Wales has the right idea with their Future Generations Commissioner. Not only did we see their First Minister Mark Drakeford tear strips off a Tory over the mess their party has made of lives across the UK this week but this wee Celtic nation is also ahead of the game on making sure today’s policies will protect the wellbeing of future citizens.
It’s exactly the kind of thinking we need when the choices made in the next decade will decide the future of humanity.
I’m not catastrophising here and people can bury their heads in the sand all they want, but if we don’t stop burning fossil fuels and do everything we can to protect the biodiversity of this planet, an energy crisis will look like a walk in the park for future generations.
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We’re poisoning our land, air and wiping out species and biodiversity at an alarming rate and still our leaders delay the decisions that really matter. And future generations will not thank them or us for it, as most of us stand idly by and let them get away with it.
That’s why NI needs a Future Generations Commissioner too. In Wales, they say the role is ‘acting today for a better tomorrow’.
But what does that mean?
Well their job is to make sure every policy government passes ensures the wellbeing of future generations. They carried out a huge report that looked at a range of issues, including making their country more resilient to future challenges like the climate crisis and food stability, changing public sector culture, housing, transport, skills and setting good wellbeing objectives.
They also put in place a Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015 to make those objectives law.
We know we face a massive fight to stave off the worst of global warming and save the natural world from humanity’s incessant greed. It’s a huge challenge, and one I feel we’re failing every day.
The baby steps we are taking are not enough to do what needs to be done and this is a controversial question, but could the interests of older politicians be holding us back?
I know the average age at Stormont has lowered in recent years with an influx of young MLAs through parties like Sinn Fein and Alliance, but other parties are still being run by old men with out of date ideas. Those who have been in power for decades haven’t the faintest idea of what it’s like to be a normal person, struggling through life in this wee place.
I’d be all for retiring politicians after they have served a set time. And before you start coming at me for ageism, have a look at the demographic of the country and consider whether our MLAs really reflect the make-up of people here.
We need representation that truly reflects society.
MLA wages far outstrip most people here and even then they give themselves all sorts of incentives on top. Did you know a coffee in the Stormont politicians’ canteen is about 80p - while visitors pay over £3 upstairs. That’s one small example of how they have it easier than us.
I know we have this ingrained idea that experience is everything - but the world our pension age politicians grew up in no longer exists and yet they cling to it with every vote they cast.
I’d also wager their beliefs are so set in stone even David Attenborough couldn’t persuade them to do what needs to be done.
We’ve seen the damage a tired party can do in Westminster, but why are we not talking about tired politicians and they harm they can do.
I know this throws up all sorts of moral dilemmas and ethical questions and I’m not saying we shouldn’t have older people in politics as all age groups need to be represented, but too many skews politics in favour of the interests of older people holding on to a world long-gone.
We need more politicians that can see past the end of their noses and plan for the wellbeing of future generations if we are to have any hope of leaving the world in a better way than we were dealt it.
Glider north-south within grasp
YAY, we now have route plans for the Glider to the north and south of the city.
I know there are still questions about how this will impact Belfast city centre, if they get their way with two traffic lanes in front of City Hall.
I only hope the transport gods listen to what the people want and do away with that idea and get on with pedestrianising Royal Avenue and Donegall Place.
I also welcome John O’Dowd’s view that it should reach Carryduff and Glengormley - it’s a no brainer. And like a Belfast planner told me, we should be planning for 200 years down the road, not just the next 10.
Build it and the passengers will come. I just hope they deliver.
Bird killing licenses extended again as DAERA dithers
Minister Poots has extended general interim general licenses allowing people to continue to kill wild birds, break and take their eggs, I can reveal.
We reported earlier this week how Wild Justice said DAERA had missed its deadline of midnight on October 17 to issue replacements.
We contacted the Department on October 18 and they told us on October 20: “DAERA can confirm that interim General Licences for certain wild birds were re-issued on 18 October and there is no gap, or consequent requirement to apply for individual licences for those species of birds as suggested.
“This extension until the 31 December 2022 is to permit the current review process to conclude.”
DAERA first launched a public consultation on general licences to kill wild birds in 2021, which was withdrawn that July “due to a technical error” according to their own website. A new “more comprehensive” consultation started earlier this year with ‘interim general licences’ put in place until October 17.
Wild Justice, which is led by Dr Mark Avery, Dr Ruth Tingay and Chris Packham CBE, has challenged the legality of the interim licences. They urged the Department on October 18 to regulate the killing of wild birds in Northern Ireland through individual licenses - meaning applicants have to justify why it is needed.
The environmental group is also calling on the department to update stakeholders on its bird licensing reforms without delay.
Halloween pumpkin seeds food for thought
Cutting pumpkins this week? Don’t throw the seeds away.
If you wash them and roast them, they can make for a very tasty snack and will reduce the food you are ditching.
Why not even try and plant a few to grow your own pumpkins for next year?!
I’d also be a big supporter of homemade costumes, that use what you already have instead of buying plastic, fantastic new outfits for the wee ones to wear.
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