May 22, 2007...4:56 pm
UK Government Backed Climate Change Infomercial
UK Television watchers may have seen this information film(?) which is backed by various UK government departments including DEFRA (with whom I recently took part in an opinion poll) and the DTI (whilst it still exists) and the Department of Transport. It’s a little bit Koyaanisqatsi and firmly seems to put the ball mostly in our court despite some fanciful notion of HM Gov, Business and Industry and Joe Public all working together. Wherever you stand on climate change (and I don’t want to get into that) it’s interesting to see the start of such an initiative.
Here’s an example of one of the complimentary radio adverts (480k):
To put a slightly cynical spin on what the Government hopes to achieve it’s fun and interesting to contrast this film with the factual satire of a fairly recent Rory Bremner sketch which despite the impressions and comedy is at least based on real facts regarding what’s being currently achieved (ie: not very much).
Meanwhile despite huge public opposition and the mass signing of an online petition the Government has signalled that it will push ahead with road pricing schemes. If it was me I’d get the insurance companies involved and negotiate a scheme that saw a serious discount in insurance for low mileage and approved route drivers but I have the feeling that drivers will just pay more on top of current costs so it’ll be all disincentive without the incentive to try another way. As I’m no longer a car owner (frankly it’s cheaper to hire a car or van as and when for the amount of mileage I do) I barely care though it’s hypocrisy incarnate to move on with such schemes when for many there’s no viable alternative as public transport can be tortuous unless you live in a major city (why is it cheaper for us to hire a car with a full tank of petrol to travel only 30 miles away compared to choosing public transport for the same journey?) and somewhat annoying when many ministers run several cars and are frequent flyer’s. The notion of leading by example doesn’t seem to occur. ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ Government continues.
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