The Scouts’ promise to the planet states: “We know how important tackling climate change is and that’s why we empower young people with the skills to campaign at a local, national and international level, to drive forward the changes required to heal our planet.” How, with this in mind, can they justify participating in a world jamboree in South Korea (US and UK scouts pull out of world jamboree campsite due to extreme heat, 5 August) with 43,000 attendees?
The 4,500 scouts from the UK, each having flown for more than 11 hours (creating thousands of tons of CO2 emissions) and maybe a little less resilient than their predecessors, have found camping conditions less than satisfactory due to warmer than expected weather, and now find themselves in air-conditioned hotels.
Surely it is the duty of organisations such as the Scouts to enlighten middle-class children (who have reportedly paid around £5,000 for this privilege) that the days of such cultural experiences are in the past. Modern technology now allows plenty of contact with people around the world, and sad as it may be, we all need to learn that real sacrifices have to be made if we are serious about environmental issues.
Scouting is supposed to be inclusive, and I am aware that youngsters fundraise for these trips, but this is a self-centred activity. Would time not be better spent in supporting projects in their local areas, or further afield, where there is real need?
Recent figures show that 123,000 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in the UK. I wonder how many of them are currently in South Korea? I fear that number might be zero.
Lesley Newell
Romford, Essex
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