Directory of Lost Causes (By Quentin S. Crisp)

Wake up, Huw Edwards

I suppose I should be used to the fact, by now, that the human race is insane, but manifestations of that insanity continue to stagger me. I was watching the BBC News just now, and there was a story about the fact that the Northwest passage has opened up because of unprecedented Arctic melting. There was the expert, who has been monitoring the ice melt, saying how astounded he was, because he would not have foreseen anything like this for at least another ten years according to the current models of climate change, and what does the story then focus on? Is there suddenly an urgent questioning as to why this has happened? Is this used as a cue to enquire into how models of climate change are constructed, examine the fact that the official model necessarily relies on very conservative estimates in order not to appear alarmist, and so on? No. The issue is not mentioned at all. Huw Edwards goes on with his commentary in a trance of normality. He is talking about the competition amongst different countries to be the first to use the newly-opened route for commercial purposes. He and all the BBC crew, in their spotless suits and TV make-up suddenly shrink before my eyes to contemptible puppets. They are unconscious. They are hypnotised by money. The next news story is about people worrying because they might not get the bonuses they wanted. Then it's football.

Wake up, Huw Edwards! Wake up, BBC! Wake up little puppets buried in your suits and your TV careers!