Nanny in Vancouver

Jonathan Black speaks to Naomi McGowan from Glasgow and Jessica Cruz from Vancouver, Canada for the ‘100 Voices: Home and Away’ project.

A child with their nanny. Source: Unsplash

Home- Naomi McGowan, Glasgow

On Track for Climate Change Reduction:

Naomi McGowan, a politics student, based in Glasgow, believes that the renationalisation of Scotland’s Railways could play a pivotal role in reducing the adverse effects of climate change.

 She said:“Our public transportation is some of the most expensive in the world; and our railway system has been monopolised by a private, foreign, corporation.”

Renationalisation, she believes, would yield more affordable fares: “If you look at Denmark, where transportation is public operated: it’s affordable, efficient and the uptake is tremendously high. If we had the option here, I believe more people would be ditching their cars in favour of the train.”

Away- Jessica Cruz, Vancouver, Canada

Canada’s Emission Charges: Papering Over Infrastructure Cracks:

Jessica Cruz, a nanny, based in Vancouver, Canada, has criticised the City’s plan to introduce a tax on high emission vehicles. The proposed tax could see owners of SUV’s paying $1,000 annually under the scheme.

She said: “I need my car to get to work; my clients are spread across the city. We have one of the highest costs of living in the world, so how are we supposed to pay for this?”

Her view is that Government funds should be allocated to improving public transport instead, saying: “If I could use public transport, I would, but we just don’t have the infrastructure.”