A Green Paradise Lost or Regained

During lockdown we witnesses a wonderful upsurge in nature. Creatures began to be emboldened to reinhabit our settlements and share with us. The green spaces were people's sanctuary and, as the grass grew and wildflowers flourished, they noticed nature more and wondered at her beauty. Walking and cycling became pleasanter and safer. The air became clearer and carbon emissions took a bigger dive than after WW2. As we emerge from lockdown all those features are reversing. The roads are busier, litter is evident in green spaces, and the government plans for recovery will just exacerbate the pollution, incursions on nature and human health and well-being, indeed make another and potentially worse pandemic more likely. This should be out wake up call. We should be rebuilding our Economy within social and planetary limits. We need to preserve and enhance our green spaces, create a circular economy where people earn a living wage for skilled and satisfying work, rebuild our communities to take care of those who emerge from lockdown physically, emotionally or mentally frail, and value ALL our key workers.

Cornwall has amazing natural energy sources we should be tapping into. We could meet our own needs and export to the rest if the SW region. We also have a history of innovation. We should tap into the skill and creativity of people in building our homes, making them more fuel efficient and more beautiful. We should value art and culture as an economic activity, a pastime and a therapy. We should practice regenerative agriculture, which produces healthy food and does not degrade the environment or involve animal exploitation. Above all, we should cherish nature, which offers us so much in terms of water management, carbon sequestration, pollination, amenity etc and because it has an intrinsic right to exist.