IF we really love our children….
The ‘Three A’s’: Anderson, Attwood, Attenborough.
Professor Kevin Anderson – requested we “be courageous both as leaders and as citizens.”
It’s always bothered me that climate scientists and politicians talk, but never say what they do. We need them to take the lead by giving up or reducing damaging practices… and taking up better practices; and talking about them.
Kevin asks us to “Be courageous both as leaders and as citizens. Mitigate for 2°C, but plan for 4°C or more” temperature increase. “Through immediate harnessing of human will and ingenuity we can yet deliver relatively low-carbon and climate-resilient communities.”
What’s Kevin doing differently? He:
- Hasn’t flown for almost 8 years;
- Has halved the distance he drives each year;
- Hasn’t had a fridge for 12 years;
- Has cut back on washing and showering.
“Excellent!” – Baglady.
Minister for the Environment Alex Attwood, with constituents, at a previous Climate Change event
Please take part in the DoENI’s Climate Change Bill consultation – coming up soon!
And:-
Together we, the children of Northern Ireland, teachers, and parents, have pioneered work in Living ASAP. We’ve made over half our politicians Pledge ASAP.
Now, we have to expand NI’s leadership and take it to the world. We can do this quite easily at no cost; through Eco-Schools NI, and through them with the 52 member countries of FEE, and 10 million schoolchildren.
We will deliver the ASAP message in all its simplicity and, to be honest: Fun! And in case adults just don’t get it, the children will be on hand with PPP Positive Pester Power [PPPcard] to make sure that we do.
If this is too-hard-basket for us now, how do we expect our kids and grandchildren to cope with it in 10-20-30 years’ time?
When Kevin Anderson spoke at Stormont at the request of NI Friends of the Earth, only 2 MLAs, Anna Lo and David McNarry, stayed for the whole event. They’ll have heard Kevin’s advice to NI MLAs: for policy makers the message is the simple but uncomfortable ‘Rhetoric to Reality’.
Lead by example:
- Don’t be the exception – (cars, planes, ships – all argue to be treated leniently);
- Don’t hide behind/blame of others – (UK blames China, China blames US …);
- Consider the system – (e.g. shale’s impact on coal use, etc.);
- Acknowledge that it is not going to be easy – it will often hurt.
Sir David Attenborough, who brings the natural world to our front rooms
Sir David Attenborough, when asked about Climate Change, said “For the very first time in the history of homo sapiens, we’re asking people of different cultures… continents.. languages.. moral systems… to agree! That’s never happened in the history of humanity; and we can’t suppose that it’s going to happen just overnight. We just have to keep at it, and hope…..”
We’re beginning to get the leadership we need.
For our children, and their children… BL
All I can say is, the website’s fully ascended! into cyberspace and around the world. Thanks everyone, and let’s keep the word spreading… round and round and round the world…..