This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Sunday, 11 April 2021
The Euro Travelling Brits?
A high percentage of people in the UK are reportedly keen to travel for foreign holidays. This is an understandable response to the pandemic lockdowns. Having said that, many of the locations the British would like to visit currently have relatively a) high levels of Covid-19 infections and b) modest vaccination figures for their populations. There is always a possibility of picking up infections and bringing them back to the UK. This even applies to the 'safe' (green) locations. One can't rule out the possibility, these would include new more infective or vaccine-resistant variants of Sars-CoV-2. In spite of this, Johan Lundgren (CEO of EasyJet), somewhat predictably argues it's unfair that travellers, to 'green' locations, have the added expense of Covid tests before and after their flights. Indeed, these tests may cost more than the flights themselves. Lundgren, consequently, thinks that only the well-heeled (not EasyJet's usual passengers) will then be able to afford to travel (https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/easyjet-government-travel-rules-expensive-b1827366.html). The climate crisis, requires a marked reduction in the amount of air travel we undertake. It is consequently interesting to also read of 2022 plans for a sleeper train service between the UK and locations in Europe (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/11/the-dream-ticket-a-sleeper-train-to-europes-cities-may-soon-be-on-track). Sleeper trains would be a much better environmental option for business and holiday travel in Europe. The planned service would run between Brussels and Prague, with stops in Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden. A one-way ticket would cost around £60. Some 30 years ago, there was an intention to run 'Nightstar' sleeper trains through Eurotunnel. These trains would have connected London, Plymouth, Swansea and Glasgow to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Cologne. The carriages were built (they are now in Canada) but the plan abandoned, largely due to the rise of cheap airlines (such as EasyJet). To be quite honest, any rise of sleeper train services requires airtravel to become more expensive. I also would have thought that, people who choose to holiday abroad, actually have a responsibility to take tests, to keep the transmission of Covid infections down. Cheap can't always be cheerful.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Drip, Drip, Drip
England and Wales's privatised Water Companies essentially have monopolies. The 'regulator', Ofwat, has approved their rising a...
-
Greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua ) has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, skin conditions and digestive problems.
-
Green buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tartaricum ) is also called 'Tartar buckwheat'. It's a domesticated food plant, producing kernels. ...
-
Daily shots of my fully compostable Oyster mushroom pot, received for Christmas. Omelettes ahoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment