Loco

“People are not traditionally wise” said a friend of mine whose opinion I value highly. He was trying (unsuccessfully) to quell a surge of rebellion in my usually Buddha-like calm approach to the plague of short-haul flights and seemingly endless expansion of European Airlines.

Our debate circled around the publication of this time lapse video showing Europe’s emergence from the “medieval” darkness caused by Volcano Eyjafjallajoekull. Wasn’t it awful? People had to travel by train, woe is me!! Take a look for yourself, but if you’re at all concerned about climate change, or under the illusion that your recent holiday was a guilt free, low-fat, no added sugar affair, then you might want to take a seat .

Frankly, I found this video terrifying. And proceeded – as the human condition dictates – to react to my fear with anger, directed at all of mankind. I was happy there was less choice of air-freighted fruit in the supermarket, joyous that business meetings had to take place via video phone, and over the moon that Whitney Housten had taken a ferry to Ireland. Maybe this was the wake up call that the World needed. Mother nature always has the last laugh.

Seeing the video brought me crashing back down to reality and I was feeling very environmentally ‘un’friendly. However, being angry at everyone isn’t the most sustainable of reactions so I was delighted today when I stumbled across this – Yahoo People’s Policies, a forum for clever folks with good ideas to put them to the general (and traditionally unwise) population for their vote. And it seems, much to my relief, that perhaps our planet isn’t as doomed as I thought.

This has gone someway towards restoring my faith in humanity, as not only are people engaged by issues (and solutions) which might have a direct impact on climate change, and the general health of society, but they’re voting wisely. Turn shop lights off at night? I think so. Cheaper trains? Yes Please. Change the clocks to utilise more natural light? I’m listening…

And so you may be relieved to know that for now mankind is spared the brunt of my wrath, and I will continue to quietly persuade you that slow travel is fun, and exciting, and better for the environment rather than hatching a plan to trigger more volcanic eruptions.

Though I probably shouldn’t watch that video again.

Photos: flightrader

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2 responses to “Out of the ashes”

1. Jonathan Melhuish says:
   May 3rd, 2010 at 11:11 am

   It’s true that the volcano only caused a momentary distraction from our usual frenzied efforts to exterminate our species, but I think at least it reminded people that air travel is a fragile thing and they can’t rely on it always being an option. Suddenly people were forced to look at other options and suddenly it seemed like they were a lot further from home. Of course this disruption was short enough that we could just sit it out and wait for “normality” to resume, but I still think it briefly highlighted how dependent we have become on air travel.

   (Well not me personally, I don’t fly, but the average Westerner at least.)

2. Michael says:
   July 20th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

   Ahhh….the ashes definitely put a hold on my travels to Queensland this year. I was planning on going to Brisbane and head up to Cairns for a few weeks.

   I was excited about going ever since that “Best Job in the World” campaign…

   Now I had to cancel and plan for another time to go…

   Luckly National Geographic is airing a TV series about Ben’s experience. Now I don’t have to travel all the way down under to see what its all about…I will go some day though…