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50 PLUS MAGAZINE
TWITTERING ON
BY ANGELA KELLY
But lockdown provided a unique perspective on how the planet improves if you, even temporarily, largely remove humans from the equation. We had dramatic drops in city pollution around the world that could be seen from space. Venice’s canals were visibly cleaner and wildlife returned to this newly improved habitat. Even general litter improved - although fly-tipping increased as official tips were closed. WHEN NATURE WAS ON VIEW AGAIN WATCHING the 1995 film The American President the other day reminded me what a hard sell caring about the environment was back then.
Perhaps even more importantly, more people walked or cycled for exercise and just to get out and about. So we began a re-education of how we see Nature – often passed onto and shared with our children.
The plot is all around the President (Michael Douglas) meeting an environmentalist (Annette Bening) and their trials before, of course, a happy ending.
There was also a boost in people growing their own fruit and vegetables in their gardens, enhanced by the good weather. We had more time and had slowed down our lives enough to appreciate the world around us.
But the interesting aspect was how people regarded her and her work, even to some extent the President’s view. It just underlined how far we have come with understanding global warming and the very real threats that we humans pose to the planet.
What David Attenborough had been showing us so brilliantly for years about the life on our planet suddenly seemed far more relevant. And, yes, it felt hopeful. But did this all last when lockdown was lifted?
Many would obviously point out that we have a very long way to go yet before we can start congratulating ourselves on genuinely caring for the world around us, and they would be right.
It would be easy to say “no” but I’m trying to be more optimistic than that.
You only have to look at the amount of litter casually chucked around by uncaring individuals to realise the length of that particular journey.
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Seeing what happens when Nature is left to its own devices might just make us more aware and caring. Let’s try and find a way to live in harmony, permanently. HOW WE NEARLY MISSED OUT ON JASON’S DEL BOY WE’VE watched actor David Jason grow up on our TV screens from Granville in Open All Hours to an ageing Inspector Frost in A Touch of Frost. His acting skills are indisputable and must still be the envy of actors and actresses of all ages. He’s 80 now and easily qualifies as a national treasure.
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This newly boosted appreciation could last and, hopefully, it will galvanise us to do more about our environment and ALL the creatures that live there.
So it’s surprising to learn from his just-published third autobiography, A Del Of A Life, that he was actually FIFTH choice for Del Boy Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. Robin Nedwell of the Doctor in the House comedy series and Billy Murray (later in The Bill and EastEnders) were possibles along with comedian Enn Reitel and actor Jim Broadbent, the oily copper Roy Slater on the show.
