Get in the Arena

Today, the words of Theodore Roosevelt echo for me in the context of challenges for “climate change”.? Many of you will recognize the first half of this quote from Theodore Roosevelt but I encourage you to read on.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

“Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength.”? Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship In A Republic", 23 April 1910

To those who continue to deny the human impact on climate, I implore you, to open your eyes and your hearts to the critical matters of a healthy planet that are paramount to our survival:? clean water, healthy soil, nutrient dense foods, preserving biodiversity, supporting human life and nature.? These are undeniable.

Yes, there are esteemed scientists on both sides of the climate change argument who can offer proof for their positions. But I challenge you to set these aside and look at the undeniable truth of the pollution cast upon the earth by ALL of us, leaders, consumers, and producers throughout the globe. ?Hear the gritty truth and see the consequences of our choices foisted upon those who struggle to survive day-to-day, who must face the consequences of nature in its fiercest forms.

“Dare greatly” and get in the Arena as human beings that share one planet and acknowledge the destruction and suffering we have created.? Because if we don’t, we will continue to see the Amazon and the Congo, the oceans and coastlines, and other places of extraordinary beauty and resilience depleted by human activity.?

First and foremost, let us see and comprehend the primary forces behind deforestation and soil degradation in developing countries: poverty and hunger.? We should not and cannot expect men and women, who must provide for their family’s survival, to stop their activities without supporting and investing in options for change.? “The West” has exported its 'corporate ag' methodologies, fertilizers, and pesticides to the global south, which we know destroy soil biodiversity.? Consequently, “slash and burn” practices in these far away forests are often a result of needing more land for productive agriculture and grazing lands.? Illegal timber harvesting serves the need for cooking fuel, construction material, and cash for exotic wood species demanded by “Western” consumers.

There is no magic fix for the mess we have made.? We ALL must get into the arena. Turn off Netflix and put down your gaming for an hour a week.? As consumers, spend some time understanding where our consumables originate.? Look at the labels.? Do you know how or where your clothes were produced?? Are they made from natural fibers or petroleum.? Did they use child labor? Where did the lithium and cobalt for your phones, computers and cars come from?? There are multiple online resources that have done the research for you.? Look for “scorecards” in your search.? Here is one for fashion.

Do you know that chickens that produce “free range” eggs, generally have less than 1 square foot of space to move?? Do you know that healthy nutritious eggs have a vibrant orange yellow (not pale yellow) yolk, and the whites are clear, not cloudy? Do you know that the demand and appeal for “marbled beef” was created through a marketing strategy to increase consumption?? Does your “grass fed” meat come from a local farmer who uses regenerative agriculture methods or a foreign producer where they “slash and burn” the forest for more grazing land? For more information regarding the food on your table try Cornucopia Institute Scorecards.

As producers and business leaders, what are your financial risks associated with your product life cycles and supply chains.? What are your risks to production loss because of flooding and extreme weather?? Do you engage your suppliers to support their transitions to sustainable and circular production??

As shareholders, are you paying attention to anything other than the dollar value of your portfolio?? Do you understand how your investments impact people and nature? Greenbiz has been following business activity for more than 20 years.

As government leaders, are you supporting legislation for climate risks?? Or foreign governments to build healthy environments? Do you know where and how your biggest financial supporters earn profits and produce products?

As investors, search for and choose high integrity projects and programs (yes, with great returns) that support people, communities, and nature.

We all have limited time and resources but what are our prospects for our own family’s survival if we don’t act? If we continue to make choices that further degrade our planet, our one earth, what are the consequences for our children, our grandchildren?? We cannot wait until 2030 or 2050 to open our eyes and accept the realities of our choices.?

Let’s put aside our cynicism and quiet the critics.? Do not be the one “who deride(s) of slight”.? Do not be “the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world”, who fears getting messy.? As individuals, we ALL must be willing to get ‘dusty and sweaty’. ??We may fall short, but we must know we tried.? Be BRAVE, get in the ARENA.

Sameer S. Dr. Ir. John Agbo OGBODO [he/his/him] steve akpan Marcy Vierzen Patricia Burguete