When I was young I vividly remember both my mum and dad smoking. My mum confesses today she only took it up because others around her did and she felt it was "cool" to do so.

They both stopped at different times and for different reasons, but the effect of increasing concerns over personal health and the relentless increases in duty played a significant role.

Today we face a different health crisis and the future of mankind itself is at stake. Only a few years ago scientists who warned about global warning were ridiculed by senior politicians, particularly in the USA. Today we have the state of California suing car makers and the owner of a major world airline pumping all his profits into alternative technology. The tables have turned and it is time we did our bit.

The time for highlighting the problem by visiting huskies in the Arctic is over. The time for taking serious concerted action is here. The Liberal Democrats at their conference proposed a fundamental shift is our tax system away from taxing income and into taxing pollution. It's called the Green Tax Switch and to find out more visit www.greentaxswitch.com or better still come and see our stall in Uxbridge town centre on 28th October from 10am.

On its own this will not be enough. Each and every one of us must look at ways of cutting the energy we consume. Turning off lights, standby machines and moving to energy efficient bulbs is just a start, but it is one we can do today.

The council must do better as well. It preaches energy efficiency at fellow employers in the area, but doesn't have a Green Travel plan of its own. There is an increasing tendency to allow blocks of flats to be built, with ample parking for the so called Chelsea tractors, in place of suburban gardens and trees. This has got to stop.