I am sorry if this sounds a bit like a diatribe. This is only my opinion of what I witnessed. I've been in hibernation since Denmark and the Climate Change Conference. My first sensation upon arrival at the conference was that of dizziness due to the shear drama and the volume of the event. The Belle Center, the facility where the conference was held, was a mammoth structure that easily held 15,000 people from every corner of the world. The large halls within held the leaders of our planet. It was as large a scale of planetary "leadership" as I have ever witnessed. I put leadership in quotes because I really am struggling as to what that is and what is needed for our planet. What I saw was more about process than substance--sometimes a rigged, overly formal petty process at that. I initially thought this may be due to the shear size and possibly the lack of clarity of the climate change subject matter. Arguments between countries would deteriorate into such things as what should be the logo of the next conference or whose delegates were stopped at security and weren't allowed inside Belle due to improper credentialing. This would go on for several minutes of valuable time. This is not to say that there were no caring leaders present. Some, in fact, are the most humble, careful and thoughtful leaders with whom I've ever had the privilege of meeting and listening to. There just seemed to me to be a general lack of leadership and vision as a whole. The fire did not seem to be lit in most of the delegations. There were clear exceptions--the Small island nations, etc., but overall the conference felt like a cork bobbing in an angry sea.
The apartment that I stayed in during the conference was in Christianhavn, a small island oasis away from the masses. My apartment building was over 300 years old and honestly felt ghostly-but in a good warm way. It was simple, quiet and only lit by candles at night. I could see the reflection of my small apartment in the canal below. It was a place to reflect. On my way home, the second Saturday of my work at the Belle Center, I walked home though a march of 100,000 protesters that demanded a climate treaty. It was loud and frightening in some ways outside but my refuge gave me respite. I knew then that the hoped for treaty wouldn't happen, and not due to the protesters lack of trying, but due to lack of clarity of vision inside the Belle Center.
My MBB group held a conference mid-week at the Glyptotek Museum where we invited world delegates to learn about mediation--a practical approach to facilitate positive change--a few actually appeared. This art museum is one of the best I have ever seen. It is built around the personal collection of the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries, Carl Jacobsen. During this outside conference, I had the opportunity one night to slip out from the group and walk quietly around seeing amazing ancient sculptures from Egypt, Rome, Greece, not to mention more modern works by Rodin and Degas. The collection of paintings within its walls, most of which were French impressionists, included Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Degas and Cézanne. I stood motionless as I looked at Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Bonnard. It showcased what the potential of humanity could be and sometimes is. The art was alive and speaking.
For some reason I have been thinking about the American Revolution and in particular Thomas Paine and Paul Revere. As you recall, Paine wrote an anonymous pamphlet in the early part of 1776 that spread among the colonies such that within 3 months over a 100,000 copies were sold. What Paine was saying was far from original. Scots and other philosophers had been saying such similar ideas for centuries. What he did though was to speak in plain language with a vision of the future that was descriptive enough for the masses to understand and be energized about.
Here are some of his words:
“ These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated”
I have also read extensively about Paul Revere. Although the story we hear of in grade school is not too historically accurate (the real story is much better), I am always amazed at the fact that one man can have such an impact at spreading the word. It is equally apparent that luck or invisible forces come into play as well. When Revere left his home on the North-end of Boston that windy and damp Spring night, a large British warship, the Somerset was anchored in the Charles River between his hidden row boat and the riverbank by Cambridge to where he would row to his awaiting horse. To make matters worse, it was a full moon and the whole river was visible to the men watching as outlooks from the Somerset. They knew their comrades would soon march and they were told to stop all river traffic at any cost. Thank God Boston has hills. As the moon rose Beacon Hill caused a perfect moon shadow on the watery path that Revere rowed through as he heard the moorings creak and the men talking from the Somerset.
The Chairperson of Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change or the IPCC, Dr. Rayendra Pachauri, delivered the opening speech at COP15 in Copenhagen on December 7 2009. Here are the highlights:1)Warming of the climate is unequivocal 2)Since the mid 20th century most of the new warming is anthropogenic or man-made 3) Possible disappearance of sea ice by the latter part of the 20th century 4)Increase frequency of hot extremes 5)Increase in cyclones 6)Decrease in water resources in certain ares including the Great Basin where I live 7)Possible elimination of the Greenland Ice sheet which will cause sea level rise of 7 meters 8) Increased risk for 20-30% species extinctions if we warm 1.5 to 2.5 degrees C. 9) Greater flood risk due (although overall less precipitation)but more violent and unpredictable storms. As I said, these are only highlights--it's in some ways much worse. Many in the small islands of the world, including Tuvalu, are already feeling the effects of a rising sea.
Much lately has been said about the accuracy and efficacy of some of the science of the IPCC. It has over 2500 scientists looking at climate change. Sometimes they get it wrong. Recently, they indicated they made a 300 year calculation error regarding glacier melt in the Himalayas. Most of the critics rushed to the conclusion that this error and a few others point the the fact that it is all a bunch of quack science behind climate change. Two thoughts: When that part of the world adds another 1 billion people in the next few decades and the ice is only half melted should that make us feel any better? Should we not care about our great, great grandchildren because they are not here yet?
Heraclitus, the famous Greek Philosopher said something to the effect, "You can not step twice into the same river, for it is not quite the same river nor is it quite the same man." The IPCC will not get their predictions 100% right. Maybe not even 50%. But is that really the point? What if the sea rises only 3 feet? What if the air is only moderately polluted? What if only 10 percent of the species become extinct? On the other hand, what if they underestimated the climate change fall-out and the planet becomes uninhabitable in a few centuries? The point here is one of change but also chance. If it isn't now right in front of us why would you worry and why should you change? There are lots of opinions but somehow truth will still find its way. When will you see it, if ever? We are in a society that confuses opinion with truth and how to deal with the differences.
I have opined previously that effective revolutions take time--a slow burn if you will. The real ones never end, they continue towards a calculus of the vision they sought to create. Slow is the genius. It gives time for people to awaken and be touched by the truth of reality. It gives time to lighten the darkness of the expanding boundaries. It has to be malleable to avoid breakage. Different people will interpret ideas differently. But what the hope is is that the overall community of mankind has a place in mind where we all can reside.
People are born with the potential to make a difference if they have a desire to involve themselves in the flow of the climate revolution. We need to progress in process and substance. Ultimately, the truth of what is occurring exists. Are we willing, as an "only present now population" to take a chance that the future is someone elses problem? Are your thoughts opinions or more truth? Do you know the difference? Are you sure? Are you willing to risk the planet on your opinion or truth? Or would it be better to yearn for a vision of the future that makes our journey together more fluid? Where is our Revere that rides into the night to call out? Where is our Paine who makes it simple to understand and lights the vision?
Step Forward.
