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Dunkirk mentality
16 December, 2009 - 11:21
On so many radio talk shows these days VIPs tell us again and again that climate change is real and is man made. Then when someone else pipes up in agreement and goes on to wax lyrical about some inspirational group or other who are doing their “bit” by recycling they are immediately shot down in flames by said VIP who states that the problem needs government intervention and putting off a few lights off isn’t going to save us. And every time this has happened they have not been challenged.
WE NEED TO CHALLENGE THIS. To me Dunkirk is what made Britain great in winning the second world war i.e. everyone taking on a very personal responsibility for solving a problem and in that way producing something far greater than any government (good, bad or indifferent) can do by simply producing a law and then sending in policemen to try to stop it being broken.
And my view on this extends to the underdeveloped countries. I am quite dismayed at some of the news of attitudes and demands being made in this respect. Its like so-called "developing" countries can’t understand that they actually need is to drop aspirations to follow Western-type development at all. In a way being underdeveloped is in so many respects to already have a head start on the west in curbing emissions and they need to “capitalise” on this rather than become obsessed with continually punishing the big bad West and demanding endless reparations. Can’t they see that underdevelopment (a la Western style) IS the new development. In fact they could be assisting us – many of the peoples in these countries live close to the land and are still in touch with best practice in conserving the environment. I don’t mean to sound patronising about this but I do feel the major environmental task of everyone needs to be a mass change in aspirations. We in the West cannot go on living in the world in the same way that our parents did or to put it another way we are not going to be able to continue living the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed. THIS IS DIFFICULT. So how much easier if we had never become accustomed to that lifestyle in the first place. I say to the developing countries stop moaning and start working with us. This is not about making anyone richer nor is it about preserving national identities – if some people have to be resettled in order to achieve goals which are workable overall so be it. Let us all examine what we can positively do to save countless species including our own. Let’s get the Dunkirk mentality – get your boats out – any type no matter how small or crude will do!!!