Page 5 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • April 2009 5
The economic crisis and the hard

issues we have to face up to
Bishop Lee Rayfi eld, Bishop of Swindon,
refl ects on the mess the world is in and the contribution
he and every one of us has made to the situation
As someone who invariably tends to look on the bright side of life, I
have found the last six months profoundly challenging. Barely a week
has passed without having to get my head around a massive sum of
money needed to rescue yet another company or institution. Despite
regular assurances otherwise, it is increasingly evident there is no short
term solution to our economic situation.
In a matter of months, bankers does. This love of ‘stuff’ has fuelled
have lost their status as symbols exponential consumption, spiraling
of stability and become icons of personal debt and squandered the
complacency or greed. The Govern- planet’s resources.
ment’s strategy for doing away with Second, I have been more inter-
‘boom and bust’ has run aground. ested in how much something costs
Regulatory agencies have found rather than who produced it or
themselves in the dock. where it came from. I might wonder We can help you beat
The economic how that aluminum
environment is un- torch could have the Credit Crunch
precedented - and been made for less
it is hurting. Some than a cup of cof-
of us are feeling the fee, or those shoes 1 You drop it off
impact directly in for the price of a 2 We sell it on eBay for you
terms of job security magazine, but the 3 We send you a cheque
and loss of income. fact it is a bargain
Others are worry- has suppressed Call us now 0845 22 694 22
ing about our pen- my questions and
sions, our children’s qualms. Let Us Auction It Ltd, BSS House, Unit 36
future and where all Third, I have been Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon SN2 2PJ
this might end. It is willing to stretch
hardly surprising myself very thinly www.letusauctionit.co.uk
that we are looking for someone fi nancially in order to secure a mort- (Only items valued at £35 or more can be accepted)
to blame. gage. I look for the few investments
Yet the uncomfortable truth is I have to perform better than the
that most of us share some respon- average. I want my mortgage rate
sibility for what has happened. to be low and savings rate high. And How singing, dance and drama
I might be tempted to pin all the if my bank does not deliver I am
blame on banks, Governments or prepared to move my business. create a many-sided child
‘globalisation’ but the reality is that Can you see the problem? I buy
I have played a key role - and you things that I do not need, pay less
probably have, too. Let me explain than their true cost in material or
my part. human terms, and look for returns
First, I collect too much ‘stuff.’ which are unrealistic or unreason-
Put me in PC World or Maplins and able. From cheap food to cheap
I am bound to fi nd something to add energy.
to the pile, whether or not I need I have rarely considered sustain- Now enrolling
it. These shops may not do it for ability, only cost. Too often I think Summer
you but maybe the Designer Outlet and act only for the short term - and Holiday
Centre, a golf store or Halfords Governments, institutions and
commerce have found it hard to Workshop
Monday 3rd -
Looking for resist this driver. Saturday 8th
August
This crisis is giving us the chance
British nationality? to reassess our aspirations and
values. In spite of the pain it is an
A service offered by the Register opportunity to reset direction. We If
If your child is between 4 and 16, he or she your child is between 4 and 16, he or she
Offi ce can save time and avoid are now more alive to the impact of is ready for Stagecoach. We teach them the
errors when applying for British a consumer driven lifestyle on our skills they need to act, sing and dance.
nationality. communities and our planet. And Soon they begin to speak more clearly
People using the document most of us have always known that and easily, move better, act more naturally,
checking service provided by endless economic growth is unreal Call Sheryll (Principal) become more confi dent and self aware.
register offi ces are more likely to and unsustainable. for a prospectus on These skills don’t vanish as the curtain falls.
They are learnt for life.
have their applications accepted. Jesus once told people like me Schools are open during normal term
Government fi gures show that 98 not to worry so much about what 01793 791746 time for three hours at weekends.
per cent of applications made this to wear or drink but to fi rst look for
way were successful compared God’s way of going about things.
with a 90 per cent approval rate Do that, he said, and you will fi nd
for other applications. what you truly need.
Appointments with National- There could yet be a positive side
ity Checking Officers can be to this crisis but it requires all of us
booked on Tuesday, Wednesday to make different choices about how
and Thursday. Call 521734 for we live and the future we want. Can
details. I do that? Can you?

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