Hypocrisy riddles my writing.
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| "Spaceship Earth" - rebuilding it in flight demands courageous leadership. |
Frequently I lament public behaviour that furiously depletes
earth’s finite resources and worsens the damage to our atmosphere and yet I
stand with those my criticisms target.
That’s hypocrisy or in more colloquial terms, is the pot
calling the kettle black.
My only defence, and it is rather weak, is that at least I
am aware of the damage, why it is happening and what societal responses are
necessary to mitigate the trouble, or at least how we should prepare ourselves
for what is ahead.
A friend discussed the dilemma just recently and he too
feels like something of a hypocrite in that he frequently espouses the
challenges of climate change, but in the broader scheme of events is doing little,
or at least in his view.
Personally, my life and that of my family, is embedded in
the consumer society and although the courage to step aside from it is absent,
that alone does not appear to be the solution.
Individual actions are wonderful and deserve applause, but
without society as a whole shifting and realigning its priorities, we simply
end up with a bunch of individuals living in way that might be sustainable, but
absolutely inadequate in context to counter the behaviour of most.
The honourable work and intentions of that absolute minority
is simply not enough to support society’s “free-riders” – that’s me, you and a
whole bunch of people we know.
There is no immediate or easy solution to climate change –
something unimaginable to generations of people who have grown up in an era in
which technology could solve anything – as a two-degree increase over
pre-industrial temperatures is certain
and three, four and five degrees is almost certain this century.
And so what does a hypocrite do?
Admit to the problem, find like-minded souls, set about
creating a community conversation about the unfolding difficulties; ready, as
best you can, local communities for what is ahead; and hopefully have some
impact on Local, State and Federal politicians in the expectation that they may
have vision and understanding of the coming challenges; and, subsequently, the
courage to introduce legislative changes that will significantly alter
society’s behaviour before nature steps in, forcing despotic changes, without
appeal.
The idea of retreating from society to survive has its
appeal, but ultimately it is strangely defeatist and it is worth remembering
that climate change plays no favourites and while withdrawal to a well-stocked
bolt-hole might allow momentary preservation, it will not, in a truly
altruistic sense, do much for the overall salvation of society.
Rebuilding an airliner in flight would be an impossible undertaking;
spaceship earth is in flight and with all systems failing, we now need
courageous and innovative leadership to take us through this delicate
refurbishment.
