Ironic
Mangroves: On
Monday evening I met with a senior representative from the Abu Dhabi Environment
Agency. The location was particularly special; we overlooked the beautiful Abu
Dhabi Mangroves. My host, with infectious passion, shared with me how these were
the 'most western mangroves in the world'. Other mangroves can only be found to
the east. I decided it would be churlish to point out that if you go far enough
west then, eventually, you would find mangroves as that is how globes work. Her
point was that the flora before me was rare and needed protection. With the
increase in desalination facilities around the Gulf there is a steady,
undeniable and potentially unstoppable rise in salinity which puts all local
marine life at risk. If the mangroves are to survive then radical change is
required. I share my hosts passion.
The irony
however is that we were having this discussion on the viewing deck of a 5 star
hotel, complete with its own large chlorinated swimming pool and rooms
('executive suites') that make my 5 bedroom home in Epsom look positively
Spartan. There is something slightly perverse about building a hotel that offers
guests the worlds best power-shower experience, whilst also giving them a view
of the environment they pillage in so doing. If this was a plot line in a movie
people would not believe it, it is so incredulous.
Unwritten celebrity novels:
Following my last
note various people have shared with me their Michael Palin encounters. He gets
around. The undoubted best anecdote came from Alan Thomson, MD for Abu Dhabi
Sewage Services Company (ADSSC). Back in the late nineties Alan worked for the
West of Scotland Water Authority. One day a call came in from Michael Palin's
agent asking if he could meet with someone who 'understood sewage'. When they
met Michael shared that he was considering writing a novel about a man who goes
to Spain and overhears a couple of radicals talking about a new controversial
sewage works that is being built nearby. This in itself doesn't make for a best
seller. One assumes the story would develop with a usual mix of antagonists and
heroes (with the water sector personnel as the
heroes...obviously).
Michael and
Alan met half a dozen times, which suggests he was either sufficiently impressed
with Alan's description of his rock and roll life in sewage, or that was
searching but failing to find that elusive character hook. Over the ensuing
weeks Alan and Michael developed a friendship which makes his minor involvement
in my birthday celebrations even more pathetic than I had feared. Fortunately I
am not jealous or bitter. (Suffice to say neither Michael nor Alan will now not
be invited to my 47th celebrations. )
As far as
we know Mr Palin's sewage novel was never completed. With the exception of the
Jack Nicholson's film Chinatown, water doesn't generally get much air-time in
novels or films. I once read a David Nobbs story which included a scene where
the residents of a fictional North-London village attend a public meeting with
their local water company. The character from the water company is clearly based
on the real life Bob Collington at Thames Water (fortunately he comes out
well). We need more stories that celebrate water. I have an idea for a terrific
blockbuster. It involves mangroves, luxury hotel chains and a slightly
incompetent but well meaning individual who wants to make a difference...
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