The dodo was once a flightless bird. Now it is little more than a legend and the butt of jokes. That happened after western colonisation of Mauritius introduced predators, including humans who shot the helpless bird. Fast forward to 2019. A UN panel warns that we face a biodiversity crisis with a million species in threat of extinction. Last month, CO2 levels in the atmosphere reached a level not seen since humans existed. It is time to declare a climate emergency and Shropshire Council will do that on Thursday. My fear is that the council will adopt a motion that slaps itself on the back and declares business as usual. We need urgent action not token gestures.
That’s why we need a good crowd outside Shirehall as councillors arrive on Thursday. I hear a demonstration is arranged for 9.15am. Please come along. Bring all your friends and, of course, bring a dodo if you have one.
I’ll be there. I hope to speak. And I will be accompanied Alice the Dodo as symbol of how much we have destroyed and are destroying every day.