Planes, Dotty and Joe

Believe it or not my dog Dotty a springer spaniel is instinctively 'Green' by nature.

The only things she barks at are shapes she's not familiar with, in response to other dogs and aircraft. She's very familiar with aircraft as they fly low over where I live every day so its not the unfamiliarity angle that activates her, its her green nature.

I have, of course, not encouraged this behaviour in any way! But she looks up on hearing the sound of aircraft and runs along an imaginary grassy flight path as the object looms overhead. I must admit I kind of like viewing planes but I don't like flying and will do everything in my power not to fly, partly because of the high altitude affects re the carbon emssions of commercial jets as well as my anxiety.

I think the way people in the Green movement are percieved as kill joys in terms of everyday activities like flying is a shame. It's partly our fault in not showing a more positive side to changing our behaviour. Like how much more healthy (and fun) to walk with the children to school or get the bus etc. Doing everyday things in a different way or becoming involved in community activities which are healthier and more environmentally friendly. Bringing the 'F' word fun back into living - rewarding people for recycling (something which Halton Council to their credit are piloting in Widnes).

But there is also a need for the Green movement as we all know, to be constantly making people aware without being too holier than thou of the immense challenges we face in relation to climate change and the fact that we all have to pull together in order to lessen the negative effects of it.

But lets step up the positives in changing behaviour, for instance let local communities create think tanks composed of you and me and those who might know a little more about the subject and work out how we can creatively enjoy and own the changes that will have to come.

Joe my grandson 4 started primary school today in Widnes. When he can officially leave school aged 16 it'll be 2021. We'll have a little more knowledge then about the problems we will be facing. Dotty won't be around cavorting along grassy flightpaths I probably won't be here but Joe will be starting his adult life.

What we do in the next ten years is apparantly going to be crucial in whether the effects of climate change are going to be either severe or catastrophic. Between now and then we all have a duty to ensure a reasonable future for him as well as all the other children starting school today - they don't have a say. Neither do peoples in the third world who are now being directly affected by climate change and who will increasingly suffer in the near future.