Jarvis edits Today

Climate change, the economic crisis and Jonny Wilkinson

04 January 2009 - Jarvis Cocker had the chance to guest edit Radio 4's Today programme this week, infact Jarvis chose the items for the show to see out 2008, New Year's Eve.

Last year the former Pulp frontman went on a trip to the Arctic to learn more about climate change and see the effects at first hand.

The trip coincided with the peak in the banking crisis and it gave him the idea that two of the biggest stories in the world at the moment were linked.

Jarvis decided to speak to Lord Stern, the author of the 2003 report drawing links between climate change and the economy, and asked Stern whether he felt optimistic.

Stern was frank in his response, so much so to cause the Today presenters to comment on how open, especially regarding George Bush, he had been with the singer:

"First there is a much deeper understanding of issues around the world, the second is you have commitments now.

"The UK is committed to 80 percent reductions of its emissions by 2050 relative to 1990, the same target as Barack Obama has set.

"That’s the third thing - Barack Obama - he is night and day on these issues relative to his prehistoric predescessor George Bush.

"That is a very big change, where people saw the US as an obstacle, people are now saying perhaps they can lead on this."
 

"Ok maybe you are a bit overdrawn, but when was the last time you accidently lost $10 billion?"  - Jarvis Cocker

Jarvis also spoke to England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson about the star's interest in quantum physics, as Jonny tried to explain it, Jarvis stepped in and summed it up for him: "One way that people may be familiar with it may be through watching televised sport.

"That feeling you get when your favourite team is playing, you switch on a match half way through and maybe they are winning one nil, and then five minutes later the other team score... and then five minutes later they score again. And you think, if only I hadn't turned the TV on, they'd still be winning."

Jarvis also struggled to get his head round the financial crisis by heading to London's banking centre, Canary Wharf to speak to city commentator David Buik: "I still didnt really understand how financial markets work and why our lives have to go to pot because of something we had very little involvement in or control over.

"But I did like David Buik, he wasn't the aggressive Gordon Gecko type I was expecting at all. Although I did find the idea that we are all equally to blame for the current crisis a bit rich. Ok, maybe you are a bit overdrawn, but when was the last time you accidently lost $10 billion?"


Ruth Barnes