At the end of last year I read the excellent and inspiring book "Back to Nature: How to love life and save it" by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin
In that book, Chris said:
“In a time of unprecedented stress, when many people were thrust into the most difficult periods of their lives, they found that nature was there for them, to reduce anxiety, promote calm and provide comfort.
No wonder that when polls were conducted after the lockdown only 9 per cent wanted to return to “normal”, citing their reasons as noticeably clearer air, more wildlife and a stronger sense of community. They had come to realise that the “old normal” was actually abnormal, that going back to business as usual would be bad, as it had been “bad business”, certainly when it comes to the environment.
With the blame for this pandemic focused upon China’s live wild animal markets, with their horrific menagerie of animals smuggled from all over the world, it was plain for all see that abusing the natural world was exacting a terrible cost to everyone globally.
While for the citizens of the UK the Californian and Australian wildfires, the destruction of the rainforest and the melting poles all seemed far away, suddenly a lethal virus, which had possibly jumped from a bat to a pangolin, was potentially in their home …. or in them.
This was the unsustainable abuse of our Earth writ large and the full horror of its repercussions still remain unimaginable.
Only fools would want to go back to that …. but then fools are who we have in charge.”
He also said:
“So all you farmers, foresters, reserve wardens, teachers, students and children, all of you ‘ologists, scientists, artists, writers and bloggers, you activists, volunteers gardeners, all of you who have taken a bit of solace and respite from the horrors of 2020 by finding, engaging with and loving nature, can you please see that this is not your last chance to make a difference, it is our species’ last chance to make that difference.
We don’t all have to agree about all the details but we must agree on our shared agenda. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with all who care enough to take some action and be part of making a difference.
You – please, you – need to make that difference. Our wildlife needs us and it needs you more than ever”.
So, going back to …. “Only fools would want to go back to that …. but then fools are who we have in charge.” ….
Wildlife and Countryside Link is the largest environment and wildlife coalition in England, bringing together 57 organisations supported by over 8 million people in the UK and using its strong joint voice for the protection of wildlife, nature and the environment.
In June 2020, Wildlife and Countryside Link wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for the Environment …. see here.
Their letter represented a plan for rapid economic recovery, a more resilient society and the restoration of natural capital that underpins our physical and mental well-being.
It included proposals for investment in our natural environment, the creation of jobs, saving the NHS billions of pounds, levelling up health and livelihoods across the country and protecting the economy against future natural disasters. It included essential investment in a low-carbon economy to address the climate and environment emergency.
The plan identified £315m needed for “ready to go projects” to create a Nature Recovery Network to reverse declines in biodiversity, create jobs, support rural and urban communities, lock away millions of tonnes of carbon in pursuit of the UK's net zero target and protect people and businesses from future natural disasters.
What did the Government offer? …. £40m …. a pathetic response from "the fools in charge".
Meanwhile, amongst so many other environmentally damaging policies and schemes and plenty of “greenwash”, this Government is continuing progress on the ecological vandalism that is HS2, supporting the opening of coal mines in Cumbria, reintroducing the use of neonicotinoids which were banned whilst the UK was an EU member and refusing to tackle the rampant illegal persecution and killing of wildlife on driven grouse moors and elsewhere.
The tragedy of the Covid-19 pandemic is the immense and ongoing human cost and economic cost
However, there is an opportunity to rebuild and reconstruct our communities (at a local, national and global level) by supporting and implementing a Green New Deal and a green recovery.
We need to completely reimagine and rethink the way that our societies and economies work.
We need to focus on our environment and repair, restore, reintroduce and rewild.
In the UK and around the world, we need new leaders and a new style of leadership.
We only need to look at the inspiration and hope offered by some of our young people.
The Swede, Greta Thunberg, who has inspired so many people around the world, is undoubtedly well known to many and here in the UK we have some amazing young naturalists and campaigners including the following:
Several of these young people have been mentored and supported by Chris Packham.
I have seen several of them speak at Birdfair and seen some of them on BBC2 Springwatch, BBC2 Autumnwatch and BBC2 Winterwatch and on the Self-Isolating Bird Club.
I have also just finished reading the remarkable book by Dara McAnulty which I will shortly write a review of.
Bella Lack recently said this on Twitter which very simply sums up the challenge ….I completely understand the desire for mass vaccination to get out of this situation ASAP, but unless we seriously address our catastrophic relationship with nature, vaccinating ourselves is like mopping up the overflowing bath without turning off the tap.
— Bella Lack (@BellaLack) January 19, 2021
If not now, then when?
If not us, then who?
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you feel like commenting on my blog, you can contact me by completing the comment form below. I will respond to all comments and enquiries and constructive criticism will always be welcomed.