Swiss free-climber Ueli Steck suffered a massive blow - yet thankfully remained relatively unharmed - just hours into his solo attempt on the south face of Annapurna. The last 2500m to the 8091m summit in the Himalayan Annapurna massif are an almost vertical ice and rock face - one of the most difficult climbs in the world.

Steck didn't make it and fell - after being hit by a rock - over 300m down the ice wall, escaping with minor injuries and a broken illusion. his ascent had been postponed over weeks due to bad weather forecasts. He finally gave in to temptation and risked his life. This idea of unsecured solo climbs continues freaks me out and I am yet undecided whether to admire or dismiss such endeavours. Kill yourself if you must. The decision is yours and nobody else's. As long as no other person is endangered - physically or mentally - I feel indifferent. The achievement after a successfully completed risky mission is one of power, endurance and luck. But while adding unnecessary risk might generate additional adrenalin for the participant, it does not add grandeur to the achievement.

Fortunately Ueli Steck has survived his "day out" at Annapurna. Luck he would not have needed.

Only when we got back from an active day out by the Southwark Embankment did we hear about the violent escalations of the day's demonstrations in Rostock. While we joined G8 protesters from various groups and organisations here in London, gathered between Westminster and Lambeth Bridge with street music, bells and whistles and African drums, stones were flying between police and radicals in North East Germany...



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"The primary purpose of religion is to control women". (George Monbiot)