{"id":49655,"date":"2024-04-16T11:16:33","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T09:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2025632"},"modified":"2024-04-16T14:34:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T12:34:24","slug":"chris-packham-introduces-this-weeks-radio-times-earth-day-special-issue","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/chris-packham-introduces-this-weeks-radio-times-earth-day-special-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Packham introduces this week\u2019s Radio Times Earth Day special issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s time to wake up, says Chris Packham, our guest editor of this week’s RT. Here’s his message to all readers. <\/p>

By Chris Packham\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 16 April 2024 at 09:16 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Nancy moved first. That triggered Sid. I was awake at 6.22am but I didn\u2019t dare move. In the end, cramp beat me \u2013 there is a limit to how long the human body can resist a dog jammed into its neck. I stretched at 7.18am.<\/p>\n

Now both poodles are snuffling on the rug, furiously rubbing the sleep out of their ears, winding themselves up into go-go-go mode. I have to rapidly clean my teeth and pull on some old trousers \u2013 the dogs won\u2019t wait for me to shave.<\/p>\n

I emerge from the bathroom and they are yipping and spinning. I\u2019m sucked into their gyre, and our hurricane sweeps down the stairs and hits the new day at storm force ten.<\/p>\n

I need that joy. The unrefined, unconstrained, uncontrollable explosion of just being alive, that beautiful, pure and simple love of life, because if I\u2019m honest with you, life is getting difficult\u2026 Because things are getting difficult for life. All life: mine, yours, the poodles\u2019, for every living thing on our beautiful planet.<\/p>\n

All the creatures flying or climbing about me in this week\u2019s flamboyant cover of Radio Times<\/strong><\/a> are declining or endangered UK species. Try to identify them all. You might struggle because many will have disappeared from your life long ago \u2013 and no miracle by this humorously robed saintly sinner will magic them back. It\u2019s going to be tougher than that, so we all have to get tougher.<\/p>\n

\"Chris\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Chris Packham on the Radio Times cover.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

So who or what is to blame? I bet you already know. For starters it\u2019s our continued dependence on fossil fuels. That is an absolute certainty, so whether you like, tolerate or loathe Just Stop Oil\u2019s methods, you just can\u2019t disagree with their essential motives.<\/p>\n

You might even sympathise with Cressie Gethin\u2019s need to get her urgent message across (see the new issue of Radio Times<\/strong> magazine for more on this). The activist group wants \u2013 and we all need \u2013 a rapid transition away from oil and gas towards renewable energies.<\/p>\n

But what can you do if you are not of the road-blocking, paint-throwing, gluing-on disposition? Simple \u2013 you can have an instant and phenomenal impact by simply changing your bank account.<\/p>\n

The big six high-street banks are still investing in new oil to the tune of billions of pounds a year. They are using your money to send us all to hell in a handcart. It takes a few minutes to switch (see Paul Lewis\u2019s advice in this week\u2019s RT<\/strong>) and you won\u2019t be arrested \u2013 you will be empowered! Please do it now. Please act.<\/p>\n