor, abused pussy. gives you his full weight as a punishment, too; not stopping until all the air is squeezed out of your sore, burning lungs.

and all the while he rubs his bearded jaw over your sweat-slicked, tear stained cheek, and growls into your ear about how spoiled, needy little things don't get to cry now. not when he's just giving you exactly what you asked for.

so say thank you, sir and stop whining about it already 🙄

[magpie-sphinx]

new art dragon dropped

[ybkitten]

Guys I saw the new ancient and I can’t resist. I love them and they’re going in The Box.

Might make this a ych / adopt of some sort. Let me know if anyone would be interested! I’m going back to putting this guy in a box >:3

[toastingpencils37]

Just like the Merge took Arin's parents, it also took the Monastery dragon's wings

[ferberus-skull]

you WILL look at litebrite btw

[ninja-knox-ur-sox-off]

I actually imagine he looks really good in blue

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price as Dr. Anton Phibes -

Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) dir. Robert Fuest

[eaglesnick]

“When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.” ― Shirley Chisholm

The headline below  tells you all you need to know about private investment and green policies designed to combat climate change.

“We won’t invest in green energy for the sake of it, says BP boss.”  (The  Telegraph: 01/07/23)

The boss of BP went on to say that his company would NOT be investing in green energy schemes “unless they are profitable enough”.

Having netted $27.7bn profit on the back of the conflict in Ukraine - something President Bidden described as “war profiteering” - the company will only invest in green energy if certain financial criteria are met. Who cares if the world average temperature rises a few degrees more? It will be the poor that suffer the most and they are not BP executives or shareholders!

 Maybe it is more than coincidental that the head of BP is a Mr Looney, for ignoring the catastrophic consequences of not following green policies is pure insanity.  There is no more doubt as to the effects of global warning and climate change. Wild fires, torrential rain and flooding are becoming commonplace. Parts of Europe are predicted to become desert, while if the Gulf Stream stops flowing the UK will become a frozen wasteland for months at a time.

So, although the UK may escape the burning hell that has engulfed many parts of Europe this year, a sizable drop in rainfall will accompany the creeping cold, reducing the UK’s arable land from 32% to a mere 7%. Food prices will soar, energy bills will become unaffordable and life for many will become unbearable.

When might this happen?

Gulf Stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests”  (Guardian:25/07/23)

The corporate world cares not. Mr Looney and other energy companies will not invest in green energy just ”for the sake of it.” There has to be monetary reward. Who cares how many countless millions will suffer because people like Mr Looney put profit before human misery, money before morality? You and I cannot do what is necessary to stop climate change, only governments and global corporates have the power to do that. But greed still rules the day so expect the worst. I’m not a religious person but I am reminded of this quotation from Mark 8:36

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

[threefeline]

Got another AH pick for sale :3c Obs/Obs/Moon

700k for this one!

AAAAND SOLD!!! THANK YOU <333 Hope you enjoy your new tundra dusthide!

[bellatrixnightshade]

Is it just me or do people tend to dislike characters that they actually are similar to/relate to, and then end up loving them much later?

[tangledinink]

commissions are open! send me an ask if you're interested-- i'm happy to communicate via tumblr or discord! if you enjoy TMWN?, gemini au, swanatello, stabilize, or any of the other things i make, i'd love it if you considered commissioning me or donating to my ko-fi to support me! further details below the cut.

I accept Kofi, Venmo, or Paypal for payment. Please note I reserve the right to decline any commissions. Very complex designs may have additional fees. I will happily draw most things for you (your DND character, your fursona, a robot, etc.) but I will not draw anything NSFW for minors; ID must be provided. If you're looking for something specific (ie a doodle sheet, a comic, simple animation, etc.) please feel free to reach out about pricing. Please view my website for my full terms of service.

[owleics-fr]

Nimbostratus | Art dragon up for sale at 1500g, open to haggling! 🌌 SOLD!

[sad-leon]

Cass has destroyed us

@intotheelliwoods is about to destroy us and i totally havent given Ell ANY inspiration that could ever lead to anything angsty

So, in a surprise turn of events, I'm providing fluff!!

I just needed to see them soft and happy before we get obliterated :D