Dear Editor,
I read George Monbiot's piece on the "Brexit Freedoms Bill" (The Guardian, 2nd Feb 2022, link below) and, although I broadly agree, two points particularly jarred with me.
First was the issue of cladding: Yes, Grenfell was a truly tragic event, but what do we expect, when we insist on slapping polystyrene on the outside of buildings? (as is the case here in Germany too!) That is flammable, toxic material which, at the end of its life-cycle (in about 30 years) will cause an enormous environmental headache for our children.
Maybe the real problem lies with central-heating rather than insulation: Do we really need to heat (or cool) our whole living-space? Why not, at times of extreme temperatures, simply retreat to a "parlour" (e.g. the living room) which is what our grandparents did!
And we should definitely not hold up the EU as "The Holy Grail": Just look at the ruling which is being passed by the EU Commission this week categorising gas and nuclear as "environmental" sources of energy! Could anything be more crazy than that?
Indeed, although I deeply regret Brexit, many of the neoliberal criticisms which Mr Monbiot levels at Boris Johnson, could equally (or maybe more!) be directed at the EU in Brussels!
For example while, due to Covid-restrictions, countless small-businesses are failing, online-multinationals continue to engage in cross-border financial-trickery and channel their revenue through tax-havens available all across Europe: That is pretty much on a par with anything Boris is doing!
Regards
