One day this valley in which I live could be the ocean, and that world famous mountain could be just an island...In thinking about climate change today, on Blog Action Day, I'm struck by the concept of "take care of today and tomorrow will take care of itself". The only problem is world leaders, multinational corporations, governments, civic bodies and individuals are not taking care of today in a way that even affords a tomorrow. Too much focus is on an unsustainable form of economic growth, whether for personal or national gain. It is a limited mentality and a myopic form of economic growth which forgets a global tomorrow - resulting in no future for future generations and a destructive future for the planet.
It is one thing to "live in the moment", it is quite another to live that moment in a manner which is unconscious of everything but the self and the now. Living in the moment is about living mindfully, living mindfully is about directing one's actions, not just for personal good but for greater good. Without the greater good, there can, in any event, be no personal good - the two are inseparable. To think and do otherwise is to negate the concepts of society and humankind per se.
We may see ourselves solely as individuals, but we are not, we are a collective, a whole - and a whole which is, whether we accept it or not, in unity with the planet. To forget that is to assure our own demise - and that of everything around us. This is not about "getting spiritual", this is about seeing life as it truly is and viewing it pragmatically. We are interdependent and the actions of one affects the other. To focus solely on "the one" is a fast path to a dead end.
In considering climate change, I am also struck by the short-sightedness of developing nations - my own being a prime case in point. "We, the developing world, expect money -- as of yesterday," said our esteemed minister of environmental affairs, while a cabinet spokesperson has said South Africa would not commit to emissions targets in Copenhagen. The country's long-term strategy sees local emissions peaking between 2020 and 2025, stabilising by 2035 and declining absolutely by 2050. Of course, this assumes we make it to 2050.
As one critic observed, this leaves South Africa "sounding like a petulant child that is ignorant of its own resources, opportunities and standing commitments." Never mind being a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, there are resources in this country that could go a long way to finding solutions - rather than just demanding handouts. Finger-pointing at developed nations is not part of the solution. The status quo is here and now. To adopt any other position is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot - it's being part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Perhaps the esteemed minister and her colleagues need a lesson in unity and mindfulness. Oh, no, wait, this is South Africa, we're still stuck in the politics of race, never mind global unity and a single humankind.
Oh well... on that note let me point you towards some groups who are doing sterling work in promoting the desperate need for a shift in policy regarding climate change.
Avaaz
Friends of the Earth
Seal the Deal - the UN worldwide campaign on climate change
Greenpeace
Please consider signing at least one of the petitions and becoming part of the solution.
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