On Tuesday I made my first ever oral submission before the Regional Land Transport Committee regarding the flyover at the Basin Reserve.
I began by saying that consultation is based on relationships and trust - this was my first 'test drive' of the peaceful, inclusive form of activism that I am trying to foster. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to work in a conciliatory way, I was struck by the aggression of the Committee's chair, Councillor Fran Wilde.
Cr Wilde could not help herself from interrupting, arguing and fighting. It proved to be a long, rather disappointing 10 minutes in front of the committee!
Cr Wilde refused to answer my questions of the committee - whether they believe that climate change is happening and whether they have any children and/or grandchildren - she labeled may ways as "interrogation" of the committee. The most unbelieveable thing about it was that she was the only one acting in a way fitting of the term "interrogation"!
While I can understand that Cr Wilde is used to being attacked and has as a result taken on the notion of the 'pre-emptive' strike combined with the technique of carpet bombing, her over zealous behaviour would have made even Dick Cheney and Richard Nixon blush.
The most laughable thing about all of it was that this was meant to be a day for "public consultation"!
All I can say is that I long for the day when these old battlers throw in the towel and we are able to show them that there is another way. A way that is based on trust, dialogue and engagement. Our world's environmental problems stem from a social system that is based on competition and exploitation. Fixing these problems is as much about changing our society, its morals and what it champions as being signifiers of 'wealth' and 'success'.
The one-up-manship espoused by Cr Wilde and her ilk may have been the keys to success in the past, but they've caused the problems that we are now having to deal with. It's time you woke up Cr Wilde, the world has changed and so must you!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Learning to talk, not shout!
In the last couple of weeks I have had the good fortune of listening to some key activists speak about their work: Bill McKibben of 350.org; Sean Weaver who was involved in stopping the logging of native timber on the West Coast; and Moana Jackson who is a central figure in the Tino Rangatiratanga movement.
Listening to these people speak about their activism has been both inspiring and influential. While they have all been clear about the importance of direct action in their respective campaigns, they also stressed the importance of being professional, inclusive and level-headed.
While I have been known to hurl abuse at politicians in public and denegrate our government on this blog, I am coming around to the realisation that these methods may not be the most effective.
While yelling serves to fulfil my own desires, it makes very little difference in the greater scheme of things. How much more powerful would it be if our politicians were confronted with a group of peaceful, happy people calling for dialogue? Of course these ideas are as old as the notion of 'activism', however, it is a matter for each individual to come around to this position on their own.
And I am getting there.
While I still have an urge to yell and scream, I will actively work to be more conciliatory, inclusive, respectful and professional. The issues with which we are dealing are more important than satisfying our own desires to scream and shout!
Listening to these people speak about their activism has been both inspiring and influential. While they have all been clear about the importance of direct action in their respective campaigns, they also stressed the importance of being professional, inclusive and level-headed.
While I have been known to hurl abuse at politicians in public and denegrate our government on this blog, I am coming around to the realisation that these methods may not be the most effective.
While yelling serves to fulfil my own desires, it makes very little difference in the greater scheme of things. How much more powerful would it be if our politicians were confronted with a group of peaceful, happy people calling for dialogue? Of course these ideas are as old as the notion of 'activism', however, it is a matter for each individual to come around to this position on their own.
And I am getting there.
While I still have an urge to yell and scream, I will actively work to be more conciliatory, inclusive, respectful and professional. The issues with which we are dealing are more important than satisfying our own desires to scream and shout!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
From desperation to inspiration
The announcement yesterday of NZAID's dissolution back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade sees the focus of NZ's overseas development work shift from poverty alleviation to economic development with a special focus on developing our trade and tourism. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, mentioned the term 'sustainable economic development' a number of times in his speech before going on to call the Millennium Develoment Goals (MDGs) "lofty rhetoric".
With this sort of attitude to internationally formed and agreed upon approaches to our world's problems it is really no surprise that it was only a few months ago that the New Zealand government was on the verge of conducting its own investigation into the scientific basis of climate change. If there is one word to sum up our country's leaders, it is arrogant.
This sort of arrogance and pig-headed approach to global issues is the same sentiment that will likely see the NZ government leap on the Australian government's recent announcement - that it will be investing a further $72 billion (AUSD) into its defence force - as justification for NZ to take a similar course of action. It is becoming increasingly apparent that our leaders plan on fighting their way through the problems that we face in the coming years.
This is old-fashioned thinking that is simply out of touch with today's world.
Today's world is seeing a growing movement that is led by progressive, informed, passionate and peaceful people. There is no point in waiting for our governments to create the sort of policy that we need. The time is now to create this ourselves. If we are to be listened to, we have to show that we have the answers and that we will not back down to leader's lies and excuses.
One of the most exciting opportunities for this in relation to climate change is the 350.org movement. Launched by the inspiring Bill McKibben (who was instrumental in creating Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth), 350.org is based on the science of NASA's chief climatologist Jim Hansen - that we need to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million (ppm). We are currently at 387ppm and rising at 2ppm per year. We have to turn this around NOW. There are no if's, but's, or maybe's. We have to start turning back the clock on carbon emissions or else we will realise a future that is unrecognisable, a world that is, in many places, uninhabitable.
But the 350 movement is not about scare tactics. Nor is it about laying blame. We are all complicit in this situation. We must accept our responsibility and change the way we live. Central to this is making a binding target at the crucial UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen in December of this year. Through the 350 movement, we will shout the loudest and clearest message yet: that we want, need and have to have emissions reductions targets that will prevent catastrophic climate change.
We will being doing this by organising events throughout the world on October 24, 2009. Photos, videos and messages will be sent straight to Bill McKibben who will project these images on a wall at the UN in New York.
Last night I met Bill McKibben in person. He is the most lovely, warm, persuasive and caring person I have ever met. He spoke from the heart and with confidence that we can do this. We will create the future that we want. We, the people. You and me. This is all we have. One chance to make it happen. You and me. Now.
Check out the global site at: 350.org
And the New Zealand at: 350.org.nz
With this sort of attitude to internationally formed and agreed upon approaches to our world's problems it is really no surprise that it was only a few months ago that the New Zealand government was on the verge of conducting its own investigation into the scientific basis of climate change. If there is one word to sum up our country's leaders, it is arrogant.
This sort of arrogance and pig-headed approach to global issues is the same sentiment that will likely see the NZ government leap on the Australian government's recent announcement - that it will be investing a further $72 billion (AUSD) into its defence force - as justification for NZ to take a similar course of action. It is becoming increasingly apparent that our leaders plan on fighting their way through the problems that we face in the coming years.
This is old-fashioned thinking that is simply out of touch with today's world.
Today's world is seeing a growing movement that is led by progressive, informed, passionate and peaceful people. There is no point in waiting for our governments to create the sort of policy that we need. The time is now to create this ourselves. If we are to be listened to, we have to show that we have the answers and that we will not back down to leader's lies and excuses.
One of the most exciting opportunities for this in relation to climate change is the 350.org movement. Launched by the inspiring Bill McKibben (who was instrumental in creating Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth), 350.org is based on the science of NASA's chief climatologist Jim Hansen - that we need to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million (ppm). We are currently at 387ppm and rising at 2ppm per year. We have to turn this around NOW. There are no if's, but's, or maybe's. We have to start turning back the clock on carbon emissions or else we will realise a future that is unrecognisable, a world that is, in many places, uninhabitable.
But the 350 movement is not about scare tactics. Nor is it about laying blame. We are all complicit in this situation. We must accept our responsibility and change the way we live. Central to this is making a binding target at the crucial UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen in December of this year. Through the 350 movement, we will shout the loudest and clearest message yet: that we want, need and have to have emissions reductions targets that will prevent catastrophic climate change.
We will being doing this by organising events throughout the world on October 24, 2009. Photos, videos and messages will be sent straight to Bill McKibben who will project these images on a wall at the UN in New York.
Last night I met Bill McKibben in person. He is the most lovely, warm, persuasive and caring person I have ever met. He spoke from the heart and with confidence that we can do this. We will create the future that we want. We, the people. You and me. This is all we have. One chance to make it happen. You and me. Now.
Check out the global site at: 350.org
And the New Zealand at: 350.org.nz
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