Nick Aubin, Jersey Biodiversity Centre Manager: Five things I would change about Jersey

Friday 20 January 2017

Do you know what a Hairy Earthtongue or a Red Cage is? Nick Aubin does. He’s the Manager of Jersey’s Biodiversity Centre, and an expert in mycology. Translation: he’s a fun guy who knows his fungi.

So in a week where the environment has hit the headlines with shoreline reports and new recycling plants, who better to tell us what five things he’d change about Jersey?

1.     Don't look at the world through green-tinted glasses - we still need to work on the environment

I would like to see environmental concerns taken more seriously; climate change is a reality backed up by scientific data and yet many people still dismiss this as nonsense, we all need to make the effort to understand and to act accordingly. The ever expanding “must have” and “throwaway” culture that is prevalent in Jersey and the rest of the western world is not sustainable and I would hope that greater efforts can be made to manage with and repair existing items. Instead we have designed in obsolescence and a perceived need to keep up with the latest fashions. Recycling is important but I don’t believe that this is the whole answer and the fact that something has been taken for recycling is not a valid excuse for throwing away something that is perfectly serviceable.

Pictured: Recycling might be a good habit to get into, but that doesn't excuse our throwaway culture, Mr Aubin claims.

2.     Zoom zoom zoom onto motorcycles - the traffic will thank you!

Greater efforts should be made to encourage people to use motorcycles and scooters, including the provision of parking in all areas of town. A switch to motorcycles and scooters would reduce petrol consumption and traffic congestion. I see no need for oversized and extravagant cars that can reach 180 mph or thereabouts, certainly not in Jersey.

3.     Stop slamming the States

We hear too much criticism of the politicians and the civil service; the public sector is a complex organisation on which we all depend to ensure we have a functioning hospital, schools, roads and many other areas of Island life. No large organisation is ever perfectly run but the States is staffed by many hardworking and dedicated people doing essential jobs, and not “counting paper clips” as some would have us believe. We have some good politicians but, if we don’t have enough, is it surprising? Who would wish to stand for election with the constant criticism that they get? Surely we can get a more reasonable balance in our views on the public sector.

Whilst economically we depend on the Finance industry and will continue to do so, the population has grown hugely in my lifetime and there has to be a limit on how many people we can accommodate on this small Island, although I am not sure what the answer might be.

Pictured: Politicians, who convene at the States Chamber (above) and civil servants get a bad rap from the public; it's time to acknowledge the good they do, says Mr Aubin.

4.     Need for (a little more) speed

Drink driving and driving at excessive speeds are dangerous but it seems to me that the present trend for the introduction of ridiculous speed limits in places such as St Mary and St Aubin and the proposals to cut alcohol limits further are merely attempts to be seen to do something rather than tackling the problem. These new restrictions will only criminalise otherwise law abiding citizens without stopping those who deliberately flout the current laws. Let’s re-think the strategy to stop those who break the existing laws.

5.     Let's raise a glass to good Jersey beer

Finally, more pubs that serve good beer, and a renaissance in Jersey farm cider!

Pictured: Mr Aubin would like to see more Channel Islands brews on tap like Liberation Ale, which is brewed locally.