Sorry - Just Not Technical Enough…!
Apparently our Seminars are just not technical enough – this was a comment from an unnamed source from one of our legislative environmental groups - when asked why he wasn’t attending our seminar in March. He had actually been told by his superiors - not to attend
Well forgive me for taking offence – but – surely we all need to be talking about the issues relating to release of a bio-control agent. Let’s get people to discuss non native species – let’s broaden the dialogue and get developers and local authorities educated.
I believe that part of the problem with our Governing bodies that they are all too bloody insular. Unless you are actually in DEFRA or spend weeks ploughing through their tedious website – it’s very very difficult to keep track of what’s going on and what decisions are being made.
The majority of the general population doesn’t even know that DEFRA exists, let alone what it stands for or even what it does. When one attends conferences and seminars held by these ‘boffins’ very few people attend and those that do – already know about the issues and probably wrote a thesis on the subject.
Yet - when the Public were consulted about the potential release of the Psyllid aphid – only 66 people responded….and three of those were from Japanese Knotweed Solutions!
So FORGIVE me if I’m not technical enough - but we have seventy people coming to our seminar – which is four more than responded to the Public consultation.
Sorry for the rant – but I’m disappointed that our legislative bodies are so narrow minded.
Wouldn’t it have been a perfect opportunity to broaden the audience and get the message out amongst a different set of people? Rather than just talking to yourselves – get out amongst the people that pay your wages.
Mike C
