In warning about the many environmental dangers associated with climate change, Prof Ross Garnaut and Prof Tim Flannery, and a growing number of public academics and community thinkers, are beginning to sound like a new breed of modern day prophets.
Their messages are as wise as they are scientific; profound as they are practical.
If humanity is to avoid complete environmental disaster as the result of climate change, we must all change our thinking and behaviour in fundamental ways.
But it could also be that worrying circumstances could actually hasten long overdue changes in human affairs, and even bring some disguised blessings -- although this seems a rather faint hope.
This is not just about being “nice” or trying to live up to some impossible utopian dream. This is about matters of survival for life on the planet.
Because the problems and difficult issues the world faces are complex and multi faceted, “visionary” sounding suggestions for unified efforts aimed at overcoming problems like climate change can easily sound naive or even silly.
However, while I can’t fully develop the ideas right here (and hopefully others will be thinking in similar ways,) I believe that it is precisely because there are so many complex factors – ie, causes, effects, mechanisms, scientific, political, sociological, individual, actions, non actions, etc – that many unconventional but possibly “breakthrough” ideas might have more chance of working than we might have first thought.
We need to follow through on new ways of thinking about both global and local problems and possible solutions, and form new platforms from which we can launch broadly-based practical action strategies.
There is a need for people of all nations to strive to become a united world community and no longer allow to continue the injustices and social and economic distortions which inevitably cause the huge gaps between rich and poor countries and unequal societies. There is potentially plenty to share, but to our shame, there is a lack of political will to do so.
We must learn to be wise and not steal from future generations the resources they will need for their survival. We need to recognise the many imperatives for maintaining biodiversity and practicing conservation, and to stop viewing human supremacy as a normal state of affairs.
Each person will have to learn to be less self-centred and show more concern about the needs and wishes of other people, whether they happen to be “people like us” or from very different backgrounds. To advance human affairs in a positive way it is important that we take into our hearts the truth that all people are intrinsically equals. We share a common humanity and common needs, and we all rely on the sustenance of the living Earth.
People will have to become less materialistic, less concerned with money and possessions, and recognise the need for other values such as sharing, community life, caring for the natural environment, and a spirituality.
We must listen to the counsel of the Indigenous people who speak of our belonging to the land and not the other way around. We are not separate to or above nature – and to continue with the delusion that we can endlessly exploit the earth with impunity is to invite disaster.
It is important that all people realise and act upon the belief that change cannot come from governments alone – that we all personally need to participate in decisions and make the necessary adjustments, and even sacrifices, to create the conditions to avoid the likely catastrophes of climate.
It is important to learn how many questions about environmental policy and climate change resolve to a question of enlightened self interest – or doing the right thing rather than in effect being our own worst enemy.
Governments, interest groups, business leaders and individuals must liberate themselves from short-term, expedient political agendas, rigidly and cynically tied to the electoral cycles. Instead there is a need for long term thinking and action, with more wisdom and courage.
These messages may seem idealistic or over-simplified, but now more so than ever, to change is to survive.
– Allan Pinches, October 2008
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