THE BACK PAGE
Notes from Selsdon
A
s Transport Minister Paul
Clark will testify follow-
ing his appearance here
last month, Notes from Selsdon
does not like to hold back on
telling it as it sees it, especially
when it comes to the actions and
attitudes of our elected leaders.
His decision to leave the recent
SB Round Table Debate early was
put under the grill for the appro-
priate duration and he is not the
first politician – and certainly
won’t be the last – to be lambast-
ed in this column.
In fact, it isn’t often that a pos-
itive light is shone on our MPs.
But a very special lamp ought to
be pointed in the direction of
Energy and Climate Change
Secretary, Ed Miliband. This
light-shining has nothing to do
with the fact that he’s a fan of the
magazine having endorsed the
inaugural SB - The Event for us
last spring – no. It is because, like
so few of his contemporaries, his
performance in Copenhagen
“Of course I feel a little bit shy – after all, we
offered glimpses of a proper
politician – committed, intelli-
are Chinese. But I think it is OK to promote
gent, unswerving, dedicated and
environmental protection in this way.”
straightforward.
It is highly fashionable to dis-
miss our political leaders as vacu- happened inside the Bella Center posted on Facebook and Twitter
ous entities, unable to grasp the during the negotiations – accounts by idiots proclaiming
demands on business and unsure Miliband was immense. His climate change to be a sham. “Just Quote of
of their steps on the slippery lad- intervention on the final day of look at all the snow,” they shout.
der of political leadership. But talks was key to getting the “I thought the planet was sup-
the month
Miliband went to the Danish cap- Accord written, whatever you posed to be heating up?” One of the red-faced climate
ital with a clear goal in mind – not may think of it. In a conference so It’s a reaction I have come to campaigners in China who
to put himself in the ring of full of ugly self-promotion and expect from certain quarters. stripped down to her undies
potential candidates to replace posturing, Ed did us proud. Whenever I divulge my profes- on her commute to work in a
Gordon Brown in the hotseat sion to cab drivers, plumbers or Guangdong subway carriage
(although his performance will any other tradesmen that visit the to promote awareness about
have boosted his chances house, “oh, you write about glob- sustainable consumption
no end), but to repre- G
etting to the office hasn’t
been easy these past cou-
ple of months. You al warming and the environment, along with fellow semi naked
sent the UK in get- won’t need reminding how do ya? – that’s a load of old cob- protesters
ting the best deal useless the UK’s authorities are blers innit?” is a common
possible. According in reacting to adverse weath- response. But now I’m getting
to Abyd Karmali at er and the country has ‘friends’ on Facebook doing the
the Carbon Markets been ground to a halt same thing and I’ve found myself
& Investors by a few inches posting angry messages on the
Association, and of snow. ‘wall’ of people I’ve not seen since
Steve Howard, CEO of But what has 1996. It’s called ‘global’ warming
the Climate Group – both rankled more for a reason. While the UK suf- YOUR MARCH ISSUE OF
speaking at last month’s than the inability fered sub-zero temperatures over SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
Green Monday (see page 33) to get from A to B Christmas, the Greeks basked in WILL HIT YOUR DESK ON
offering the accounts of what is the deluge of messages record 30-degree heat. 26 FEBRUARY 2010
Sustainable Business 5❘ February 2010 3
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