Tag: countryside

Merry Jollity

Jingle bells, roast chestnuts,

Warm your hands on the fire,

Unwrap presents, Eat huge meals,

All of these things will transpire.

Be together, share a hug,

Forget work and hassle and news,

Watch the Queen speak, drink mulled wine,

Argue with family who have different views.

Play silly games, act out fave films,

Eat Christmas pudding and cover it with booze,

Sing karaoke and dance round the room,

Then lie on the sofa and have a long snooze.

Perhaps for five minutes, reflect and consider,

Those who are not lucky enough to enjoy Christmas day,

Whether religious or just conscious of society,

For a little while think about them who can’t play.

Consider the burning of forests and heatwaves,

Dwell on the cutting of millions of trees,

Imagine the pollution of smelting and jet planes,

Make a choice to save the planet, acknowledge climate change, please.

Christmas Problems

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well… apart from the fact that the weather is more autumnal. There isn’t a hint of snow. We basically don’t get those cold winters that we used to when I was growing up.

Global warming is having a massive effect on everything. Currently Australia is suffering from extensive forest fires and the hottest days on record, well above 40 degrees C. England is suffering from extensive flooding which is being repeated more than ever. I cannot recall many days when the road between my city and the neighbouring town has been open lately, due to a continually flooded road.

I try not to be too negative about the whole thing but it really is time we all woke up to global warming as the impact is massive. I read articles everyday about the increasing speed at which ice caps are melting in Greenland and down in the Antarctic continent. At the same time I see coastal villages sinking into the sea. Not because of land movements but due to the fact that sea levels are visibly going up.

Christmas is a time of reflection. Remember we can make a difference by following the lead of Greta Thurnberg and making choices about the way that we travel and use energy.

Maybe next year we can go on holidays without using planes. Perhaps we can walk or cycle to work more often. I guess one of the easiest things that we can do is look at packaging and not buy anything flown into the country by air.

I try to be positive and believe we can make a massive difference if we act now.

Happy Christmas! Please think about a small change you can make to help the environment next year.

Climate-friendly Festivities

At Christmas time,

When we eat and drink too much,

Can we think for a moment,

About the wonderful world?

Do we need to wrap presents

In acres of packaging?

Will it make Christmas any less special

If our presents go unwrapped?

Let’s enjoy time together

Using trains, buses and bikes,

Cut down on the traffic,

And avoid taking flight.

Spend time at home

Enjoying your family time,

Use a little less energy,

Don’t order everything online.

Make things and share things,

Sing songs and watch films,

Think of the climate,

And have a lovely, climate-friendly holiday.

(I deliberately did not rhyme this poem as I feel we cannot always control things. Sometimes we just have to do our utmost)