Latest news with #PhilStevens
Scoop
01-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fieldays Forestry Hub: ‘Biochar Fixes Carbon'
Press Release – Biochar Network New Zealand Made by pyrolysis of woody biomass or plant residues, biochar is one of few negative emissions technologies (NETs) recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Biochar safely stores up to half the carbon in its source material … Biochar Network New Zealand is delighted to be part of the Forestry Hub again at Fieldays 2025. Giving visitors the chance to explore the many aspects of forestry and wood processing in NZ, the Forestry Hub will showcase the sector's vital roles in agriculture, construction, energy and carbon management. Made by pyrolysis of woody biomass or plant residues, biochar is one of few negative emissions technologies (NETs) recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Biochar safely stores up to half the carbon in its source material for hundreds – and even thousands – of years. Biochar is the world's leading carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method ( In New Zealand and internationally, biochar made from forestry residues is used for a variety of regenerative agriculture applications, saving farmers money, and increasing productivity. BNNZ Chair, Phil Stevens, is an advocate for biochar research, production and application. 'Biochar turns forestry byproducts into a high-value commodity. As well as building soil carbon, biochar captures nutrients, holds water, mitigates emissions, and improves soil fertility.' Phil also points to the thermal energy released when making biochar, and its potential in generating electricity or providing process heat for industry: 'A timber processing business could very easily get three significant revenue streams from a pyrolysis plant: electricity, biochar, and carbon credits on the international voluntary market.' BNNZ has seen a lot of progress since the 2022 Fieldays with commercial production and sales of biochar expanding around NZ. Southland Carbon have donated a 1000L bag of their premium biochar for a lucky prize winner and BiocharTP will have their new Air Curtain Burner on display. BNNZ will be demonstrating the principles of pyrolysis & gasification for biochar production over the four days and some of the residual heat will be directed at Forestry Hub sausages. The BNNZ team will also be presenting in the G80 Forestry Hub main stage on biochar production and its applications to agriculture and the natural environment (the presentation schedule is on the BNNZ calendar).
Scoop
01-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fieldays Forestry Hub: ‘Biochar Fixes Carbon'
Biochar Network New Zealand is delighted to be part of the Forestry Hub again at Fieldays 2025. Giving visitors the chance to explore the many aspects of forestry and wood processing in NZ, the Forestry Hub will showcase the sector's vital roles in agriculture, construction, energy and carbon management. Made by pyrolysis of woody biomass or plant residues, biochar is one of few negative emissions technologies (NETs) recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Biochar safely stores up to half the carbon in its source material for hundreds - and even thousands - of years. Biochar is the world's leading carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method ( In New Zealand and internationally, biochar made from forestry residues is used for a variety of regenerative agriculture applications, saving farmers money, and increasing productivity. BNNZ Chair, Phil Stevens, is an advocate for biochar research, production and application. 'Biochar turns forestry byproducts into a high-value commodity. As well as building soil carbon, biochar captures nutrients, holds water, mitigates emissions, and improves soil fertility.' Phil also points to the thermal energy released when making biochar, and its potential in generating electricity or providing process heat for industry: 'A timber processing business could very easily get three significant revenue streams from a pyrolysis plant: electricity, biochar, and carbon credits on the international voluntary market.' BNNZ has seen a lot of progress since the 2022 Fieldays with commercial production and sales of biochar expanding around NZ. Southland Carbon have donated a 1000L bag of their premium biochar for a lucky prize winner and BiocharTP will have their new Air Curtain Burner on display. BNNZ will be demonstrating the principles of pyrolysis & gasification for biochar production over the four days and some of the residual heat will be directed at Forestry Hub sausages. The BNNZ team will also be presenting in the G80 Forestry Hub main stage on biochar production and its applications to agriculture and the natural environment (the presentation schedule is on the BNNZ calendar).
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Ropinirole: 'Prescription medication made me a gambling addict'
"I wake up in pain, but the pain is more comforting than what I went through." Phil Stevens, from Hampshire, said he developed an addiction to gambling and spending after taking prescription medication for restless leg syndrome (RLS).The 66-year-old has said he is now reluctant to take anything for the claimed his GP did not warn him about the side effects of the drug and after taking legal action against his doctor he received a £70,000 settlement - but they did not admit liability. The BBC contacted Mr Stevens' GP but they declined to comment on the Stevens was prescribed ropinirole in is a type of dopamine agonist, which is commonly given to patients in the UK with neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease and side effects are listed in the medication leaflet and online but Mr Stevens said if he was warned directly about possible side effects he "would never have taken it". '£6.5k on fishing equipment' Speaking from the home he shares with his wife in Ringwood, Mr Stevens admitted he did occasionally bet before he took the the four years while he was taking Ropinirole he said he found himself using gambling websites in the early hours of the morning and he spent all of his and his wife's savings."We had another house that we owned, that we rented out, and that was part of our pension plan but we had to sell it to get money back in the bank again," he with the gambling, Mr Stevens also engaged in uncontrollable spending."In a short period, I spent £6,500 on fishing equipment," he said."None of it seemed wrong, that's the craziness of it, it all seemed so right at the time." Mr Stevens also has multiple sclerosis (MS) and his family did not challenge him because they believed his changing behaviour was caused by this neurological said it was not until he applied to take part in an MS drug trial that he realised something was said a consultant during the trial told him to stop taking Ropinirole "immediately".Mr Stevens said he researched the drug online and found other cases where people had struggled with addiction linked to dopamine Vaughan, a solicitor with Leigh Day, represented Mr Stevens when he took legal action against his said the first case like this which she settled was in 2015."My hope is that these cases will shine a light on the issue and patient safety will improve as a result," she Stevens said he was not aware how much he had spent until he went through his accounts with Ms Vaughan."I just cried my eyes out, I just could not believe what I had done," he receiving a financial settlement, Mr Stevens said he was still living with guilt."All I ever wanted was an apology but I'm never going to get that apology, so I'll never get rid of the guilt," he explained. Studies have found that 10-20% of patients who take a dopamine agonist, suffer from some form of impulse control disorder (ICD).Julie Gould is from RLS UK, a charity that supports people with the condition in the wants better training for doctors when it comes to RLS and is calling for dopamine agonists to only be used in end of life scenarios. 'Get all the information' Dr Michael Mulholland, vice chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "Prescribing and de-prescribing are both included in the GP curriculum which all GP registrars (trainees) must demonstrate a competence of in order to practise independently as a GP in the UK."Restless leg syndrome will specifically be included in the updated GP curriculum, due to take effect from August 2025," he ropinirole medication Mr Stevens took is sold under the brand name Requip and was manufactured by Glaxo Smyth Kleine (GSK).A GSK spokesperson said "Extensive clinical trials and more than 17 million patient treatments worldwide since 1996 have continued to show Requip to be an effective treatment for Parkinon's disease and restless legs syndrome, with a well-characterised safety profile. "As with all medicines, Requip has potential side effects and these are clearly stated in the prescribing information. "Patients should only take Requip under the direction of a medical professional."Reflecting on his experience, Mr Stevens said: "I'm not saying don't take it, I don't have any right to say that but what I would say, if you're in a position where a doctor was to prescribe you that medication, ask the questions, get all the information and then make that informed choice." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
