The Archdeacon of Blackburn, Venerable John Hawley, wonders if we are serious about tackling anything.

Do we have the will to make significant changes to our society, and to tackle the big issues?

Climate change is clearly impacting on the world and we have experienced severe weather in the North West recently - but are we serious enough about addressing our carbon footprint?

The Chancellor, Mr Darling - has increased car tax on gas guzzling 4 x 4's but this will not stop the affluent buying such cars - it will only help increase the money in Government coffers.

Where is the political will and the local resolve to have a nationwide campaign to reduce the carbon footprint, with mass media coverage - and a national campaign skilfully presented that convinces us all to take action?

As I understand it even if we begin now in a concerted way to tackle Global warming, our present actions will only begin to make a difference in 2050.

I am amazed that it seems to be Archbishops and Bishops - who are normally ridiculed for suggesting anything - who have taken the lead this year.

The Archbishops have called for a Green Lent, the Bishop of Liverpool has called for a Carbon Fast during Lent, and the Bishop of Blackburn wants a Green Year.

They are trying to raise our attention to the most significant issue of our generation - one which keeps creeping up on us - almost without us noticing.

An issue which is so significant that politicians seem only willing to tinker with it for fear of disturbing us.

Or if we take the Chancellor's attempt to raise the cost of alcohol It seems to me that the levels of increase only make it a little more expensive, and will not stop teenage drinking - but will help to fill the Chancellor's coffers again but not really tackle the big issue.

Surely - teenage drinking is merely a symptom of pressures on young people which stretch from their own despair, to the consequences of family breakdown, and a fragmented approach to morality.

It seems to me that the government's focus is again on the need for economic wellbeing and hoping that this will to solve all other issues.

Instead we need to be concentrating on developing good relationships with young people - to show that they are loved, wanted, and have significant gifts and abilities themselves to offer for the greater good.

We need to be increasing the amount of sporting facilities for young people - not closing swimming pools - so that we can have healthy young people who learn self discipline and gain relationships through sport.

A Church led report in 2006 - called 'Faithful cities' raised the question that Governments and Council's generally do not ask - which is 'What makes for a good city, or town or community?'

If we knew what ingredients make for a good community - then we could work towards it, and resource it, and discover it.

Sadly it is not a question that seems to be asked with any real conviction or will.

We still have the same political gestures and soundbites that massage us and try to keep us 'on side' but no real idea as to how to tackle our gentle social disintegration - accelerated by some unthinking immigration policies which in places like Peterborough are leading to conflict in local communities.

We have a shortage of housing. We have evidence that a substantial amount of house building has been on convenient but dangerous flood plains.

There are calls for more and more houses - with the Chancellor having identified sites for 70,000 more.

Yes we need more housing - but why, in the first place, are people allowed to have so many homes without any significant penalty.

How many homes do some people need? I can only live in one home at a time.

The more affluent we become the more homes we seem to want.

One in the town, one in the country, one on the coast, and a flat in London, and don't forget the villa in Spain.

No government seems to even mention the possibility of a strong financial sanction on multi-home owners.

Yet such people are not only depriving others of possible homes and causing us to have to build more houses, but are also destroying community life in rural areas - where they either merely visit at weekends or commute to daily from their work in the city - but often sadly they take no real part in community life.

Again why do we not have the will even to raise such issues let alone tackle them?

Is it that those in Government have lost the genuine desire to bring social change because they themselves have been seduced by power, and have gained sufficient incomes of their own to enable them to live their own lives so comfortably - and have forgotten what it means to struggle?

Where there is a will there is a way - but is there any will?