Yesterday, September 6, Prince Charles began a five-day tour of Britain on the Royal Train with a two-city visit to Scotland. His goal is to raise awareness of environmental issues and the Start initiative, but the usage of the train has drawn criticism from environmental groups.
Prince Charles visits Edinburgh on Royal Train
The Prince first visited Edinburgh, where he took a tour of St. Andrew Square and met Tom Campbell of Essential Edinburgh, who showed him around exhibits at St. Andrew's Square. The quick visit turned into a longer stay as the Prince chatted with people involved in environmental initiatives. St. Andrews Square was hosting the Start festival and a local farmer's market.
Prince Charles also unveiled a new bus ad, which was designed by students at Liberton High School, and cut the ribbon to launch the Start Living shop in St. James Centre.
Prince Charles falls under criticism for using Royal Train
The 50,000 train trip has anti-royalists voicing criticisms about using taxpayer money for "political purposes," even though the Start initiative is conducted through non-profits. Graham Smith of Republic group accused the prince of "crossing the line between being heir to the throne and being a political activist" and called for a parliamentary inquiry.
Others question the viability of the Prince's initiative, saying that people are more interested in cheap food than organic food. The Prince, say some critics, has the money to "go green," while the average person doesn't.
Yet others have criticized the use of eight carriages to carry a staff of 14, even though the Royal Train runs on bio-fuels and its use will save money in hotels and other transportation costs. Benny Peiser of the Global Warming Policy Foundation considered the trip "a clear case of double standards."
Not all environmental groups think Prince Charles is wasting taxpayer money
Not all environmental groups think the same. Jonathan Porritt, formerly of Friends of the Earth, says that the prince's involvement is advocacy, not politics.
Prince Charles' official spokesman defends the use of the train, saying that scheduled trains were not practical for this ten-stop, fast-paced tour.
Second leg of Prince Charles' Start tour is in Glasgow
As he arrived at Glasgow, Prince Charles acknowledged that it was unhelpful to tell people what they should not do. The Start initiative, instead, urges participants to start taking steps towards sustainability.
"It is about encouraging and assisting everyone to take the first steps towards the world that we all want to live in: a clean, healthy, energy-efficient world that lives within the limits of its natural resources," he said.
He then talked to vegetable-growers with their own community garden plots, bicycle riders and recyclers who had come to meet him. He allowed journalists to enter the 150-year-old Royal Train and donated a pair of corduroy pants for auction.
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Comments
Sounds like the train is a sensible way to go. I love trains!
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