Climate Change Question Time

Earlier in the day there was a squeal of disappointment as the BBC Sounds web site refused to play one of Miss's favourite serials, and a brief browse revealed they've updated the BBC web site overnight beyond the capacity of a seven year old iPad. Well that would never do, so we spent some time today (and some other stuff) ogling iLovelinesses. Tomorrow I may do some more... Ah, the walled garden... so lovely.

This evening, as some twisted kind of mitigation for the rare earth metals and plastics and stuff that now encompass our modern lives, we went off to Bristol University to listen to the Climate Change Question Time laid on by the Cabot Institute. It was interesting for having representation from both activism, politics and academia, and the audience was mainly made up from school children and university freshers.

I was taken most by Thangam Debbonaire MP, Labour Bristol West, who said bluntly that when in Parliament she began work at seven in the morning and finished about ten, so if there were protests outside the Houses of Parliament she - and all the other MP's - wouldn't have a clue unless they were briefed first. There are protests every single day and they blur...

Protesting is fine, but if you want to change the minds of the people who run the country (ie, politicians but, ha, right now that's a bit unclear), then you need to talk to them too. And also, while protest is great, and I do that too, if you want to speak to an audience you need to prepare and not interspace each word with 'like'. You know who you are.

And of course I would celebrate International Talk Like A Pirate Day, but right now it does rather feel like the buggers are in charge. Arrrr.