It has started. The circus has come to town. Long in the preparation, short in the carbon footprint justification (surely in 2021 such an event, given its global importance, the global pandemic, and despite the technical challenges, could have been developed in such a way as to be held remotely?)
The hypocrisy is astonishing, as stacked up jets circle the sky over the Central Belt of Scotland, filled with delegates, and dozens of motorcades, (I read somewhere that old Joe Biden had 23 vehicles in his, not including the motor bikes or buses) clog up the roads around conference venues, engines ticking over as security details await their subjects returning to their vehicles.
Laughingly, the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family, our very own top entry in the carbon polluting nightmares game, a group who individually and collectively can’t walk from here to there without getting on an exclusive flight, or a helicopter, an extended family and their hangers on who’s mainly inherited by accident of birth vast property portfolios lighting and heating bills (which of course you pay for) cast a huge shadow on reducing any kind of traditional fuel usage, without even the slightest hint of self-awareness, tell us we all need to muck in and cut back. Ok then Chaz, you go first.
Yes COP26 is here, and Glasgow is currently under the control of the United Nations. (If only we could stay that way for a bit, until we revert to our rightful state of independence). Meanwhile Anas Sarwar, a BBC film crew, and a freelance hack are running round Glesga with a consignment of giant rubber rats the British Labour sales-rep purchased at the Barras, precariously balancing them on heaped bin liners in crowd scenes behind anyone the media cares to interview on TV, about just about anything Scotland/Bad. Meanwhile it seems too that US news media giant CNN has somehow ended up setting up their coverage of Glasgow COP26 from Edinburgh, just a good stretch of the legs away from the SEC!
The First Minister of Scotland, an individual schooled in the ethos that being informed on a subject, and suitably prepared is key in any negotiations, is cringing at the antics of what passes for the government of the UK, as the Muppet Beetlejuice version of Winston Churchill, inspired by Tim Burton perhaps, blunders around the diplomatic stage, staggering late into photo calls, assuming Benny Hill-like body postures for the cameras, dropping off to sleep whilst those who know and care about the problem at hand speak, and then babbling inanely during interviews. Frankly, so far he’s only just stopping short of showing everybody his pee pee.
Entirely comfortable with lying, as usual, the comic totem of the reinvigorated little-empire project is doing what he does, winging it, and increasingly it is becoming more than just embarrassing. He doesn’t have the capacity for detail, he doesn’t care, it’s all a bit of a laugh. Pass the brandy someone.
In stark contrast Nicola Sturgeon, working the outer rooms, a leader of a country hosting an event she is not invited to, is both engaging and forthright in a round of media interviews, for domestic and international consumption. She’s welcomed several world leaders and international community insiders to Scotland over the last week or so, she has also strengthened previously forged links with those in the public eye who are seen as being in the vanguard of the climate crisis, those that are coming to the fore, and the highly respected real thinkers on the subject of nature and the environment, like David Attenborough. These, dear friends, are the actions of a leader, a leader committed to helping to bring about positive change.
A leader who has the grit, stamina, determination and every intention of ensuring that Scotland is returned to its rightful state of sovereign independence, and takes up its place, as an equal, not as a superior or an inferior, to every other country in the world. A progressive 21stcentury social democracy worthy of its own seat at the table the next time the circus visits a major city somewhere.
itisintruthnotforglory 