Friday 20^th September saw a worldwide statement by millions of people, marching to draw attention to the sort of world that we are likely to face if global warming is not moderated.

The marchers generally believe that action must be taken to avoid catastrophe. There are those who see the marchers as lefty hippy ratbags, not in touch with the real world where jobs must be secured, electricity, water and gas provided at reasonable prices, where the environment can be treated as a consumable commodity. Passionate people line up on either side of the divide.

The Marchers and the Conservatives. It is easy to emotionally side with the Marchers but be tempted to swap sides when considering the likely discomfort and financial cost of effective climate control action. Discomfort which includes inconvenient moderation of thoughtless habits that waste and pollute. Me? I like to lead the good life. I am embarrassed at the sheer quantity of stuff that I have accumulated in a lifetime of hedonistic consumerism. Stuff that has no real value other than bringing back happy memories. For all that, we are now fairly diligent about composting, recycling and avoiding unnecessary packaging.

If we were told that we could save the planet by having one less car and by making do without heating and air conditioning, that we would just have to wear warmer clothes in the winter and fan ourselves in the summer, what would we do? It may come to much harder tack than that within the next twenty years. I hope that I will/would have the intestinal fortitude to stay with the marchers.

Pa: Why are these people marching?

Fin: To stop pollution.

P: What will happen if pollution doesn’t stop?

F: The earth will die.

P: Are you and your buddies worried about that?

F: Yes.

P: Me too. What do you think that will happen?

F: The earth will nearly die, then people will do things.

P: What will they do?

F: Stop burning coal, have electric cars, stop smoking and stop using plastic.