Pollution in city will be big story in the future
VIEWPOINTS Write to: Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF Or email: viewpoints@men-news.co.uk
IN light of the IPCC report on climate change, there is a core narrative to be followed through stories such as the M.E.N. ‘revealed council leaders are considering whether to charge the dirtiest vehicles.’
As avid M.E.N. readers, our family would love to see more coverage of positive, Manchester-based environment stories such as the story that MMU has a new centre for hydrogen fuel cell innovation, and also coverage of the challenges we face such as the M.E.N. story in May reporting that ‘Manchester and Salford have some of the most polluted air in the country.’
Air pollution in our city is going to be the big story of the next few years, as more schools and healthcare professionals work to bring about change.
Please put the M.E.N. at the forefront of this topic.
Other great European cities are way ahead of us on climate change and air pollution. It is my opinion that the M.E.N. has an opportunity (and a responsibility) to frame the narrative on topics such as the vehicle charge in positive context.
In Amsterdam, the canal boat operators are being required to change to electric power. Electrification (or hydrogen power) for our bus network would be an example of the sort of change that is relatively easy to bring about, and would have direct benefits as well as indirect benefits by normalizing alternative energies.
There is so much that is positive about Manchester’s place in the world, in innovation, technology and also in the social pressure for environmental improvement.
A good newspaper must be a driver of change, not just a passive commentator. It would be fantastic if the M.E.N. could play a part in nurturing the growth of the city as a leader in environmental issues.
Keep up the good work. J Hughes, Manchester
A real breath of fresh air...
YOUR main story about clean air shows the courage of our local politicians to face up to some very unpleasant facts about pollution.
These have been ignored by our central government, which has been fined for their carelessness.
Now we are all called upon to look for causes and solutions. In fact, our atmosphere is also contaminated by excess carbon dioxide. Dirty traffic fumes are only one source of global warming gas. We also burn fossil fuels to heat buildings and cook food. Most of our electricity comes from burning gas or oil.
The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change made its most forthright appeal to all of us on the planet to change the ways we damage the air and the seas. It shows the scientific connections between drought and floods and the impact of our wasteful use of basic resources.
We should be leaving gas and oil in the ground, not burning it. Our children are learning about how to use solar and wind power instead.
Thanks goodness our ten local councils are beginning to plan practical alternatives to the dirty, dangerous health hazards we have produced. Lydia Meryll, Greater Manchester
‘Bold’ council has support
I CONFESS to not being a fan of many of Manchester council’s decisions – and the demolitions and apartments ‘bonanza’ in the city is only part of it.
But I sympathise with Sir Richard Leese facing the story of children in St Ambrose Primary, on Princess Parkway, having to be kept in an airconditioned environment because of the traffic outside, traffic I am sometimes part of sitting in a diesel coach.
Nobody wants their children breathing in filth, nor should they allow others to do so. But it’s not a new problem. Salford and Manchester may not be as dirty as they appear in the film of Shelagh Delaney’s ‘A Taste of Honey,’ but half a century on with many more vehicles we still need to act for our children.
To his credit, Sir Richard appreciates tax isn’t the only response, despite nay-sayers’ accusations.
He appreciates a scrappage scheme is needed and provision must be made for public transport so people using it aren’t hit by inflated prices. As others have argued, radical improvements in our tram and rail network are needed, and these can’t be whistled up overnight. In the meantime, perhaps planting trees and hedges widely would do something to help, provide jobs and future timber to help our environment.
We’ve all heard the old ‘everybody said somebody should do something’ story, but if we are to protect our children and future we mustn’t allow our selfishness to overcome our responsibilities.
Seeing how the council bites the bullet will show its seriousness. It has my support for radical boldness. V Mecolm, Stretford