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Our guests in The Sustainable Hour on 28 August 2019 are:
Alex Marshall, who has lead a year-long community campaign to get Surf Coast Shire Council to declare a climate emergency declaration. The petition she had tabled with more than 1,000 signatures was on the agenda of the Council’s 27 August meeting, and there was joy and loud applause in the chamber when the motion for a climate emergency declaration was eventually passed.
Ben Shaw, owner of Ben Shaw Permaculture, who is featured in the seventh episode of ‘Show Me How’, today about food production in the back yard.
Dr Mark Randall, counsellor and psychotherapist who is organising the event World Heart of Connection Day in Geelong’s Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 4 September at 12:30pm.
We play Louis Armstrong’s ‘It’s a Wonderful World’, and Sting’s song ‘Fragile Planet’ from 2007
“Join the revolution. Food is a great connector, and people are coming together.”
~ Ben Shaw, permaculture trainer
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 282 on 94.7 The Pulse:
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» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast via iTunes or Stitcher
“We will discover the language of hope in the quality of our courage.”
~ Richard Flanagan, Australian author
LISTENER SERVICE:
Content of this hour
Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour
#COMPASSION #CONNECTIVITY:
World Heart of Connection Day in Geelong
“Through tragic events, the World connects, with compassion for humanity and our planet. World Heart of Connection Day is about bringing that same sense of compassion and humanity by uniting at a synchronised time, to meditate and radiate love and blanket Mother Earth with collective healing.”
If you are unable to make it to the Geelong event; you can create space in your local community, among your friends and workplaces – or in your personal heart space, to contribute to the energies of the day.
For those local to Geelong (in Victoria, Australia): The event takes place from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on the Bunya Lawn area at the Geelong Botanical Gardens. It is essential to arrive on time – 12.30pm – as there will be a sequence of performances, a meditation and guidance for the hour.
Together we can make a difference.
• 11 Minute Guided Meditation
• Crystal Sound Bowls / Sound Healing
• Special Guest MC Roxie Bennett
• Live Music
→ More info at www.worldheartconnection.com
→ Instagram: @WorldHeartOfConnectionDay
→ Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldHeartOfConnectionDay
#CLIMATEEMERGENCYDECLARATION:
Surf Coast Shire Council’s climate emergency declaration
Excerpt from the agenda of the 27 August meeting in Surf Coast Shire Council:
“The purpose of this report is to enable council to consider petitions received at its Ordinary Meeting 23 July 2019 and matters associated with climate change and environment leadership.
Council received petitions in July 2019 asking Council to declare a Climate Emergency and to implement a climate emergency response. Globally and locally there is a realisation that a more significant and urgent climate change response is required. At least 36 Councils throughout Australia and 958 government agencies internationally have declared a Climate Emergency committing them to take stronger action on this issue.
The Victorian Government has prioritised climate change through its Climate Change Framework and, along with our community, see local government as having an important role in responding to climate change. Current global policies and actions are very unlikely to avert extreme negative consequences, and the policy and actions/changes required are significant and require significant lead times. These circumstances warrant the use of the term ‘emergency’.
Council and the community are already taking action to respond to climate change, however, more can be done. Council has an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to stronger action in this area by committing to corporate targets in key areas related to climate change.
Council’s Renewable Energy Taskforce has provided advice to Council at its July 2019 Meeting that can be used to inform setting renewable energy and greenhouse gas targets.
The State Government has advised that in the development of Municipal 2019-23 Public Health and Wellbeing Plans, councils must consider climate change as a complex and emerging threat to health warranting attention at all levels and across sectors. As Council incorporates its Health and Wellbeing Plan into its Council Plan, climate change may need to be specifically considered in future reviews of its Council Plan.
Recommendation That Council:
1. Declares a Climate Emergency
2. Commits to develop a Climate Emergency Response Plan in partnership with the community
3. Receives a further report on how a Climate Emergency Response Plan will be developed including any resources needed
4. Commits to setting corporate energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste, land use and biodiversity targets informed by the advice of the Renewable Energy Task Force
5. Confirms its commitment to use the One Planet Living Framework and Towards Environmental Leadership Program to guide corporate responses to climate change
- Notes the opportunity to consider climate change in future reviews of the Council Plan (incorporating the Health and Wellbeing Plan)”
#CLIMATEEMERGENCYDECLARATION:
MEDIA RELEASE
Corangamite MP agrees we’re facing a climate emergency
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Libby Coker MP has congratulated the Surf Coast Shire on their decision to declare a climate emergency, saying it is imperative that all levels of government make a commitment to stronger action on climate change.
Ms Coker said she supported local councils declaring a climate emergency and called on the federal government to follow the lead of the state government, and increasingly local governments, as they act decisively to address climate change.
“I applaud the Surf Coast Shire on their decision. It is a clear indication of the concern amongst the local community who are witnessing the impact of climate change on the environment both locally and globally.”
“Australia is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and those impacts are being felt across Corangamite now. We are witnessing the loss of habitats, coastal erosion, increased heatwaves and drought.”
“I want to reiterate my calls for the federal government to face the reality that climate change is real and we are facing a climate emergency. We must act to protect Australia’s future.”
“I will be giving my First Speech to Parliament on Tuesday 10 September and will be raising the climate emergency as a key issue for Australia’s future.”
“The Morrison Government must commit to effective emissions reductions, better support the renewable energy industry and take a leadership role in our region to help facilitate a shift towards a climate friendly future.”
Engineers Australia is considering whether it supports the concept of Climate Emergency, and how this would impact on members’ professional and ethical obligations.
“The most important word in today’s world is in fact ‘together'”
~ Jan Eliasson, President of the United Nations General Assembly, December 2016
EDITORIAL
By Mik Aidt
Join the revolution, says Ben Shaw in the Show Me How video. And we will – our little team in the climate emergency bunker. We will be there on the 20th of September when the whole world goes on strike for the climate. Also here in Geelong – at 10am in front of city hall.
The world’s top five warmest years on record have occurred since 2014 — and it’s almost certain that 2019 will be added to this list as well.
We talk a lot about the climate emergency, rising global temperatures, dying coral reefs and the absurd way our politicians respond to the existential risk of arunaway climate catastrophe. And over the years we have been warned repeatedly not to do this because it would only turn people off and make them depressed. But here’s what we learn: the complete opposite seems to be the case, at least if the letters we are receiving, can be taken as an indication of how people generally perceive our programs.
Have a look at these excerpts of three letters we received last week:
“Great to hear about the upcoming big strike by students and parents… I hadn’t heard anything about anything like that .... My god how I just feel enlightened and happy – I know it sounds strange, but I do – from listening to your Sustainable Hours. It really gives sparking hope and optimism, and a fighting spirit in the contagious way. “Yes we can!” … and I think about, goddammit, how I, how we can get our city to declare a climate emergency as well.”
“A short note and thank you for the Sustainable Hour podcast. I have to admit that I had given up trying to talk to some people and have become recluse however listening the this podcast has renewed “HOPE” for me that change is happening. I spent nearly 30 minutes crying at what I was hearing. I know that you have been passionate in this area for a while, and I thank you for your passion and not giving up as I did. It was so inspiring to see what councils, and hopefully Geelong too, are doing.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Infinite Gratitude.”
“Love Love Love the sustainable hour. It gives me hope for the future and you share my complete admiration for Greta and optimism for change through Climate Emergency Declarations.”
Thank you to our listeners from letting us know. It means a whole lot more to us than you might think.
On behalf of the Sustainable Hour team
Mik
#SHOWMEHOW #TRANSITIONSTREETS #FOOD:
Sting: Fragile Planet
“We cannot solve a crisis with the same mindset that created it. It’s up to you and me to get active and to make the changes we want to see in the world.”
~ Sting
→ VOX – 21 August 2019:
Wildfires are burning around the world. The most alarming is in the Amazon rainforest
“Record heat, drought, and deforestation are contributing to wildfire risk.”
Geelong Councillors would like to hear from you
Geelong councillors have put the call out on Facebook: They want to hear from you about whether you think your local council should declare a climate emergency or not. Click on this image to go to the original post put up by Councillor Anthony Aitken (or click on ‘post’ above) and give the comment a ‘like’ (or a loveheart) and also please leave a comment. Let’s show our councillors we support global movement where 1,000 councils have now declared a climate emergency #ClimateEmergencyGeelong
Councillor Kylie Grzybek asks on her Facebook page:
“I”m keen to hear your views – the city will be debating whether to declare a climate emergency- I’m educating myself on the topic but I would love to hear your views. And if you have any links or info on this important topic I would appreciate it.”
Councillor Anthony Aitken posted:
”The City of Greater Geelong has been asked to join the International Movement to develop a Climate Emergency Plan. What do you think Geelong ?”
Councillor Stephanie Asher posted:
“OK, I am keen to hear from Bellarine residents and ratepayers about their views on declaring a climate emergency. The Geelong council group is receiving a lot of letters and emails urging us to follow the lead of a number of other local councils and make a declaration on behalf of the City of Greater Geelong. I want to get a sense of the breadth and depth of people’s feelings on this. Go…”
…Let them know what you think!
Mik replied to Anthony Aitken:
“I say a very BIG YES. Declaring a climate emergency in our municipality is the first step to take the issue more seriously. It sends a signal to all of us in this city that we need to wake up and start working together – businesses, organisations, individuals – on solving the dangerous issues with the climate and ecological breakdown. So please, show some leadership – that’s what sitting in a Council ought to be all about – and then let’s roll our sleeves up and help each other, as we would in any other emergency situation.”
…and to Stephanie Asher:
“This is an important decision to make, because it links Geelong up with 1,000 other Councils – 39 of them in Australia, including Surf Coast Shire Council – that have made a similar decision, and in this way are actually creating a new and unexpected pathway for convincing our national/federal governments that the general population demands they take this issue seriously and get the country’s carbon emissions under control.
One of the biggest problems we face with climate change is that it is global, and it easy to say that it is up so SOMEONE ELSE to take action. We can only fix the problem with climate change if humanity as a whole starts to work together on this, and this way of changing the story – by declaring a climate emergency – is actually already making a huge difference on an international scale.
Why wouldn’t Geelong want to be part of that?
Declaring a climate emergency in our municipality is a first step to tell the residents that you as Councillor will from now on be taking the issue much more seriously, and consider it in every decision you make.
It sends a signal to all of us in this city that we need to wake up and start working together – businesses, organisations, individuals – on solving the dangerous issues with the climate and ecological breakdown.
So it is about showing leadership and saying “enough with the lies, the manipulation and the diversions which only serve the purpose of delaying the inevitable process of changing how we do things so that we no longer pollute the atmosphere with dangerous greenhouse gasses.”
Let’s roll our sleeves up and help each other, as we would in any other emergency situation. “
Andrew Thaler wrote:
“Not from your area.
I reckon it’s retarded.lefties love to *declare* things, but always fall short on DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Let’s look at the ‘lefts’ declaration by Bob Hawke that no child would live in poverty by 1990.
Aaanndd now we have more than ever, extreme casualisation of the workforce and entrenched poverty.
These ‘declarations’ are used to promote the idea of something being done when we are not.
I would ask you to reject the climate emergency crap and focus instead in practical achievements:
Led streetlights, WITHOUT the wifi crap.
Converting hot water and ovens from gas to electricity.
EV charging infrastructure
Public transport using EV’s
No CSG
Legalising medicinal cannabis
Things that are practical, achievable and measurable.
The ONLY thing that will be achieved from the climate emergency declaration will be intense lobbying for * $10Billion dollars* that is then used to buy the next election for labor and lots of labor hacks will be appointed to well paid positions to travel the country talking about the emergency.
And.. for the viewers at home.. I’m not some liberal party schmuck.. I actually own a solar farm, or 2.. don’t believe me.. check out
Singleton Solar Farm”
~ Andrew Thaler
Mik Aidt responded:
“Andrew Thaler, none of know us how this will play out in the future, but I’ve seen many indications that would prove you wrong. Words DO matter, and public commitmens DO make a difference. Not every time. But more often than not.
Starting to take the word ’emergency’ in your mouth changes the story – and when a lot of people do it together, it changes the story in society as a whole. Everyone can see that a bit of this and a bit of that is no longer good enough, the emissions keep rising when they should be going down.
Acknowledging that we are in an emergency situation, and seeing our leaders do it, is something that can change our mindset, when it is done right.
But sure, like with personal new years resolutions, it is up to the person or group that makes a declaration, whether or not it will be just ‘virtue signalling’ or something that kickstarts a whole new level of activities – including all those you mention.
I know for myself that since I personally ‘declared a climate emergency’, I’ve made many more changes, and are planning for more, than I did in the previous six year. So… on some people, and on some Councils, it is going to make a big difference. I think you should acknowledge that, and not just be negative and grumpy! :-)”
“Not getting paid enough to do actual work? Hmmmm”
~ Kevin V. Russell
“who?”
~ Stephanie Asher
“That person in the mirror Stephy. Climate emergency my eye. You know you aren’t the leader you think you are. No one is paying any attention to anything you say about climate alleged change. We had an election about this. People have made their views known. They don’t care. Declare an emergcency in your house if you like but I don’t want to hear about you wasting time for which I am paying on this nonsense. There’s plenty of work to do in this town. Now get on with it.”
~ Kevin V. Russell
. . .
GLIMPSES FROM SOCIAL MEDIA’S STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
“Has anyone given thorough consideration/planning as to what they will do if climate change continues to increase severely…increasing wildfires, dry lighting storms, hurricanes, ocean levels rising, reduced air quality, millions of climate refugees, limited water supply etc.
If this all comes to pass, it will be too late to start taking action once the other millions of people are also. Trying to migrate to a more hospitable location, for example, will be near impossible if large volumes of the population are migrating also.
People will fight over limited resources.
How do we keep our children safe in that situation?
Is now the time to stop saving for a mortgage one day, or to move to particular desirable location, and to start building a bunker with stored food and water?”
~ Nixie Wild
“I always think about this. But everyday life is so consuming, I don’t make any progress with it. Plus it seems doubtful that any location would be secure or safe if life becomes so chaotic that everyone wants to run from it.”
~ Nicola Watson
“Read this, a really important perspective on survival prepping. And listen to the podcast Outrage and Optimism.” http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/despairing-about-climate-crisis
~ Julia Jones
“Perhaps you are depressed about last year’s IPCC report, which said we have about a decade to head off catastrophic climate change. Or you are reeling from the UN’s recent warning that we may doom one million species to extinction. These days, the relentless tide of bad news can take a toll on our mental health — and on our motivation to stay in the fight. How can we find that sweet spot between denial and despair?”
→ Earth Island Journal – 22 July 2019:
Despairing about the Climate Crisis? Read This
“A conversation with scientist Susanne Moser about climate communication, the benefits of functional denial, and the varied flavors of hope.”
“Yep. Emergency preparedness and building your own resilience to be ready to confront collapse. It’s not a matter of if, but when. The earth simply can’t sustain what we have become.”
~ Eleanor Brand
“I have, and the thought absolutely terrifies me. I can barely keep myself and my family afloat in this world, let alone one where things like supermarkets, accommodation, welfare and health care are rare or gone. I’ve considered basic survival strategies like stockpiling clean water and canned food, but those don’t mean much if you’re evicted from your rental home or you can’t drive your car because there’s no fuel. (Hence why the jobs and housing guarantees of a Green New Deal are so important).
I have a funny feeling the preppers will outlive us all.”
~ Braden Sheehan
“Prepping to a degree is never a bad thing. We should all keep basic emergency supplies on hand, especially water and food, batteries, medication, tarp, hand cranked/solar radio.”
~ Avril Cox
“I’ve just joined Positive Deep Adaption group on Facebook. I’m also putting together the recommended emergency kit and rations suggested in “The Handbook: Surviving and Living with Climate Change” (a book by sensible science-informed Australians).
I feel like a total wingnut but I can’t shake the feeling that it may become necessary.”
~ Shannon Muriel
“I think about this a lot too! My partners parents already live in a pretty remote location and are off grid. I have contemplated how we can protect our family and survive out there. But there are so many other concerns like will we have water out there if there is no rain? Which means no crops. Also it is in the middle of the bush so I worry about increased fires. And how crazy do I get yet with doomsday prepping, like when do you start stocking up of food etc.
Then I get to a point where I think maybe I’m overreacting and being a bit crazy, and that I should just enjoy what we have left and not stress so much about it.”
~ Bec Burns
“This is why we need to stop thinking individualistically and refocus to thinking collectively. Nobody really has enough urban land to grow enough food for themselves and protect it, and that thinking makes no sense. We need to reach out to our neighbours now, begin to strenthen our community interdependence and build community resilience to survive together. One bloke grows spuds, a woman raises hens, another family has a few dairy cows, someone else makes biofuels, and so on, and collectively we create an interdependent community that provides and protects its members. No man is an island, now more so than ever and such thinking got us into this mess.
I believe this is our only hope and it means a shift to community and collectivist based social models, living within your means and sharing resources.”
~ Kay Kay
“Yep, I just want to add in addition to my comments above, that absolutely building sustainable, interconnected community and self-sufficiency is the only hope for meaningful survival if civilisation collapses, and those seeds need to be sown now. But I also think that casting ‘prepping’ as crazy, fear based, individualistic and doomist is just as much gaslighting as any climate denial. If society as we know it crashes, cooperative systems aren’t going to just fall into place. There will be panic, violence… There might not be access to medications or medical care. There might not be water in the taps. Hopefully none of this does come to pass. But the possibility of it seems to be getting stronger. Even if you only have enough supplies to last a month or two… surely it’s better than not? That’s where I’m at anyway. And maybe it’s just having a sense of preparedness if I have to try to keep my kids alive, at least it’s something.”
~ Eleanor Brand
“It will be too late then. Now is the time. We simply have to rebel. We’ve tried everything else, for decades. Look where we are – Scott Morrisson and his Hill Song climate deniers for a government! Nothing else has worked. Time to rebel – in the service of Gaia. She needs us.”
~ Philip Harrington
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ADDITIONALLY:
In other news
From our notes of this week: news stories and events we didn’t have time to mention but which we think you should know about
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote on Facebook:
“Nice to be home and see the girls before they headed off to school.”
Suzie Brown commented – among 2,300 others:
”I fear for your daughters’ future and for all of us. As 99.9% of the world’s climate scientists tell us, we are in the warmest month on record and it’s causing severe drought in Australia and bushfires in the Amazon and the Arctic which have never burned before. Unless you act on this at the UN Climate Summit with all world leaders, we are all going to run out of food in 20 years. This is an emergency.”
Heidi Edmonds wrote:
”Your kids will be so proud if you if you can find ways to protect them and keep their future thriving and healthy. Please step up and address the climate emergency urgently. Please find ways to invest in clean renewables not polluting coal and gas, and find ways to keep food on the table – community gardens, water security, investing in our farmers. We need to reduce our emissions to protect our farmers’ farms and our own food and water security. This drought is a sign of worse things to come if we don’t act fast.” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/08/ipcc-un-food-security/
Sarah Hamilton asked:
“What will you be doing to address climate change?”
And ScoMo replied:
“Check out this answer I gave on Behind the News where I outline the strong action we’re taking to tackle climate change.”
Mik Aidt commented:
“Supporting our rurals communities?” Is that honestly what you believe you are doing, ScoMo?
“I reckon your daugthers will one day – say, in 30 years’ time – remember you as a thief who stole their future. A man who had the actual power to make a difference, but failed. Failed his own daugthers. They might already now be old enough to realise that you and your government is deceiving and betraying them by not listening to what the scientists have been telling the world’s governments for over 40 years now: our burning of coal, gas and oil is heating up the planet, and this is causing a dangerous and irreversible collapse of ecosystems around us, along with costly extreme weater events, rising sea levels and many other problems in our society.
How arrogant of you to actually be in New York in September at the time when the global UN Climate Summit takes place, but demonstratively NOT to be attending it. Is it because you fear being shamed by the global community?
If you cared just a fraction about your daugthers future and not just about whatever handshakes you might have made with your mates in the country’s most wealthy, powerful and polluting industries, you would be attending that climate summit and you would be fighting for the safety of your daugthers, and their kids, and generations to come.
What kind of a dad are you, really? Make up your mind. “
Sharon Bush commented:
“Mik Aidt Yes, most people know the history books will not look kindly on our current government and PM. He may be one of the first climate criminals in Australia. I urge all politicians to get new laws enacted so governments and individuals can be taken to trial. Make an effort for all children!”
Bryony Edwards commented:
“Incredible that so many deny basic science that can be demonstrated in a lab – some gases hold more than heat than others and this is observable above certain concentrations.”
Tom Hunt commented:
“Scott Morrison, clearly you don’t realise how much you are letting your daughters down. The disruption to Australia and to the world will be horrendous even within the next 50 years. Already bushfires, storms, floods, droughts, sea life death, are costing billions to Australia alone. This is only going to get worse and for the whole world. Imagine the impacts that will come when water, food supplies, and sea level disruptions affect the 5 billion in India, China, Asia, who all rely on the monsoon rainfall pattern. We dont yet know what a real boat people problem looks like. The trivial effort you put into solving the climate crisis, has our emissions still growing and our economy still tied to making the problem worse. Your daughters need you to do more, far more, to protect their future.”
Lisa Malouf commented:
“I agree. I am so scared for my children’s future.”
“If I were to attack someone in the street I would be charged with a crime and rightly imprisoned. Yet these purveyors of lies and deniers of climate science continue unhindered despite helping perpetuate ‘crimes against humanity’ which may eventually be much worse than the Nazi holocaust.”
~ Peter Gardner
The steps we can take
“I’m just wondering. I’ve searched far and wide for small practical steps which individuals could take without too much effort to assist in setting up the future for the next generation. My thoughts are if 100,000,000 took small steps it would be a start. Not a lot on offer where I search. The “World Economic Forum” site was promising, however . . .
“5 ways you can personally fight the climate crisis:
1. Start the discussion
2. Tap into your relationship capital
3. Get to know your local, regional, national and global policy landscape
4. Amplify the voices of others
5. Recognize the journey”
To a grumpy old geriatric this, with respect, is humbug. There are many climate change sites with enthusiastic members holding talks, planning strategies, hold public meetings, soliciting for donations, organising strikes and protest marches; but few have easy practical simple ideas which anyone can implement.
Got a car? Slow down 5% example, a little more time, a little less CO2, a saving in fuel. Effort required, nil.
City living? Use public transport, walk, balcony flowers for the bees.
Suburbia? Solar- too easy, reduce the lawn, plant vegies, plant anything, consider composting toilets.
Maybe it’s considered big noting, suggesting practical methods to others. I was married in ’63. “Future Shock” in ’70 and James Hansen’s warnings on future climate change in ’88 made a small country block just out of town an easy choice; luckily we found it in ’89. Standard small block was barren with a 100 year old farm cottage.
We have used Peter Andrews (Back From the Brink) farming methods in miniature since 2007. Own water, 90% solar wind, 70% vegies, 80% fruit, septic and composting loos, multi bee flowers and bird shrubs. Driver a little slower.
If the aim is genuine for long term change and a slow down mechanism is not accepted by the government (elected by the people) then individuals can either do their bit, or wait for the train wreck. I’ll be too old – if I survive the radiation treatment which commences shortly.
Climate/season change has stayed on course as a slow insidious creeper until recently, when obvious signs are making the world wake up, hopefully not too late, but if politics remains as the primary source of fix, yes, it’s too late.
~ Bruce Hutchison
→ The Independent – 24 August 2019:
All workers should join the climate change strike – a green new deal is crucial for our economic survival
“At the University and College Union (UCU) we are calling on the wider UK trade union movement to back the climate change walkouts on 20 September. The work done by Greta Thunberg and school students around the world has been inspirational and now it’s time for the rest of us to catch up.”
“A green new deal can ensure a sustainable and viable economy for the 21st century on the basis of a just transition that is real for workers moving from a carbon-based to a sustainable jobs market
VIDEO: Greta Thunberg makes powerful climate change speech at the French parliament “
→ Read more in The Independent
The article is in Danish language. Below is an excerpt of the article translated to English
The case of mocking Greta
“Greta and her ability to reach out to children have made more adults reflect on their responsibilities than the warnings from a large number of scientists and researchers have.
In terms of solutions, I am very much on that team that has confidence in research and technology. We also have to take personal responsibility for our consumption, but the big solutions cannot be achieved by the individual. The research and technologies do not come out of nowhere, though. They require political attention and incentives.
Business is well under way with many of the solutions, but only because they are profitable. And many of our great business leaders are calling for political leadership, because structures and laws are needed that make new solutions possible.
Political leadership requires voters to give the politicians the mandate, and that is precisely what the voters are doing in the major climate demonstrations – and what they have just shown in the European elections.”
“Greta Thunberg is being accused that she causes children and adolescents to panic, and that childhood should be carefree.
It is an argument that has been used a lot over time, for instance when children and young people were involved in the nuclear marches following the accident at the US nuclear plant Three Mile Island. Many of the adult activists were shamed for bringing their children along and thus frighten them unnecessarily.
But when psychologists investigated the case, it was found, according to the Swedish author and pediatrician Lars H. Gustafsson, that the activist children were actually less frightened than their peers.
The peers also knew about the nuclear fears, but they were more alone with their fear, and the fear was diffuse. The activist children, on the other hand, had concrete knowledge, and they were part of a community where they worked with adults.
And this is a third coping mechanism, which has actually been proven to lead to both action and an opportunity to avoid great psychological stress: To focus on a larger purpose, a sense of meaning.
It is the purpose and sense of meaning that the demonstrations contribute to. Fear is not suppressed, but it is supplemented by a belief that it is useful to act. And when we are adults, we also show our children and adolescents that we are actually caring about their future and that they are not alone.
The Swedish lecturer in psychology Maria Ojala has studied young people and climate anxiety, and she tells how the young people in the studies had used the demonstrations and the battle positively. They had made friends, and they had been confirmed that they were not alone; they could do anything and it was okay to be worried about the climate breakdown.”
Excerpt of article in POV by Susanne Sayers
→ Medium – 23 August 2019:
What Does the Rise of the Child Activist Say About Us?
“The media obsession with — and recent mockery of — teen climate activist Greta Thunberg show how we’re failing future generations”
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“Greta is right to be afraid for the future. It’s starvation or war. Probably both. The nuclear powers might think that they have an affective weapon to fix climate change but it won’t help in the end.”
~ Quentin Farmar-bowers
“My prediction is that major change is going to be happening. Because the penny has dropped. The fear has gone.”
~ Roger Hallam, speaking about Extinction Rebellion in Penzance, Cornwall
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People are demanding a new social contract
“People want to buy from, work for, and invest in companies that serve a higher purpose than maximizing profit at any cost to people, communities, and the natural world on which all life depends. People are demanding a new social contract between business and society in which business and the capital markets create long-term value for all stakeholders. People are demanding it, in part, because they’ve seen a credible alternative in the B Corp movement that is leading the transformation from 20th-century shareholder capitalism to 21st-century stakeholder capitalism.”
This statement was made by the co-founders of B Lab in a Fast Company response to this week’s release by the Business Roundtable of a revamped mission statement that says businesses should value more than shareholders in their decisions—yet another big sign of a change toward a new economy.
Rejecting shareholder primacy isn’t a new concept for members of the Certified B Corporation community, who already are delivering value to all stakeholders. This week we share examples of B Corps that demonstrate how expanding your business to protect our planet and include everyone creates more robust communities where people are valued, empowered and heard.
In community,
The team at B the Change“
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Acknowledgement
We at The Sustainable Hour would like to pay our respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we are broadcasting, the Wathaurong People, and pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future.
The traditional owners lived in harmony with the environment and with the climate for hundreds of generations. It is not clear – yet – that as European settlers we have demonstrated that we can live in harmony for hundreds of generations, but it is clear that we can learn from the indigenous, traditional owners of this land.
When we talk about the future, it means extending our respect to those children not yet born, the generations of the future – remembering the old saying that…
The decisions currently being made around Australia to ignore climate change are being made by those who won’t be around by the time the worst effects hit home. How utterly disgusting, disrespectful and unfair is that?
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~ Pete Seeger, American singer