Dear Editor

Aliya Shibli’s column on Climate Change, Ross Gazette September 25th has inspired me to make my own contribution to the debate. The day of the protest in Ross, September 20th, happened to be my 92nd birthday. If I had not been celebrating with family I might have been present at the protest.

It is indeed encouraging to see the surge of interest and determination of the youngest section of society who do obviously have most at stake.

Many of the older generation, of which I am now a senior member, have been warning of the dangers of Climate Change and other abuses of our precious and vulnerable environment for many years, but so often, alas, it has seemed we were mostly preaching to the converted. So far a majority of the population has not seen the threat as real and imminent. Not until a critical mass is reached by public opinion to demand urgent and effective action will the necessary great and all involving effort be made. The necessary effort will indeed be very great; as great as the efforts made in the last century to survive two world wars; but even more rewarding.

If credentials are needed for my intervention I would say that in my 24 years of retirement at Ross I have been involved as Trustee of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, active officer on Herefordshire Botanical Society committee, each over years, and co-author with Peter Garner and Mark Jannink of The Rare Plants of Herefordshire, kindly reviewed recently in the Ross Gazette. In all this I was enthusiastically supported by my wife, Jo, when she was not pursuing her own leading role in Ross WI With my colleagues in these pursuits I have seen at first hand many affects of the abuses I mention, here in our county and we enjoy one of the least affected counties. At home it has not threatened human life as greatly as in some parts of the world. It will get worse even if we make the greatest possible effort immediately. If we do nothing the catastrophe will be beyond prediction.

It is already too late to avoid the inevitable casualties of Climate Change. We have seen them happening in recent manifestations. We do not yet know the ultimate effect of the changes we have already made to the atmosphere. We can minimise future catastrophes only by prompt action.

A sustainable future will involve changes of habits. It can be done without destroying enjoyment of life. Development of sustainable living will bring its own rewards and prosperity.

Young protesters are not inconsistent in embracing new technology. It is essential to their development and to the cause they are promoting. They should be given every encouragement – to quote Aliya’s closing words - “to help steer society in a new direction.”

It will not happen without great effort and commitment but could be enjoyable and very satisfying. Failure does not bear thinking about.

Les Smith

Ross-on-Wye