I have spoken a lot on climate change and how we immediately need to cut back carbon emissions if we are to avoid a climate apocalypse. It's one thing to write about it and another to experience the horrendous effects of climate change firsthand.
The city of Tacloban on Leyte in the Philippines and surrounding areas were struck in November by the strongest cyclone yet experienced spinning in from off the Pacific Ocean. Climate scientists have shown that the oceans of our planet are warming at an even faster rate than the land. They also inform us that warmer oceans generate cyclones both more often and more severe. Some 8,000 people are believed to have perished in the cyclone and sea surge accompanying it and it is a harrowing experience to visit some of the mass graves.
There were of course lighter times also on the trip, a first time being in South Korea, including a visit to the menacing border between the two Koreas. Travel should also be a teaching experience, one I got from the Silla civilisation of southern Korea. From the 1st century BCE to the 10th century this civilisation was at its peak and constructed buildings 80 metres high in a city of 1 million people. Impressive indeed!
Seoul is served by about 10 lines on an extensive underground rail system. It was only commenced in the 1970s. There could be a lesson there for our politicians devoted to constructing roads to nowhere, or even worse to bottlenecks!
Kyoto, the sacred city of Japan is always a fantastic experience and on my second visit it had lost none of its magic. There is something wonderful about a culture so rooted in both beauty and decorous polite behaviour.
I started on climate change and I will end there. Join us Sunday night with one of the world’s leading climate experts Prof. Steven Sherwood.
John
Chapel Minister
[email protected]
The city of Tacloban on Leyte in the Philippines and surrounding areas were struck in November by the strongest cyclone yet experienced spinning in from off the Pacific Ocean. Climate scientists have shown that the oceans of our planet are warming at an even faster rate than the land. They also inform us that warmer oceans generate cyclones both more often and more severe. Some 8,000 people are believed to have perished in the cyclone and sea surge accompanying it and it is a harrowing experience to visit some of the mass graves.
There were of course lighter times also on the trip, a first time being in South Korea, including a visit to the menacing border between the two Koreas. Travel should also be a teaching experience, one I got from the Silla civilisation of southern Korea. From the 1st century BCE to the 10th century this civilisation was at its peak and constructed buildings 80 metres high in a city of 1 million people. Impressive indeed!
Seoul is served by about 10 lines on an extensive underground rail system. It was only commenced in the 1970s. There could be a lesson there for our politicians devoted to constructing roads to nowhere, or even worse to bottlenecks!
Kyoto, the sacred city of Japan is always a fantastic experience and on my second visit it had lost none of its magic. There is something wonderful about a culture so rooted in both beauty and decorous polite behaviour.
I started on climate change and I will end there. Join us Sunday night with one of the world’s leading climate experts Prof. Steven Sherwood.
John
Chapel Minister
[email protected]