Dear Editor,
So a.) Ecuadorians hope to stop oil companies from drilling in a global diversity "hotspot" (World Roundup, 30th August); b.) "Libyans brace for renewed conflict over control of oil" (report by Chris Stephen); c.) various politicians and protesters (including Caroline Lucas) battle against fracking in Sussex (report by Toby Helm); and d.) the Arctic ice levels are at an all-time low (Report on page 34).
These are multiple serious problems and so we urgently need to ask what are we actually doing about all this? As far as I can see we are flying, driving, freighting, air-conditioning and consuming "like world champions". Yes, we are burning fossil fuels like there is no tomorrow and no one is saying (in any serious way) that this is wrong.
I'd like to ask why policies such as taxation, regulation and restriction which could so easily reduce our fossil-fuel consumption are not being implemented? Indeed, I fail to grasp why motoring and flying and a host of other energy-hungry activities are so "indispensable" when alternatives such as using public transport and living, working and holidaying more locally should be perfectly acceptable on this planet of dwindling resources.
Maybe in your next edition you could invite some experts and some politicians to explain to us why living more modestly and using fossil fuels more frugally are not being considered?
Regards
