Climate of fear must not prevail
JI CANNOT bear the BBC’s climate editor, Justin Rowlatt. His extraordinarily aggressive style of interviewing is unwatchable; he was abrupt, condescending and rude with Prince Charles, below, and insulting to Boris Johnson at COP26 when he accused the PM of being “weaselly” about a proposed coal mine in Cumbria.
I don’t know what the BBC is playing at; reporters must be knowledgeable and make it clear they expect answers, but they should never be partisan and always show respect – not just to princes and prime ministers but to anyone they interview.
Mr Rowlatt’s sister is reportedly a member of Extinction Rebellion, and I suspect he shares her views. That’s fair enough, but we don’t want them pugnaciously shoved down our throats by a truculent BBC employee.
If he’s not careful no one in government will agree to be interviewed by him.
Mr Rowlatt may regard that as a victory but those of us who pay his wages via the licence fee expect enlightenment, not bullying, from our national broadcaster. Bad manners are unacceptable, and viewers hate it. In my opinion aggression, abuse and hysteria are typical of the whole climate change debate. I think delegates compete to deliver the most terrifying sound bite, while zealots glue themselves to road surfaces preventing ordinary people from getting to work or taking sick relatives to hospital.
It’s especially horrible to frighten children with apocalyptic doomsday scenarios.Those of us who remember being terrified as kids by the prospect of nuclear war know how scared, sick and helpless we felt.
Boris’s “one minute to midnight” schtick paralyses rather than motivates.We should comfort and reassure children with hope and positivity, or we’ll raise a generation of anxious neurotics.
First Brexit, then Covid, now climate change.The politics of fear have become engrained in Britain, once a calm steady nation with a robust sense of humour and a strong streak of common sense.
As our brilliant vaccination rollout proved, we’re fantastic when we pull together.
We can work to save the world with the community spirit we’re so good at. Aggression poisons goodwill and co-operation.We’re
better than that.
I’M ENTRANCED by Strictly’s Rose Ayling-Ellis, who with pro-partner Giovanni Pernice, both right, is proving profound deafness is no barrier to beautiful dancing. She has a spiritual quality that makes me yearn for her happiness.
But I’m also wrapped up in John Whaite and his partner Johannes Radebe, who perform with powerful perfection as the show’s first same-sex couple.
Tonight they’re dancing a rumba which Whaite says is so emotional it makes him cry.
Who will win? Surely it’s time for another Strictly first? A draw?