[Artist, Luke Jerram’s Earth installation in Bath Abbey – back in 2023]
What a beautiful morning. Good luck to everyone taking part in the mock Funeral for Nature in Bath today. I will miss it as have a 60th birthday bash in Bristol l have to attend.
Luckily l have a couple of good friends taking some pictures in my absence.
NOW – Have you got anything special printed on your diary or wall calendar for April 22nd? I haven’t. Yes, l know the next day – the 23rd – is marked St George’s Day. England’s patron saint. Someone who wasn’t born here – or ever set foot on our English soil.
I blame Shakespeare of course for promoting this dragon slayer. His famous ‘Once more unto the breach’ pep talk from Henry V in which the monarch ends his pre-battle-rousing speech with that immortal line, ‘Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’
Coming back to the present, l rate the international marking of ‘Earth Day’ on the 22nd as being much more important. Climate change, pollution, overpopulation and the loss of the natural world know no national boundaries.
It was an event that began in America back in 1970 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.
One of the biggest campaigns underway is ( taken from their website) ‘our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.
Our theme, Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. Join us as we build a plastic-free planet for generations to come!’
I have just come back from India where – despite government campaigns – there is plastic and other rubbish strewn everywhere. We saw the same last year in Mexico and the year before in Jordan.
However, l am well aware we are no better at home – just look – for example- at the rubbish strewn along the Batheaston by-pass.
I happen to think plastic is one of the biggest environmental ‘cancers’ inflicted on this planet by humankind.
Protecting and caring for the natural world has never been more important. We need a great global cleanup.
The madness of global wars when humankind should be acting together to get this world back on track and realise we are not the only living things depending on a healthy Mother Earth.
