Williams lent carbon etc

Letter in this week's Kent on Sunday:

Dear Editor,

Rowan Williams' call for a carbon fast during lent is indeed a sensible and very welcome one but in many ways more controversial than his thoughts on Sharia law this week.

The British love affair with fossil fuels is extremely evident, with indignation from many when ever the burning of carbon is bought into question. Just look at current political approaches to road and air travel, the main three parties all back road building and increases in flights. However kicking our addiction to car and air travel is one of the most significant things we can do to address climate change.

Williams does hit the nail on the head though, when he talks of the effect of climate change on the poor. Already we are seeing climate refugees coming into Britain, let alone what is happening across parts of Africa and South Asia.

In this country we are experiencing rapid price rises for energy, which again hits the poorest hardest. To combat both climate change and fuel poverty we must quickly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and should give up carbon, not just for lent but for good.

Stuart Jeffery
Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Maidstone and the Weald