The moving finger writes

The British people are easily distracted. No matter how dire the political, economic, social and climatic problems besetting them, a bit of pomp and pageantry, or ritz and glitz, is sure to divert their attention.

Just as the country finally bestirred itself from its Covid-induced torpor last year the Queen's death brought the nation to a respectful standstill again. It was a period of sincerely felt mourning, no doubt, but I can't help contrasting (unfavourably) the turnout for the Queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall with that for the Big One, Extinction Rebellion's recent four-day protest that was supposed to culminate in a human chain being formed around Parliament. 

The hope of the organisers was for an unbroken circle of people arm-in-arm stretching over Westminster and Lambeth bridges and along The Queen's Walk on the South Bank. Whereas the queue to pay respects to the late Queen snaked for miles downriver to Tower Bridge the latter couldn't even muster enough people to close the circle. Organisers blamed inclement weather but it seems a dead queen trumps global annihilation any day, whatever the weather. 

The Big One also coincided with the London Marathon, which terminated on The Mall. Despite the two events taking place in exactly the same location in Westminster the support for the race dwarfed that for the protest. As I wrote at the time, it was like two parallel universes. A month on and the coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey attracted huge crowds to the area again. The turgid crowning of a geriatric monarch and the promise of a glimpse of the cavalcade featuring a golden carriage, even on a damp day, obviously held far more mass appeal than the boring business of trying to avert an existential climate catastrophe.

The evening after the coronation saw a huge celebratory concert in Windsor Great Park with thousands of invited guests, televised to a global audience. One week later, and another event of mass distraction has let our politicians off the hook once again. The hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool by the UK on behalf of last year's winner, the beleaguered Ukraine, presented yet another spectacular opportunity to party like there's no tomorrow - which, at this rate, is precisely what there will be if we fail to take decisive action now.

There's only so much longer (and, in reality, not very much) that we can ignore the crisis Humanity faces. Droughts and extreme weather events are already affecting Southern Europe and North Africa, with alarming implications for our food supplies. Add to this the impact of Putin's aggression in Ukraine, the bread basket of Europe and Africa, and there's every likelihood we could be facing food shortages even more extreme than those experienced in World War II. 

Maybe this, coupled with a long, hot, dry summer in the UK, will finally bring the British people to their senses. Pop festivals, beach parties and barbecues usually offer a 'Silly Season' excuse for hedonistic denial but if it's too hot and dry, and there's a severe shortage of food and water, that will be impossible. If to 'eat, drink and be merry' is no longer a realistic option, then tomorrow's is stark indeed.

The spectre is already at the feast and the writing could soon be on the wall.

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