Monday, November 30, 2009

Copenhagen! I've been thinking


Should I or shouldn't I?
I've been debating with myself whether to write the following post or not. Wondering if it is too simplistic or whether it is something that 'should/could' be aspired to. In the end I've decided to put it up anyhow simply because I think it's a good idea and should be considered.

What am I banging on about?
Copenhagen! I've been thinking, or should I say, it has occurred to me while thinking about the Copenhagen climate summit that the whole thing is just a bit on the hypocritical side of things. Or maybe farcical even. Here is why I think this. First thing I'm thinking is how are all these leaders of the world and their support staff going to get there? In a plane right! A lot of great big fat pollution spewing CO2 emitting bloody jet planes. Then aside from all the polluting greenhouse gasses there is the money needed to do this. That's your money and mine!

So what do I think could/should be done.

Ok. On the pollution (why doesn't anyone call it pollution anymore?) side of things. We live in the 21st Century. I'll repeat that, we live in the 21st bloody century, can't this thing be done by video conferencing. I know that sounds simple (the 'Kiss Principle', keep it simple Sally) and probably comes with a whole stack of problems but this is the 21st Century, we can fly to the moon, we can do heart transplant surgery, we can separate conjoint twins, why not this. Three benefits I see here are , number one 'no pollution'. No great big fat pollution spewing CO2 emitting bloody jet planes.
The second is the money saved. How much money? I wish I new but I doubt not much change out of 5 mill and thinking, again, what that could be spent on. It would sure buy a lot of trees, taking some carbon out of the atmosphere rather than adding to it.. Maybe a whole heap of solar panels, imagine that, a politician actually doing something constructive by introducing an industry that is carbon free and paid for by not flying around the world in a dirty great big jet plane. Oh and to the coal industry, get over yourself and stop being so selfish. All your worried about is your life style and pay packet.
The third, these are supposed to be our leaders so why not lead by example and show the people of their respective countries they mean business by not adding to the problem themselves.
It's win, win, win all the way.

Back to the beginning.

Is this all just to simplistic, altruistic, romantic thinking on my part or could these "leaders" be more (or maybe just be) proactive! Or could it cynically be said they like to sit around in big rooms huff and puff and then get a good pat on their backs from each other while they telling themselves what a good job they have done?

Btw.
How do you tell if a politician is a hypocrite? Easy, he's breathing!
Do I feel disappointed? Most of the time.
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Cheers from a disappointed Stewart

14 comments:

greenfumb said...

I agree entirely and I have a feeling that Copenhagen will cost a helluva lot more than $5million too.

Our politicians should be here actually making changes instead of jetting around the world Business Class, drinking champagne and wittering on about it.

My Veggie Garden said...

Hi Greenfumb, yep it makes more sense to me!

belinda said...

Although your idea is good sense if your goal is to actually make effective action against climate change, since their goal is "to be seen to be doing something about climate change" sitting in a back room telecommuting doesn't cut it.

Politicians are reactive not proactive.. their aim is to get re-elected and so they will follow the yelling of the most compelling, mostly money. Expecting them to be proactive just dooms us all to fail, if we don't lead as a community, and vote accordingly, our politicians will continue to listen to only the money.

Kind Regards
Belinda

My Veggie Garden said...

Hi Belinda, so what we need is a political party that will stand up and announce itself as being proactive in the areas we need so we can vote for them? The greens maybe?

donna said...

The leaders/politicians in this country are no different than how you describe the coal industry, worried about their lifestyles and incomes. Add to that being worried about being re-elected.

Life goes on. It changes, but it goes on.

My Veggie Garden said...

Hi donna, I'm hoping it changes!

Olive said...

Change...Wouldn't it be LUVVERLY !

Well said Stewart.

Roll said...

heh, i pretty much agree with your sentiment here.. i rarely look, if ever, for real innovation and selfless rational thought in 'leaders'.. be it political leaders, or senior management in organisations.

These people in my experience tend to get to positions of power because they seek it for themselves, not really for the good of others.

Still, we mustn't loose all hope I suppose! I've been voting the greens #1 on all my votes for years now, not sure how proactive they are and stuff, I just figure they have more common interests with me, I mean, Bob Brown has even rafted the Franklin (I have too!), so he must be a nature lover.

Jacqueline said...

yeah, you are right Stewart, and I've been thinking along the same lines myself. I don't know, seems the more people have, the less they are able to think about these things. And as for politicians, the last week would just be laughable if it wasn't so damn serious. Seems like plenty of good people go into politics with the right intentions, then the whole process changes them for the worst. Imagine how exciting it would be to actually have someone stand up and DO SOMETHING significant. I hold out hope.

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