Greta Thunberg:
"Maybe it is the name that is the problem. Climate change. It doesn’t sound that bad. The word “change” resonates quite pleasantly in our restless world. No matter how fortunate we are, there is always room for the appealing possibility of improvement. Then there is the “climate” part. Again, it does not sound so bad. If you live in many of the high-emitting nations of the global north, the idea of a “changing climate” could well be interpreted as the very opposite of scary and dangerous. A changing world. A warming planet. What’s not to like?
"Perhaps that is partly why so many people still think of climate change as a slow, linear and even rather harmless process. But the climate is not just changing. It is destabilising. It is breaking down. The delicately balanced natural patterns and cycles that are a vital part of the systems that sustain life on Earth are being disrupted, and the consequences could be catastrophic. Because there are negative tipping points, points of no return. And we do not know exactly when we might cross them. What we do know, however, is that they are getting awfully close, even the really big ones. Transformation often starts slowly, but then it begins to accelerate."
Read the whole article by Greta in the Guardian
Greta is angry, and rightly so
This is her speech to the 2019 UN climate action summit in New York - she laid it on the line and I think she was right on the money.
But who do we blame precisely?
Greta blames our political leaders, but perhaps they don't have the control we thought they did. I think it's the system and our worship of money. Many say it is the rich, and not our politicians who rule the world. It seems that way. But even the rich have children! They should care too. Either they dont truely understand the problem, or as Greta suggests (and we would all hate to believe this) those pulling the strings are simply evil people.
What is needed is clarity and focus for all of us and especially those who are in control: politicians yes, but also to all those who are pulling the strings. The UN is trying to provide the facts, but are not yet getting the message through to all the right people. For all our efforts, our global emissions are still at record levels.
What can we individuals do? We can reduce our own emissions. We can help others understand the urgency. And most importantly we can encourage our politicians and the powerful people we know to act more quickly.
Do you want to help?
One way is to join Citizens Climate Lobby - ccl.org.au
Or maybe you just want to stay in touch and consider your options. [I intend to add a form here to let you register your interest in helping, but for now:] Just drop me a line if you'd like to stay in touch and explore opportunities. tom.h@ccl.org.au
Cheers Tom