Thursday 24 April 2008

"UK butterflies need good summer"

Truly amazing.

The BBC have published an article, explaining that butterfly enthusiasts are hoping for a warmer, drier summer to help butterflies recover after last year's 'wash-out' .... I know what you're thinking ... how are they going to blame that on global warming? ... well they don't. (Well, not until that crack-whore Jo Abbess has had her way, of course).

They leave that up to 'Biodiversity Minister Joan Ruddock' who would appear to be superbly unqualified for the job, even by Nulabour standards:

"Butterflies are a vital element of the British summer (1). Their numbers indicate whether or not there are problems in the countryside (2). Butterfly populations also indicate the speed and extent of climate change (3). We will provide every encouragement for those working to conserve them (4)."

(1) Sorry, as pretty as they are, I didn't even notice that their numbers had fallen. They are thus not a vital element. Notice how she slips in the word 'British'?

(2) This is half-true, I am sure that there are some 'problems in the countryside' that would reduce butterfly numbers, such as massive chemical spills, but other problems, such as the housing shortage for agricultural workers, EU regulations and the fox-hunting ban would have little effect.

(3) Woah! We daren't say 'global warming' any more, seeing as how the butterfly conservationists are hoping for a warmer, drier summer. And butterflies are a lousy indicator. The article explains that some of these butterfly populations might be snuffed out for good. So even if weather returned to normal, the butterfly population wouldn't. I think all in all, stuff like thermometers and barometers are better for measuring the weather.

(4) Well, of course you would. Set up a quango, buy some votes. And if by some miracle they manage to reverse the decline (despite adverse weather) this would make butterfly numbers an even worse indicator.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Personally, I think the defence for butterflies is that they are pretty, popular, and do have a role to play in maintaining biodiversity in the ecosystem, but mainly they're pretty and popular.

Wasps on the other hand...

Simon Fawthrop said...

"The BBC have published an article, explaining that butterfly enthusiasts are hoping for a warmer, drier summer.."
I can assure them that we golfers are as well.

Did you hear her on the radion yesterday? She sounded half pissed to me and very unconvincing.

Mark Wadsworth said...

GS, golfers are The Class Enemy and are not allowed to hope for inclement weather. Butterflies on the other hand are very pretty... (perhaps the Butterfly Conservation gang is just a front organisation for frustrated golfers?)

Anonymous said...

Is that the Joan Ruddock who used to be a big noise in the USSR-financed CND? And now it's aw-diddums see the lovely flutterbys? V droll.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Yes.

Anonymous said...

Does it matter what colour the butterflies are?
I never liked cabbage whites - (probably illegal to say that now).
Yet the fancy coloured flutterbies get caught by collector and stuck in boxes with pins.