It wasn’t until our arrival in Moffat that I realised that this was the first community that Pibroch had visited that wasn’t on the coast.  Situated where Eskdalemuir opens out into wide agricultural land, Moffat is about 40 miles from the nearest shoreline.  It is situated just a few miles off of the A74(M), the main arterial highway that links the population centres of England to those of Central Scotland. 

It is a border town but also a former Spa town, much frequented in the 18^th and 19^th centuries for the mineral rich waters of a local spring. Its old hotels are grandiose – if small.  Its proximity to the motorway makes it a convenient stopping off place for those travelling along the main South-North corridor.  In fine weather, the town was busy.

Tolling churchbells were a repeated reminder of time situated and passing.  I realised we need such things to synchronise our lives as communities.  To keep us in the same zone.

Moffat is the burial place of John Loudon MacAdam who, in 1820, revolutionised roadbuilding with his method described in Remarks (or Observations) on the Present System of Roadmaking and A Practical Essay on the Scientific Repair and Preservation of Public Roads.  Macadam’s secret was the graded mix of broken stone he devised as the basis for durable roadways. 

Tarmacadam – mixing MacAdam’s rock mix with  bitumen or asphalt – wasn’t introduced until 1902 – 66 years after MacAdam’s death.  It was patented by a Welshman,  Edgar Purnell Hooley, as a response to the dust thrown up by fast moving fossil fuelled vehicles.

As Dumfries and Galloway work towards the regional net-zero target, the exhaust fumes of the constant traffic – carrying goods and travellers – including the visitors to Moffat – is out-with their control.  The highway is outside their influence.

Here are some of the things I heard about Climate Justice in Moffat.

I heard that working offshore is like living in a prison on top of a bomb.

I heard that there are transformative technologies available if the money could be applied to Research & Development : the winners of the Earthshot Prize for example.[1]  

I heard that the Pibroch tour is a sort of bardic mission.

I heard that we need to shift our values:  our model of who we are.

I heard that  no one wants to give up their cars and cycle instead in rural communities.

I heard that supporting biodiversity  is equally as important as mitigating climate change and that it is an area where individuals can make a difference.

I heard that talking to one another is important.

I heard that they deep ploughed Caithness peatlands 40 years ago to plant tax-evasive trees. I heard that  it was only 20 years ago that  they realised their mistake.[2]

I heard that everyone knew diesel was more polluting than petrol but it was promoted because it produces less CO2 per unit of power. I heard that whoever made that decision should be held accountable but that no one is held accountable these days.[3]

I heard that human life depends on all other lives.

I heard that 5% to 10% economic growth is absurd: that we need sustainable growth

I heard that everything affects everything: so windfarms also perturb the climate

I heard that we have a greedy system.

I heard that people in big cities are resisting Low Emission Zones.

I heard that science is not neutral or value free.

I heard that the rich will never let this happen.

I heard that the cynicism of folk in the finance sector is breathtaking.

I heard people ask “What are other people saying?”

I heard that you can’t change human nature.
I heard someone ask why turbines are switched off in summer?

I heard that we need AI because human intelligence has failed.

I heard that the (other) elephant in the room is that there are 8 billion of us: that  there are too many of us.

I heard someone predict that there will be another COVID – though it won’t be COVID. That this is how nature controls populations

I heard that there are plenty of forests but they are not really doing any good because they are all offsetting

I heard that all scientists are paid by someone and their results are, therefore, skewed by financial interests.

I heard that we are petty, greedy, selfish nimbys.

I heard someone ask “How serious are the young people protesting outside parliament?  Will they just jet off on holiday with their parents next week?”

I heard that we have already reached our sell-by date.

I heard that big corporations are now planning to  build vast 200m wind turbines.

I heard that historic slavery is in the past: that it is modern slavery we should be worried about. 

I heard that you can’t make a teeshirt for $5.[4]

I heard that windfarm developers should be forced to couple them to hydroschemes and pump water when there is a surplus.

I heard that the railway workers were heat-checking the rails near Cambuslang

I heard that mining for rare elements to create electric vehicles and turbines will cause greater environmental damage.[5]

I heard that, when British migrants moved overseas in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, they went wherever they wanted and didn’t care about the indigeneous populations already living there.

References

[1] The Earthshot Prize: Urgent Optimism & Action to Repair the Planet

[2]Restoring the Flows | The Flow Country

[3]Fact Check: are diesel cars really more polluting than petrol cars? (theconversation.com)

[4](25) The True Cost of a $5 T-Shirt: The Impact of Fast Fashion on Our Planet and People | LinkedIn

[5]The Energy Transition Will Need More Rare Earth Elements. Can We Secure Them Sustainably? (columbia.edu)