Commoners Copenhagen – Saving the Earth from Politicians

Politicians claim to represent us – the common public.

That’s probably correct. But often various pressures on them cause them to do things that we do not want. They often take decisions and frame policies that are against our best interests, and they do so in our name.

So perhaps politicians always do not act in our best interests – despite what they might claim.
This worries me a lot, specially when it comes to something as important as saving the earth from the consequences of Global warming.

Just today morning a group of 100 scientists from around the globe concluded that the sea levels are rising at almost double the speed predicted by the UN Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).
On the other hand, the early noises that politicians are making about likely outcomes at Copenhagen worry me deeply. They all seem to say that they will not be able to come to a consensus on what exactly each country will do to stop the growth in global warming.

While they are arguing, the snows are melting, the rainfall patterns are shifting, there are more droughts, more floods, more human misery.....

What is really irritating is the fact that they are claiming that all this dithering is in our best interests. Whereas it is only in their best interests.

Even in this time of great crisis, they are more concerned about protecting their vote banks and the interests of big industry from where their funding and wealth comes, even while claiming that they are acting in our best interests.

Normal people understand a fundamental truth that politicians are terrified to confront - that people realise that lifestyle changes and compromises will have to me made around the globe in order to check this common disaster, and that there are no geographic boundaries that nature understands - that we are all connected. And the fact that people are willing to make personal sacrifices to help save our world.

They understand that the west, led by the US and Europe will have to start consuming a bit less - less energy, perhaps switch off the extra lights, perhaps not use the heated pool for a swim in the middle of winter, perhaps even lower the thermostat a degree or two.
They also understand that countries like India will have to move quickly to curb population growth and to use cleaner energy sources even as they develop.
They understand that powerhouses like China will have to switch to cleaner energy sources.

Over and above all, the common people are clear that the time for discussion is behind us - that the time has come for joint action now.

Are there no great statesmen left on earth? Are we to be led only by self serving politicians and dictators, only bent on their survival and wealth generation?