Why Cap & Trade is Flawed.

From the person who created the very interesting ‘The Story Of Stuff’ – how the current linear system of mass production is broken and not sustainable – has followed this up with ‘The Story of Cap & Trade’.

It seems I’m not the only one who would like government to rethink their current approach. I wonder if our government will be able to change direction without recrimination. Please, pretty please….. Guess their needs to be a social push for this change…

What are your thoughts on Cap & Trade?

When will being Green be the new Black?

As our governments continue to negotiate serious action towards climate change, the next step is what we do on an individual level. The main argument I hear from those sceptical to this is the forced reductions on their livelihood. But, if in the process, we develop a better way of living, isn’t that good for all of us?

Ok, I get it, to reduce our carbon footprint on an individual level, to change the way we live, to limit what we consume, to focus on what we can re-use, is a threat to the Social Ideal we hold so high. It is a threat to our elusive search for success where the person with the most items, the flashiest car and the biggest house wins.

But, what if living sustainably became the social ideal? What if the measure of your success was based on how well you managed the resources you already have, the energy you could save, the organic vegetables you could grow?

What if your standard of living actually improved? If the air became clearer, your diet became healthier, your sense of community became stronger and increased time with family all became a measure of your success?

The observation of our society now, of how we are developed at school and our ‘ideal’ career choices have led us to work harder than ever before.

Have you noticed the cycle of working hard all day in the office, after travelling an hour home being exhausted and sitting in front of the television all night, of being reminded all the things you don’t have on the TV and then spending your precious leisure time shopping to buy those things, to give you that ‘fulfilment’?  Coincidentally, depression and anxiety are at an all time high and, some very sad recent statistics indicated that suicide is the #1 cause of death for people under 35. Could something be broken on a societal level?

An average Australian household generates around 14 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year which constitutes 30% of  the national total of Co2 emissions. An average household disposes an astonishing 4 tonnes of waste per year (not including recycling). What happens to this?

If, as a community, we can work collaboratively on becoming sustainable, if we can create a society that rewards each other for our collective work on this, if we increase our sense of connection to those around us, it will not only improve the standard of the planet but also of our wellbeing and lives.

To me, thats something worth striving for. What about you? Any ideas on how we can achieve this?

Differing Opinions & when to let go…

Trying to persuade someone to share your view (which you of course know is right) is a challenging experience that most of us spend our lives perfecting whether we realise it or not. When is it time to agree to disagree?

I was a quiet, shy type growing up. I make up for this now and do enjoy discussing ‘hot topics’, like Climate Change and Social Justice, any where, any time.

I do also find it interesting, coming from a sales & marketing background, the amount of time and energy spent trying to convince someone to buy something they obviously don’t need or want.
After all, when would an Eskimo ever need more ice? That’s right, the ice caps are melting!

When analysing a situation and its possible support or buying potential, a group can be divided into 3 main sections:

• Those who care or agree
• Those who are disengaged & haven’t formed an opinion, and;
• Those who oppose, who are against the argument and can only see that perspective

Is it not worthwhile to focus our energy on those who agree and who have not formed an opinion? Create a movement, empower the first to parts of the group and only after this has happened, focus on those who oppose?

Let’s take the issue of Climate Change as an example:
In less than 2 months the most powerful people in the world will meet to agree on the details of the Copenhagen Treaty for global action on Climate Change.

It is clear that most people I discuss this with now agree that growing from 1 Billion to 6 billion people in just over 100 years is putting a major strain on the earth’s fragile ecosystem and, that this growth has been achieved through our use of oil and fossil fuels, which is causing irreversible damage to our atmosphere  - unless we do something, now.

This is where the ‘discussion’ heats up. The belief from some is that the government is more interested in filling their own pockets and increasing their control of people as opposed to focusing on a solution. Data from scientists explaining that climate change is a myth continues to appear and it is believed by these few that none of the vast amounts of research and data we have seen over the years is false or non existent.

After spending many hours trying to prove my point I realise it is time to agree to disagree or, as Dale Carnegie said in How To Win Friends and Influence People ‘When respect is shown for another’s opinion, more headway is made because no one’s pride is hurt”.

As for the Copenhagen Climate Change Global Treaty, I do believe that something on a global scale needs to be agreed upon to start any change. This should than include a change in our own behaviour and, the beginning of community collaboration on issues of sustainability and smart use of our planet’s resources.

What do you think? Will our governments stuff it up or is this the only way we can halt our slide into an creating an uninhabitable environment?

A new study out today has shown the Global Cooling study to be false:http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/10/27/global-cooling-theory-shown-false-in-new-study/