Keen to be Green (up to a point)
It is heartening to be having so many conversations about climate change, however distressing the subject. There was a time - which seemed to be endless - when mention of the subject would produce groans and the rolling of eyeballs.
But most of the people with whom I chat about this seem to have taken it on board on one level and not on many more. They are happy to tell me about their recycling (usually compulsory now), about their hostility to short-sighted political behaviour, about the dangers to the Maldives. Then they climb back into their 4x4s or set off to Thailand and New Zealand - or to Barcelona for a long week-end. These are good people. What is needed to shake them out of their myopia?
Oh well - we will press on with our low-level campaign to introduce green ideas to our readers and, more importantly, to our owners. They are responding with some enthusiasm, especially to the pressure on them to provide only the best food: local and/or organic.
posted by Alastair @ 12:29 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
I was astounded to read recently what the Welsh Assembly's First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, is alleged to have said in response to global warming. In a Welsh-language magazine he was reported as saying that Wales will gain from climate change because visitors will come in their hoards for holidays in sunny Wales instead of trekking to the South of Spain. So much for politicians responding to the dire warnings of scientists!
Of course British people should explore the corners of these islands whatever the weather. It is evident that more and more people are taking breaks throughout the year instead of just one major holiday in the summer. Speaking for myself, I prefer the cycle of the seasons to remain constant in their variety. I have never understood why tv weather men or women slant the information by talking of cold weather as a 'nasty spell' and a sunny forecast as 'a magnificent few days of warm weather'. Cold, even freezing, winters are magnificent too, and walking in such weather can raise the spirits and enhance one's health. It's always easy to wrap up, and what's nicer than coming back to a warm fire (using renewable wood) and a wholesome meal freshly cooked from local, organic produce? In our home there are always books to read and a grand piano to play, and there's nothing wrong with a good conversation and a warming tipple.
Here in Snowdonia we keep a welcome all year round, irrespective of the weather. I invite you to have a look at our website (it will come up in Welsh first, but click on 'English' and it will all become intelligible). The address is: www.ygoedeneirin.co.uk Should you want to leave the car at home, we could meet you at the station, and there is excellent public transport here too. To strike a personal note, I am being forced to learn to be green after I lost my driving licence (after accumulating points for driving at such speeds as 35 mph in a 30 mph zone, etc.) My wife still drives, though, and I regularly travel on buses. There is a lot more we need to do, and like everyone else, we should be doing it at an accelerated rate. And we should be lobbying our elected representatives to come up with serious initiatives to combat climate change. One minute people sigh when they hear the scientists' prognostications, then the next they wallow in the mild sunny weather we are having in January and February. It's time we got real - and this could make our lives, surroundings and holiday destinations more enjoyable.
Myopia...
This is an enternal pronblem for environmental campaigning... even sainsbury's gave away 'designer' carrier bags for a day... and then returned to plastic bags as normal once the news crews had gone home...
and the classic line of people talking about the environment and how important it is, then hopping into thier car to go home...
We all know people who complain about congestion when they are driving thier cars... there is a comming mis-understanding that everyone else should, stay at home, walk, cycle or catch the but, then they would be able to drive?
Its a standard approach that fixes nothing...?
The i'm allright jack mentality... feeds into your later comments about greed...
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