How Green Are We?

I have just spent a week in rural England. It is interesting to compare politics and environmental considerations. I had interesting conversations with teachers, farmers, academics and even Royalty. Brits tend to be more restrained and not wear their politics on their sleeve like North Americans but I was amazed to hear the feeling of shame from all these sectors on the state of British politics. A common theme was that they felt Britain used to be respected for its model government but now they have lost their way. One of the conversants felt that US politics was much better with checks and balances and a strong constitution whereas Britain does not have a constitution and therefore less checks and balances. They felt that Canada was exemplary but on the other hand, they didn’t really follow Canadian politics and were unaware that we have an election looming.

The people I spoke with, seemed to think that they were doing well environmentally. They have banned plastic bags but food is still individually wrapped in plastic. I saw one hybrid vehicle but no purely electric vehicles and no charging stations. They have closed their dumps so garbage is strewn everywhere. Roads are very busy but lots of good public transport too. Heathrow is trying to make its airport only accessible by public transport by 2030. Lots of locally grown food is available but still lots of imported citrus, melons and meat too. It was argued that wrapping some food in plastic, such as cucumbers, helps to preserve it longer so less waste thrown in the garbage? Maybe there is an argument for this but hopefully a suitable alternative to plastic can be used. Milk is delivered in bottles again, like it always used to be but then there was the argument about the energy needed to create and deliver the bottles, which are picked up and re-used. At least some people are thinking seriously about all the pros and cons of our environmental efforts and hopefully we can come up with the most sage solutions.

Growing up in England as a child, I remember that we took our own baskets to shops to put food in. Nothing was individually wrapped and mostly we bought fruit & vegetables at the public market, fish at the fish-mongers and meat at the butchers. I thought it was still like this but unfortunately England changed to plastic several years ago but now are slowly moving away from it again. We only bought fruit and vegetables that were in season and fruit like grapes, bananas and oranges were a real treat back then.

Distances, weather and population in Britain are much more conducive to bicycles and public transport than in Canada but the roads are so narrow that cycling can be hazardous with so many cars on the road but drivers are very aware and considerate. The roads are so narrow that often there is no room to pass or meet another vehicle except in strategically placed lay-bys or small widenings in the road for just such a purpose. In rural England it is still common to see riders on horse-back travelling through the villages. Most roads and villages were built before the car was invented so there is no room for garages in many places so vehicles park on the street in front of their homes or shops, making navigation even more difficult.