New Relationship With Nature - The Government is going backwards.

 

 

The Great Hall at the University of Bristol for the recording of Sustaining Life for Radio 4

Panelists Jon Bridle, Vandana Shiva, Aubrey Manning and Jacqueline McGlade - Presenter in the middle - Brett Westwood

At times it is very easy to give in to despair about what is happening to the natural world - it was hard enough in good times when governments thought they had the money for the "luxury" of  policies that protect nature, but it turns out that was little more than gardening - a nice feeling from getting Britain to look nice for those family walks in nature reserves.  True colours begin to show when economic times are harder and the desire to drive the economy by building and consuming our way out means any notions about meadows and butterflies, seabirds and wetlands are quickly dispensed of.  Now protected sites are up for grabs as the government is thinking of having another look at the Habitat's Directive - the legislation that is protecting the places many species need to thrive - and one example is revoking its objection to a new airport on the Thames estuary and - as George Osbourne put it in the Autumn Statement yesterday:
“We will make sure that gold-plating of EU rules on things like habitats aren’t placing ridiculous costs on British businesses.“   Things like habitats - pardon?

2 weeks ago the government also seemed to be massively scaling down its plans to establish Marine Conservation Zones.  127 were identified for designation this year by a range of organisations and recommended to the government for protection.  Now only a handful (no number or locations specified) will be designated initially and the remainder will be looked at again at the end of next year after "more consultations."  How much more is needed?   Isn't 2 year's worth of consultations enough?  The jungle beat is saying less than a quarter of the original number will be accepted.  Why?  Because it too difficult to accept marine protection in times when we need the sea's resources to boost the economy.  It is money talking, not compassion and care for the seas.

Jacqui McGlade in Saving Species urged governments to do what it takes to care for the oceans - after all, she said, it is probably what will keep 9 billion people alive in the future.

So on a day when one of my son's schools is shut because of demonstrations about pensions, when we heard yesterday about how the economy is worse off than we thought and when everyone is dreading the expense of Christmas because even paying the food bills is getting harder - do fish and butterflies really matter to us?  As  Harry Cotterell the new president of the CLA said “The Government is starting to melt the goldplating on this (the Habitat's) directive. We support conservation, but it is important that humans are considered as important as bats, newts and dormice.”

I am bound to disagree aren't.  And I do.  Not that humans are less important but with the notion behind this statement.  It is short sighted in the extreme and the increasing distance between our lives and our understanding of our reliance on the world around us has led us to really believe we are disconnected from the nitty-gritty rawness of earth processes.  To the money people the earth is little more than a never emptying box of resources for us to use to make money.  Well, so it could be in many ways if we treat it well, but that is not what we are planning on doing.

I think Dr Jon Bridle in the recording of Saving Species - Sustaining Life programme on Monday - put it beautifully when he said  - when will we realise that the Department of the Environment is actually the Treasury?  We place so much emphasis on industry and the economy and the Dept of the Environment is brushed into a dark corner - but the Department of the environment holds the key to the wealth of any nation.

So if the pollinators die - how will we have crops?  If we destroy the range of plants and animals that cleanse water - what will we drink?  If we poison soils what will we grow?  If we destroy the balance of the seas by removing all predators - what will happen to the 1 billion people who depend on fish for their livelihood? If we take out all mangroves where will fish breed and what will dampen storm waves?  The list goes on and on and on.

But it is more than that isn't it.  Its not just about us - it truly isn't.  We are diminished and degraded if we fail to protect the planet we live on - fail to care about it, respect it and marvel at it.  In the superb "British Wildlife" magazine Peter Marren says:

We plainly need an independent voice that brings to an issue nature as a whole, not in terms of preconceptions of human health or happiness ... but for its own sake.  This voice would not be diverted by "environment" concerns (which are invariably about the human environment ... but would talk about the real wild plants, animals, invertebrates and fungi, in all their glorious individuality, complexity and vulnerability.  We need someone to tell the politicians about the natural world as it is.

On Monday night the Great Hall at the University of Bristol hosted the recording of a very important debate for  Radio 4 - a special edition of Saving Species called Sustaining Life.  it examined the relationship between a growing human population and our demands on the earth - and the survival of the natural world.  No one listening could be in any doubt about our place in nature, our dependence on its health and why it is important to love it for what it is.

I love working on this series - it does exactly what Peter Maren wants to hear - a voice for nature  that says it as it is.  It champions all of life, big small and the seemingly irrelevant; and it tells the world it is worth protecting because it exists.  The recognition that we have a duty of care towards the earth can only make us more fully human - but we need a change of heart.

Brett asked the panel if they thought we are entering a new age of creativity, where we view the world differently and live in a more creative way that allows all of life on earth to flourish.  They thought we could do that, given a drive from governments, organisations and from the people themselves.  We have to want to change - but do we?

Saving Species - Sustaining Life will be broadcast on Dec 23rd at 8.00 pm

I was also delighted yesterday by a speech given by Pope Benedict to a gathering of young people in Italy: 

"Dear friends the Church, while appreciating the most important scientific research and discoveries, has never ceased to remind people that by respecting the mark of the Creator in all creation, we achieve a better understanding of our true and profound human identity. ... If, in fact, human activity forgets to collaborate with God, it can do violence to the creation and cause damage which always has negative consequences, also for mankind. ...  Respect for the human being and respect for nature are the same thing, they grow and find their just measure if we respect the Creator and His creation, both in the human creature and in nature".

If 1 billion Catholics REALLY took this to heart, the world would be a different place.

St Francis's forest and birds - and fields

Here are 2 photos which I think sum up exactly what happens to our wild and beautiful places.

St Francis is famous for preaching to the birds - here is the well known painting depicting it in the basilica in Assisi.

Here is the spot where he actually did that.  The forest and birds long gone - fields and mono culture everywhere.  But we are a huge and growing world population, so there is no alternative but to turn the world's suitable land into fields? Thanks to my lovely friend Fabrizio Frascaroli for the photo.

Fabrizio and I are in dispute about the species of tree but I think I won out (!!!) in that we now think it is  quercus pubescens (downy oak), not quercus ilex (holm oak).  But to give Fabrizio his due, the original location was thought to be in a mountain forest where holm oaks are dominant.  OK  Fabrizio - let's call it a draw. xx


We'll be discussing the natural world and population in the Saving Species recording on Monday night (sorry, think tickets have now all gone but do check).  Makes you think.

Santa Mushrooms and Trees For Life

These are SO beautiful - fly agaric mushrooms, loads about at the moment, young ones are round and they go flat as they get older.  These are the traditional toad stools that fairies and gnomes sit on - but the original German means seat of death, not seat for a fairy!  They are poisonous and hallucinogenic and pieces were floated in milk to attract flies (they smell a bit like chicken apparently), then the flies died of wild dreams I suppose.

I took this photo in a campsite in Cornwall at the weekend, it is gorgeous and added an amazing splash of colour to a dull day.  The red and white is supposed to have inspired the colours for santa's costume.  This story tesll why - it  is from a website on the folklore of plants etc

Fly agaric has been a popular icon for the Midwinter and Christmas festivities in central Europe for a long time and is found on Christmas cards and as replica decorations for tree and wreath. Our current concept of Santa Claus can be traced back as an amalgamation of several characters of popular European folklore, such as a more pagan Scandinavian house goblin who offered protection from malevolent spirits in return for a feast at midwinter, and the fourth century Byzantine archbishop who became St Nicolas and was renowned for his kindness to children. More recently it has been suggested that the Siberian use of fly agaric may have played a part in the development of the legend of Santa Claus too. At midwinter festivals the shaman would enter the yurt through the smoke hole and down the central supporting birch pole, bringing with him a bag of dried fly agaric. After conducting his ceremonies he would leave the same way he had come. Ordinary people would have believed the shaman could fly himself, or with the aid of reindeer which they also knew to have a taste for fly agaric. Santa is now dressed in the same colours as the fly agaric, carries a sack with special gifts, comes and goes via the chimney, can fly with reindeer and lives in the 'Far North'.

 I love coming across these - gorgeous.

 Saturday is the start of National Tree Week.  We did an interview with them for Saving Species today and the point was raised that we probably plant too many trees - especially in the wrong place.  There is no point in manically planting trees everywhere, just where they are needed and form part of a coherent landscape.  Anyway - happy Tree Week - I hope you find some of these growing under your local tress (but don't eat them!)

People and Wildlife - A Shared Earth - BBC Recording

If anyone can come to a recording of a BBC Radio 4 programme on Monday 28th Nov in Bristol, 6-9 pm that would be great.  It is free and everyone welcome.

The programme will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Dec 23rd in the "Any Questions" slot at 20.00 and repeated on Dec 24th.  The theme of the debate is how an increasing human population is or will affect the natural world - can billions of people really coexist with wildlife and wilderness? As the world population grows is it inevitable that we will see more degradation of nature and a reduction in species?  Does this really matter?

The team of experts discussing how to share the planet are:
Vandana Shiva an independent environmentalist from India
Professor Aubrey Manning, professor emeritus from Edinburgh University and an animal behaviourist.  He is also a patron on Population Matters
Professor Jacqui McGlade, Head of the European Environment Agency and advisor to the Gaia Foundation
Professor Paul Bates from the geography Dept of Bristol University, a water specialist

The evening will have film clips as well as a panel discussion - and 2 guest performers, a poet, Miles Chambers and a writer AL Kennedy.

We hear a lot about how environmental issues like lack of water, depletion of resources, climate change etc will effect US - but what about the effects on the others we share this planet with, the plants, insects, mammals, fish. reptiles etc?

All these are great speakers and I am sure will contribute to an otherwise very human centred debate.

If you want a ticket please go to this link to order one.

Brett Westwood is chairing, described by the Guardian as Radio 4's chirpiest presenter and a tonic on a dreary day!

I'm producing, so come up and say hello.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010x8sq

Seals and Spoons

 Grey seal

Spoonbill sandpiper

I have come across 2 inspiring things in the last few days - one is the attempt to save the spoonbill sandpiper from extinction, the other is a lovely lady in Cornwall who is doing her utmost for grey seals.  What beautiful and iconic creatures these are (I meant the seals here but Sue is a lovely creature too!)

The spoonbill sandpiper is on the verge of extinction and there are less than 100 breeding pairs left.  They fly between eastern Russia (where they breed) and Burma/Bangladesh (where they over-winter) and stop over at wetlands throughout Asia on the way.  As so much wetland has now been turned into industry and reclaimed for agriculture these vital refueling grounds are disappearing. And if they do make it to their wintering grounds they are slaughtered by hunters - not necessarily deliberately, often as by-catch.  To hear more go to the Radio 4 website for Saving Species where this story was featured this week.

The situation is so critical that an expedition set out earlier this year to collect eggs from the breeding grounds, incubate them, then bring the 13 chicks to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire where they will hopefully breed a protected population that can one day be returned to the wild.

What I love about this project is the fact we still care enough to go to so much trouble to save them.  Thank God we do.  A world without this beautiful bird would be an impoverished world indeed.

Grey seals are reasonably common along the coast of Cornwall but amazingly very rare worldwide.  They are our largest mammal and always a major attraction, but it is surprising how little we know about them - or how little protection they get.  Sue Sayer is an inspirational lady who gave up her job to find out more about seals and to spread the word about understanding and protecting them.  I interviewed her recently for a Radio 4 series I am making on naturalists (A Life With...) to be broadcast over a week between March 19th and 23rd 2012.  I met 4 other wonderful people making this series and I'll do a special blog about it nearer the time.

Sue has just written a book about her findings, Seal Secrets, which will be published in March.  Look at the seal group  website for more details about the work Sue and the other members of the group are doing - they are great.

Keep up the good work WWT and Sue and all the others - the natural world needs you.

Vatican Radio Interview

Here is an interview I did with Vatican Radio in Assisi on the relationship between faith and the environment.

This picture is of the spectacular celebration that took place in the magnificent medieval hall in the centre of Assisi - I was narrating, Martin Palmer was hosting.  Throughout the hour many different faith traditions came to the platform to perform sacred rituals - very lovely.

This is Assisi at night.

Nigel Baker, Vatican Ambassador, on Assisi

Nigel Baker: Assisi II

Nigel Baker came to the Green Pilgrim Network launch in Assisi and here is his blog ...

Green Pilgrimage Network

 Awards ceremony

 St Francis Basilica, Assisi

I have just returned from the launch of the Green Pilgrimage Network in Assisi (October 29th - November 3rd 2011).  10 founding faith organisations pledged to make their sacred site green and sustainable for pilgrims - and not just the site - to encourage pilgrims to make their journeys to and from home as environmentally sustainable as possible, in line with their beliefs that all the faiths preach care for the earth.

The pictures above show both Fr Peter Massengill from the Franciscans and the Mayor of Assisi receiving their certificates to congratulate them on being founder members.  They were presented by Princess Michael of Kent and The Hon Mrs Sara Morrison, former International President of WWF.  To see more pictures please visit the ARC Flickr site.

Both Tony Juniper and Prof Chris Baines gave keynote speeches, both of which were excellent.  it is good to see real, heartland environmentalists at a religious event - at long last.

It was a wonderful few days, Assisi is gorgeous, the weather superb and the hearts sincere - what more can you ask?

I think this has huge potential and I hope the founder members carry out their pledges and inspire others to follow.  More on this to follow soon....

Weathering the Cardinal's Storm.

I seem to have been snowed under recently which is no excuse, so sorry for neglecting this blog.

 I'm determined to catch up with what's been going on however so to begin with:

Cardinal George Pell

In this week's The Tablet (4th November 2011) is a response to Cardinal George Pell's lecture at Westimnster Cathedral Hall on October 26th challenging climate change science. The worst case of clericalism I have seen. Being a Cardinal does not give you the right to promulgate private opinions on science. All he is doing is causing confusion and concern and mixing messages about something he can know very little about.  The line of the Vatican is that climate change is real and of great concern for all of humanity, so why take an entirely different stance?  On what possible grounds does the Cardinal have authority on this subject?

I wonder why he is fighting this battle? Even if privately he is a sceptic, why bother to argue the science when he is no scientist? Why not concentrate on promoting right living and the correct relationship with nature, which will take care of all environmental problems? That can only be a good thing, and something that a Cardinal can do well and with authority.  Pronouncing on climate change science is not.  But I fear Pell is too human centred, too right wing and too proud to think this way, his focus is on economic progress no matter what to bring about relief of poverty. A mistaken and dangerous belief.

Put down your sword Cardinal, whatever way yo look at it all you are doing is causing division.  The confusion and anger from the people in the audience working with those suffering from environmental change was obvious.  But I am not surprised no media picked this talk up, it isn't news, just a case of clericalism run wild.