We all need to do our bit to combat climate change
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Food for Thought by Rev James Currall
Armistice day dates back to 1919 when King George V issued a proclamation that called for a two-minute silence at 11am on November 11 each year.
After World War II it was decided it would be appropriate to have a single day to remember all the dead and from then on, a two-minute silence was observed at 11am in services and ceremonies on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day – Remembrance Sunday which is this weekend.
In 1995, the British Legion successfully campaigned to reintroduce the two-minute silence on November 11, in addition to that on Remembrance Sunday. So as we observe the two-minute silence on either day, we gratefully acknowledge the legacy of previous generations who gave up so much to make a better future for their children and grandchildren.
Since 1945, there have been enormous changes in our way of life. I was reflecting recently on the life of a lovely centenarian lady who I used to visit in a care home and who had died.
She was born shortly after the end of WW1; by the time she was 10, Britain was plunged into a great depression, followed fairly soon after by WW2.
Technological developments have been very rapid over the second half of her life, but it’s sobering to note that the number of cars on our roads only overtook the number of horses in 1908 and until 1950, there were still more horses than tractors on British farms.
So much for looking back. Much of the last few weeks has ostensibly been about looking forward to what legacy we will leave for our children and grandchildren.
One thing that has become obvious in recent weeks is the divide between the developed and the less developed worlds and the disparity in lifestyles and life chances between them.
The developed world has become so by burning fossil fuels and ‘acquiring’ a disproportionate amount of the world’s resources to feed its development. It’s this that has increased the quantity of greenhouse gasses to the present dangerous levels, that collectively we need to reduce. Much of the effect of global warming is already being felt in the global south which did little to cause it.
A major goal of COP26 was to persuade the governments of the developed world to contribute significant amounts of money to alleviate this damage as well as reduce their emissions.
Now that the leaders and delegations are on their way home, we can only hope and pray that what’s been agreed in Glasgow at COP26 will both be fully implemented by all the nations and that it will be sufficient to avert a disastrous change in the world’s climate.
However it’s not just down to governments and leaders, we all need to do our bit by looking at the way we live our lives and think about how we might be able to reduce our carbon footprint.
We’re grateful for what those that we commemorate in our Remembrance ceremonies and services did to leave us a better world, but what will our children and our grandchildren think as they look back at the legacy that we’ve left them? That depends on what everyone, governments and individuals, does starting today.
Rev James Currall is the Episcopal priest in charge of congregations at Tain, Brora, Lairg and Tongue.
