The gallimaufry of COP26

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I RECENTLY came across a seldom-used old English word, ‘gallimaufry’ – apparently derived from French that today means an agglomeration, hodgepodge, mishmash, patchwork quilt – and immediately figured it applies perfectly to what happened at the recently concluded COP26 climate change conference. I had closely followed several domestic and international media sources before, during and after the event in Glasgow, where everybody shared their opinions in a massive gabfest; from pompous politicians to platitudinous press, to persistent protesters leaving the puzzled public permanently perplexed.

It was never easy to pick the fly droppings out of the pepper with so much media coverage, and so much hyperbole spouting from so many mouths. Of multitudinous reports, the one that really impressed was a short video from Elizabeth Puranam, Al Jazeera bureau chief in New Delhi, about India’s energy dilemma titled ‘India’s climate dilemma: Jharkhand state fights plans for coal mine expansion’ – https://protect-eu. mimecast.com/s/oe0kCY4Zf0JQOh02Nsa?domain=youtube.com.

Of course, New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world right now, and the report is from one of India’s main coal mining regions, in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, continues despite an underground fire that has been burning for more than a century. Living conditions are appalling with the land frequently opening up to swallow buildings and residents.

So when COP26’s somewhat toothless final draft about global coal production was amended at the insistence of India, it came as no great surprise. In fact, it was a fitting end to the whole gallimaufry.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada