Annie Lennox's Letter

To everyone,

Five decades ago in the early Seventies, I read that the Arctic ice caps were melting and global sea levels were beginning to rise as a result.
IT SEEMED FICTITIOUS AT THE TIME

Current research shows that global heating will cause an absolute minimum sea - level rise of 27cm ( 10.6in ) from Greenland alone.
With continued carbon emissions and the melting of other ice caps along with thermal expansion of the ocean, a multi - metre sea - level rise is guaranteed.
IT SEEMED FICTITIOUS AT THE TIME

Soon after, I read with incredulity that vast areas of the Amazonian Rainforest were being cleared to make way for cattle farms, timber and mining extraction, road building and general construction. The destruction has continued until this day and now the veritable existence of the mighty Amazon is in abject peril.
IT SEEMED FICTITIOUS AT THE TIME

Then I heard that as a result of the use of manufactured chemicals, a giant hole had appeared in the protective ‘ozone layer’ in the sky, which, apart from other consequences, would increase incidents of skin cancer in humans and animals.
IT SEEMED FICTITIOUS AT THE TIME

I subsequently realised that our industrial food supply chain contains health damaging additives and chemicals, while toxic pesticides were being sprayed on most of our vegetables and fruit.
THIS IS NOT FICTITIOUS

Then I started to notice that the pristine beaches I’d played on as a child were constantly littered with a wide assortment of plastic debris.
A permanent detritus that since then has never ‘gone away.’ Plastic isn’t actually ‘disposable.’
Of course the issue of plastic is a global phenomena.
THIS IS NOT FICTITIOUS

We’ve taken the future for granted for decades and now we’re at the point of no return.
Global leaders must recognise that climate disaster isn’t something that ‘possibly’ might happen, when the terrible effects are right on our doorstep.
I want future generations to be able to look back and say “We changed the course of history and avoided global catastrophe. Leaders decided to take climate change seriously. They did the right thing and took action.”
We have the knowledge and the technology.
Your children and grandchildren’s future depends upon you NOW.

Annie Lennox