The current debate over the price of fuel is an extremely important one which will have profound consequences for our children and coming generations (Pressure on Brown for all-round road tax cut, 12 October 2000; Comment and Opinion - Just cut the tax, 12 October 2000).

A vitally important fact is not being faced up to - certainly not by the editor who penned today's Comment and Opinion: that the current level of motorisation, so much taken for granted in Britain and other "advanced"
countries, is simply not sustainable on a planet with six (soon to be 8 - 10) billion inhabitants, limited resources and a finite carrying capacity.

Earth's life-supporting ecosystems are already groaning under the strain, although so far only a fraction (about one sixth) of the world's population is motorised. By the time the rest of the world has caught up with us, Spaceship Earth is going to be in a fatefully similar situation  to Apollo 13 - the drama of which I remember very well - after its life-support systems were damaged on its way to the Moon.

Like Apollo 13, we too "have a problem", which, if we do not start facing up to very soon - by acknowledging the non-sustainability of current developments, particularly in transportation (individual motorisation and air travel) - is going to threaten not just the well-being, but the very survival or our children and coming generations.

There is no reason why many tradesmen and those who live in the country should not remain motorised. It is every city dweller wanting his own car that is the real problem. Large towns and cities are where most people live, yet it is here, and between cities, where thoroughly effective public transport systems can be put in place, and cars made unnecessary. This would not only save the world from ecological catastrophe, but also create a far greater quality of urban life: safer, slower, quieter, cleaner, and - most importantly - sustainable. 

Our goal should be car(e)free cities!!

Call it a Green dream if you like - it's where we need to be heading.