Climate Change in Burleydam

When Anne Draper last came to Burleydam WI she spoke on "How to live with men", an amusing and perceptive account of the differences in communication and expectations between the sexes.

The topic on 4th August, "Climate Change and Renewable Energy", presented fewer opportunities for humour. Members, though, appreciated the slide of the washing line showing the decline in the size of ladies' knickers over the last 150 years which could be taken as a sign of global warming!

She referred to her new grandson and what the world would be like for him as he grew up. Experts suggest that in the UK we may face a rise in temperature which may mean extremely hot summers and increasing risk for the very young and elderly or we may face more mild wet winters and even wetter, stormy summers.

We would not be immune either from the side effects of famine and drought as mass migration across continents leads to an increased demand for asylum in the UK and Europe.

The problem with doomsday scenarios is that they desensitise us after prolonged exposure until it is hard to distinguish fact from the latest Hollywood offering. We are not helped either by the inevitable arguments between scientists as to causes and effects of climate change and global warming. In the end we can only seek to make small changes in our own lives and hope for the best.

Questions and discussion afterwards ranged over a wide range of subjects from where to get advice on building a new energy saving home to the pros and cons of nuclear power as a source of renewable energy. Anne's talk had clearly been thought provoking.

The competition for an energy saving idea was won by Liz Gentil, second Gladys Burrough and third Elaine Walton.

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