Your solidarity could help to save planet

I NEVER imagined I would ever be writing in praise of the old Tory peer Lord Heseltine – but what he has said recently about the need for a thorough, wide-ranging debate about immigration policy makes sense.

He said the Brexit vote was largely about immigration – but that this needed to be set in its wider context. He said that Europe – as one of the richest continents on Earth – needs the equivalent of a Marshall Plan for those countries most affected by global warming, as otherwise millions of people desperate to escape extreme poverty and famine caused by constant drought and crop failure will be trying to get into Europe. (Not that Europe itself will be left unscathed – the Spanish government is getting increasingly concerned about persistent droughts.)

Many relatively well-off and “comfortable” people do not – understandably – even want to think about man-made climate change and its implications.

However, the longer we try to carry on “fiddling while Rome burns” the harder it will be in future.

I don’t imagine anyone wants to leave to their children and grandchildren a world choked by waste and pollution, where famine is rife and resentment grows, fuelling more wars over ever-scarcer resources.

Only committed people power and human solidarity can avoid that nightmare scenario. I would urge everyone, if they haven’t already done so, to support one or more of the many organisations working for a saner, safer and fairer world. Please don’t delay! Your solidarity is urgently needed – and more precious than you realise.

Roberta Owen Transition Holywell & District,

Flintshire