From Brexit to climate change - a look at 2018
NOW is the time to look at the past 12 months, recollecting moments of sadness, joy, change and tribulation, as 2018 slips quietly to a close. Although beware the fireworks that will inevitably follow the church bells ringing in the new year.
As the father of two daughters and grandfather of two granddaughters (and I’m sounding a bit like Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, here), I welcomed the Me Too movement.
I was a young beau around town in the Swinging 60s. My generation actually believed in love and peace and kept hoping the permissive society would find its way north. It didn’t. But certain unhealthy sexist attitudes became entrenched that have needed exorcising for decades. Me Too has finally started the job.
Theresa May’s dance steps on to the Tory Party Conference to the sound of The Dancing Queen were memorable as the last fandango of a politician on a hiding to nothing at the hands of her own party. Brave but ultimately heading to defeat. What music should she dance to as she leaves Number 10? Waterloo?
Donald Trump proved again that the panto season can run the whole year, ending in his yah! boo! antics of closing down the American government because he can’t get his own way over building the border wall. Way to go America.
Except we can’t hold ourselves up as paradigms of democracy with the Brexit fiasco set to run as long as Mousetrap and having as many villains as a Bond movie collection. Truth has never been so loudly trumpeted and distorted. The problem with democracy is that you only need to fool some of the people some of the time.
A warning of environmental apocalypse was given. The Met Office said high summer temperatures were more likely in the UK because of climate change caused by human activities, which should make seaside landladies cheerful.
Sea levels will rise, arctic ice sheets are melting and the UN warned the planet is 12 years from a climate catastrophe. Without reduction of greenhouse gasses we could revert to the ice free Eocene period of 50 million years ago with temperatures 13 degrees C hotter than today.
Professor John Williams said: “We’re seeing intensified fires and intensified storms that can be attributed to climate change.”
Fellow researcher Kevin Burke said: “Where we are going is uncharted territory for human society.”
Which is so worrying you want to send for Bruce Willis to save the day.
On a personal note, the year has been momentous because Maria and I have moved house after 38 years, which is almost as long as 73-year-old DJ Deke Duncan, of Stockport, has been broadcasting his own radio show from his garden shed.
He has been on air for more than 40 years to an audience of one – his wife, who remains snug indoors. Which is a wonderful story of love, support and commitment.
Just one thought. How does Deke know his wife actually listens?