Letters - 02 August 2013
From energy to marriage
Severn barrier
Following Chris Walker’s timely urging of Friends to speak out on the energy issue last autumn (28 September 2012), it does seem, more than ever, necessary for the Religious Society of Friends (in cooperation with other concerned bodies) to assert the irrefutable necessity for effective alternative energy generation.
The potential for energy generation in the tidal rise and fall of the Severn Estuary is a very great, almost unique, opportunity to provide for much of Britain’s energy needs. It is significant in the context of the need to reduce fossil fuel CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change worldwide. A tidal barrier would be a most valuable inheritance to pass on to our descendants. If designed and carried out with proper consideration, it would be of no long-term detriment to wildlife but of possible benefit.
The tide would still rise and fall inside the barrier, but rather more steadily as the waters pass through the turbines (in both directions, of course). Provision would be made for salmon and eels to pass through on their migrations and for shipping. The barrier would also provide another transport crossing of the estuary.
Why are we not rising to the challenge presented to us? The Severn barrier is, at least, as vitally important as ‘HS2’ [high speed rail link] and possibly less fraught with legal problems. Several hundred years ago, the enterprising people of the northern port of Hamburg constructed a score of tidal mills to provide the direct energy needs of that thriving ‘Hansa’ port. We need to be inspired by such an example.
David Correa-Hunt
Education for peace
Our Meeting was privileged to welcome Patrick Muganda from Kenyan Quakers. He spoke of the work in Kenya with young people. He said: ‘At twelve years old children begin to know the difference between right and wrong, so we begin to teach them about Quakerism and, especially, the Peace Testimony.’ He explained that given the large and growing numbers of Quakers in Kenya, they were having an effect on the their society. For example, when a Quaker politician, at the time of the election, was asked: ‘Which side are you on?’ He replied, ‘I am on the side of peace.’ He was elected.
The majority of the children in our country are in state schools, some of which will be organising in some way peace and global studies programmes. However, I become disturbed by the government pronouncements on the goals of education. Recently, Michael Gove, secretary of state for education, stated that he wanted our children to ‘win in the global race’. I am aware that thousands of children in the UK are handicapped because of inequalities in nutrition, housing or provision of extra classes and outings. But, on a global scale, the majority are way ahead of their counterparts in areas where families may not even have access to clean water or have no access to schools. In any case, I find difficulty with this metaphor of a ‘race’. What do we want for our children from ‘education’ in its broadest sense?’
I would be interested to hear from other Friends on educational policy outlined by the present government.
Rae Street
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