John Pearson writes about this Sofia’s theme: Looking Back – Facing Forward.
‘Its not that easy bein’ Green’… so sang Kermit the Frog in one episode of The Muppet Show. This, a joke song written over 50 years ago, could just as well have been, more significantly, the anthem of the Green Party and others sharing their objectives. Indeed, I asked that the song be played at the funeral of my long-term friend Roy Hilton. It was Roy, supreme environmentalist, who first introduced me to the Green Party, into all this stuff back in the days of the Ecology Party. You may think my choice inappropriate and flippant, but read the lyrics. Roy was Green and would have smiled and taken it as a tribute I feel.
So what is it that is so hard? We all know the dire warnings about the future of the planet. We all know, surely, that if we believe these to be based on truth, then we should all be acting accordingly. It’s the ‘acting accordingly’ part that can be hard.
Any satisfaction to be gained from pursuing ecologically sound practices whenever practical comes at the cost of doing things in ways we are familiar with, in ways we like and, in many cases in ways that are much easier. Let us look at our own past practices as a Network. For years, until Covid struck, we made a point of holding an extended residential conference. These were familiar and cherished gatherings, the next one always something to look forward to in between times. We liked the face-to-face element – took it for granted, and did not give much thought to the cost to the planet. And it was easiest for many to travel to the said Annual Conferences, in Leicester or wherever, in their own cars, not necessarily shared, rather than on the train.
Back in 1996 there were 211 attendees at a residential event spread over three days. Back then, a ‘carbon footprint’ was unheard of – a term which has only been in circulation since 2003. Imagine 211 persons travelling up to 300 miles each; then, once at conference, each being cooked for six times and accommodated in 211 rooms which needed maintenance. Add to that the cost of providing 48 hours-worth of light and heat (or cool in the hottest summers). Contrast this with the Zoom conference of recent times, spread over more days (as was the case in 2022), available to all 250 or 300 members should they wish. Total cost to the environment of a 16 hour gathering, 23kw computer hours in all – negligible?
Talking of sometimes difficult choices for the Network’s future, abandoning familiar ways, most of you will read this on the paper (‘hard copy’) version of our flagship magazine, Sofia. How much cheaper and better for the world would be an online publication. But I for one would not treasure it so much, might not read it even – the case I made here in the past (Sofia 135).
As to travels by air, I cannot deny my own past sins, not least because I have trumpeted many of these in the pages of Sofia over the years. Readers have been treated to accounts of the USA, Berlin, India, Finland, France, mainland Italy and, separately, Sicily. For only one destination, the USA, was a flight essential, it could be argued. But I confess that I flew to and from all of the above, except France and Italy. A total of 22,130 air miles. Though not previously on record in Sofia, I made eight further trips to Finland over the years, two further trips to Berlin and one to Hong Kong, all for work, as well as a family trip to St Petersburg. A further 52,900 miles. All of the above is looking back, not without some shame on my part, presented as I am now with the evidence of the harm it has contributed to. How to face forward?
In the past I have touched on the everyday steps we might all take: re-cycle; insulate your homes; conserve energy over the summer; walk or use public transport and, if you must travel by car then try and car-share. Fit solar panels. Fit a heat exchanger. Grow your own vegetables, and so the list goes on.
Few people are in the position single-handedly to change the habits of the world, of their own nation even, although senior politicians do have power over economies and the directions which they take. It is to them that we must appeal, seeking concrete change to policies, and the enactment of those they may already have promised.
When campaigning for the Green Party I often face the dismissive ‘what’s the point of voting for you, you won’t get in?’ A self-fulfilling prophesy. It is true of course that the effect of just one voter boldly doing something new, in this case voting Green, will be negligible. But if 1000 were to do this next year, 2000 the next, and so on, then it would take effect. Much the same principle applies to other personal choices. Again, it is true that if one or two of us travel overland to parts of Europe and farther afield, rather than flying, we are making a stand but the effect will, again, be negligible. We all need to take a stand on this.
Friends and relatives have tried to persuade me that anything other than flying to far flung places, albeit reachable by land (India, Russia and so on) is just not sensible, not practicable. As I see it, once one has crossed the Channel, via boat or tunnel, then anywhere can be reached by train or car. Yes, it may be far more time-consuming than a three-hour flight, and the financial cost may be greater. If overseas travel by other means than flying is too expensive, in terms of time or money, simply do not do it.
It has been suggested, and I fully support this as a half-way house, that if nothing better can be achieved as yet, international business trips should be cut to an absolute minimum (so much can be said and demonstrated via Zoom or the like). Individuals and families should be limited to just one holiday by air per year, maximum. All this could be seen as a severe intrusion on their personal freedoms, but so is telling them not to smoke. All of it could be achieved via legislation – national and international.
We all have comfort zones, whether born of upbringing, education or peer group influence. These form habits like plane instead of train (even within the UK), car instead of bus, bus instead of walk or cycle. Many of us still shop at a large supermarket, sometimes a car-ride from home, instead of on the local high street. Those of us fortunate to live a twenty–thirty minutes walk from the city centre should walk there if we are physically able. And of course, the less we walk there the less we will be able to.
I am not advocating absolute martyrdom, but if the future is going to look and feel right and be as sustainable as possible, there are things we can and should be doing. Neither would I wish to seem to be proclaiming my personal sainthood. If I have a chest of drawers to take round to my daughter’s I do not carry it on my back; out comes the electric car.
I was chastised during my recent political campaigning, incidentally, told off even for owning an electric car. ‘You know how they produce the electricity for this I suppose?’. And I have drawn the line at certain other things in the past, as when my friend Roy, above, declared his firm intention to install a compost toilet in his house, just round the corner from my own. ‘Would I use it?’ he asked… ‘Well no’ I replied, ‘I think I’d rather just pop back to my place.!’
As we as a Network look back on what might be seen as an enjoyable, comfortable but environmentally extravagant past, are we all doing all we can for a sustainable future?