Alexander McCall Smith shares his vision as part of WWF's Great Scottish Canvas
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Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith, best known for his The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency books, has joined forces with WWF Scotland to publish a moving new poem about the climate and nature crises, and to urge people to take part in the Great Scottish Canvas project with the charity.
As thousands prepare to participate in WWF’s Earth Hour tonight (Saturday) at 8.30pm, WWF Scotland and McCall Smith are encouraging Scots of all ages and from all backgrounds, to use the hour to paint a picture, craft a poem, doodle or write something which illustrates the future Scotland they want to live in.
A selection will then appear in a virtual exhibition later in the year.
Launching the Great Scottish Canvas, Alexander McCall Smith said: “I am delighted that so many people are joining together to celebrate this key moment for the world.
"The words and images that this project gathers all have one thing in common - they recognise that this is simply the most important issue that humanity faces.”
Director at WWF Scotland Lang Banks said: “We’re thrilled Alexander McCall Smith has shared this moving, new poem, which we are sure will inspire others to contribute something of their own to our Great Scottish Canvas.
"We hope people will take inspiration for their own creative poems, drawings and artworks about Scotland’s nature and its future, and the actions they want to see happen to protect our one shared home.
"By making changes in the way we heat our homes, travel in our cities and towns, and produce the food on our plates, we can create a Scotland we can all be proud of.
“In this vital year for climate and nature, with Scottish elections in May and the UN climate talks bringing the world to Glasgow in November, we’ll curate a virtual exhibition of the submissions to the Great Scottish Canvas, to bring everyone’s voices to the table.
"We will showcase the public’s desire for a future where we tackle the climate and nature crises and create a greener, fairer future for all.
"It’s our opportunity to paint the future we want to see and tell the story of the Scotland we want to be.”
The new poem, written exclusively for WWF Scotland’s Great Scottish Canvas, is titled Only One Home, and will feature in a virtual exhibition of selected entries from the public.
The exhibition, for parliamentarians, decision makers and the public, will be launched in the run up to the UN climate negotiations, to be held in Glasgow in November this year.
