
Quite rightly, the world condemned the Brazilian Government for destroying the country’s precious rainforests – home for indigenous people and wildlife alike. It is also a vital part of the planet’s ecosystem, which affects all of us.
The UK Government was among those voicing disapproval.
Most British politicians like to claim to be ‘green’ but, in my view, only when it suits. (I’m sure there will be genuine ones who care about people, animals and the environment but I can’t think of any, please let me know if you do).
There is much talk of climate change but what’s the point of discussing this topic if trees keep getting replaced with concrete?
I do think investment in public transport is a fantastic thing. We need fewer cars on the road but if there isn’t a viable alternative, why would people give up their vehicles?

So, when I first heard of of the HS2 project, it sounded a good idea. Investment in our train service? I’m all for that… Good for people, good for the environment…
Oh.
Maybe not.
The HS2 – which could cost £85 billion, £30 billion over budget – is supposed to make the train journey from London to the North of England quicker.
But it will be at a cost of 34 ancient woods, 56 hectares, along the London to Birmingham leg of the route. And that’s just the start of the destruction…. It’s thought more than 100 of these woods are under threat in total.
The contractors are due to start felling the trees next month, even though a spending review is underway and this expensive project may not even go ahead.

According to the Woodland Trust, if the woodland destruction goes ahead, this will wipe out all the barn owls ‘breeding within a mile of the new line, either by destroying their habitat or collisions with trains’. That’s more than 100 owls, ‘an estimated one per cent of the UK population’.

Another rare species is Bechstein’s Bat, which roosts ‘among the remnants of the medieval forest of Bernwood, now under threat’.
The intelligent thing to do would be to use the money to improve the existing railway and make public transport in general more affordable and reliable.
But I sometimes wonder about the intelligence of those running the country and unfortunately, while Brexit distracts the electorate, billions of pounds will be wasted and a vital habitat will be vandalised.
And for what? A slightly quicker journey to London?
So maybe it isn’t just the Brazilian Government which is guilty of environmental vandalism and crimes against precious forests…
For more information and to sign a petition, please visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/hs2
Trees are being cut down at an enormous rate, but even at that, there are 3.04 trillion trees on earth right now, and that is 420 per person on the planet. As a matter of note, there are more trees on earth than stars in our galaxy. Mother nature has a miraculous ability to replenish in spite of man, and I have more faith in Mother Nature fixing herself than I do in humans fixing themselves.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trees-stars-milky-way/
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Thank you for your comment.
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You are so right. Each city, state and nation needs to take care of its own backyard!
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So true, I think there’s a phrase which says ‘think globally, act locally’.
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Congratulations! Your blog has been included in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2019/09/friday-fossicking-27th-sept-2019.html
Thank you, Chris
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Thank you Chris 🙂
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Mankind will never respect nature tell nature is gone.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Trees are an important part of my life. My dog pees on them. Without them he may use my leg as a viable substitute, and that would not be a good thing. 🙂
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No I think not. 😁
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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It does feel like that sometimes but I always have hope that things will change.
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Let’s hope so.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Losing pristine wilderness and precious species… for what? Convenience.
That’s shameful.
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Did you know that the worlds seven largest deserts used to be forests? (https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/7-deserts-that-used-to-be-verdant-fields-and-forests). Those 7 deserts land mass and volume could swallow the rain forest and not even create a burp. They are gone, yet by golly, we survived. Man had NOTHING to do with their disappearance. Did you know that lightning create fires that destroy more trees in a year than man has destroyed in their entire existence? Yet, here we wake up every morning with enough air to sustain life. I do not advocate cutting down trees to make way for another super highway, but neither do I worry about cutting down trees for making lumber, paper, or any other item that is used to sustain man’s life on earth.
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Thank you for commenting. I agree that there is nothing wrong with cutting down trees for paper etc as long as it is done in a sustainable way and doesn’t destroy the habitat of wildlife.
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And what makes it worse is that the convenience in this case would be very minimal. The negative effect on wildlife and people’s enjoyment of forests would far outweigh the convenience of train passengers.
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Its not good! I hope they don’t do it! I agree and its the same here, shower of fools who are running our country!
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I hope they don’t destroy the woodland although I have no faith in the politicians.
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