Why Greta and UN matter and don't

Hello world. We've got a challenge, and it's every one of us. It's you!

We're going to be 10 billion by the time I'm in my 80s.

Everyone of us impacts our environment. It's not 'government, Presidents, Prime Ministers, dictators, business, corporates... It's us, every one of us. It's you.

Believe in climate change or not. It's only one of several major impacts you are having on plant earth. Our oceans are polluted with so much plastics (micro and other) that they're dying. Our land is being stripped and degraded to a state where we're creating deserts, dust bowls, waterless rivers, mountainsides that collapse into deltas . . .

And it's all because of you.

Greta Thunberg (whoever she is, and whoever is backing her - have a read of this for more information) has given a global voice to many young (and older) people who are angry about what's happening to our world. But she has largely missed the point about who should and can take action.

And, she clearly does not understand that economic growth (whatever it's many, many problems) has lifted millions if not billions out of abject poverty. And there's still millions in desperate poverty, and one of the most basic things they are missing is electricity and clean water. The cheapest, currently, way of providing the former is coal-fired power. Who is Greta to say that developing countries cannot provide electricity for their people using the cheapest means possible just because the developed world (the country she has grown up in) has moved on from this phase of their development?

I hear you Greta, I know your generation because I am a mother, business person, leader and commentator. Leadership is hard. It requires having a vision and the ability to encourage and inspire others, to engage and negotiate. Most importantly, it requires a capacity to understand who really matters. Alas, the UN forum doesn't. It's a great PR platform and well done for those who are promoting you, but it's largely ineffectual.

Who matters?

Governments are not going to 'solve' this challenge. Not enough people care about it to elect the minority parties. The only people who matter are the mega wealthy, businesses and not-for-profits to invest in solar and other renewable forms of energy generation in the developing world. (That said, some of these have funded Greta).

And guess what, this is actually already happening, just at not large enough scale. There are a couple of Australian business people who are taking a proactive position. Michael Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest.

Who is responsible?

Governments and business only take action when a large enough collection of individuals force them to either by voting their preferred representatives in or out, or when we stop buying their products or services and switch to those that we prefer.

So if you don't change what you do EVERY DAY why would you think that business and your elected representatives should?

If you're not prepared to use your individual choices EVERY DAY to create the change you want to see, just who do you think will? Not Greta I can tell you.

You are responsible, EVERY DAY.

What Greta's scripted, angry, impassioned performance at the UN made me realise is that none of the people she was presenting to were the slightest bit interested in what she had to say because how can a 16-year-old from Sweden know what it's like to be a 16-year-old in Mali, Yemen, Afghanistan, Bangladesh? Climate Change is important, it's going to impact on us all. The solutions are not going to be found, mostly, in governments let alone a effectively defunct multi-lateral organisation such as the UN that's become a sinecure for retired politicians and bureaucrats...just like the World Bank and IMF.

It's time for everyone to stop looking to someone else, some other government, world institution to 'solve' the challenges of climate change, water loss, ocean depletion and degradation.

So, what are you doing today and everyday?

I've developed a short list of things everyone could do every day to make a difference. Most of you won't be able to do all of them, and many might be able to do only one or two. That's OK. The essential thing is that you DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY. If you don't who will?

Each one will require you to change something about your daily life...some are harder than others...all take a bit of effort to start with because it involves changing habits.

And if you can't be bothered, think it's too much of a pain, why would you think someone else should? Governments won't change unless you do. Businesses won't change unless you change what you buy, global institutions don't give a F*ck, they exist to support old politicians and the Big 4 accounting firm leaders who gifted the world the GFC (many now heading global institutions).

1. Stop using single-use plastic bags for everything. When you shop (if you shop) take your own bags. Put your shopping in the trolley and use your bags at the counter.
2. Separate the plastic packaging of stuff you buy and return it to the supermarket. Here in Australia the main supermarkets all have recycle bins for 'soft plastics'.
3. Recycle your coffee pods. I use Nespresso. They have a recycling program. Save up your pod and take them back to the local store. Here's a link.
4. Ditch the car. I get it, some people need their car to work and some don't have access to public transport. But for those who do change the way you think about travel. I LOVE cars and had sports cars, groovy cars for years. Now I don't have a car. For those who don't, who like it because it's convenient try car sharing. There's tons of options now. Car Next Door (I use this), GoGet, Apple...even Uber is better than a 2nd or 3rd car.
5. Walk more. Even if you have a car, walk more. Don't jump in your car as the first option. You could probably do with the 10-20 minute walk (improve your health) and you save parking costs, stress and the less you drive your car the better the environment.
6. Eat meat less. Yes, you read that right. Humans need protein but meat is not the only way to get it. Meat is one of the most water and resource intensive ways to 'grow' protein. I grew up in New Zealand on a diet of meat . . .but that's now 40 years ago. Just cut down how much meat you eat, and when you do eat it buy great quality. This goes for the big family meal with mince as the base.
7. Compost. I can hear the groan already. Compost is yucky, it smells, I don't have room, how do you do it, what do you do with it? Unless you're living in a high-rise apartment pretty much there's a compost solution for most homes. I am fortunate that I have a garden...compost, worm farm and veggie patch. No, I'm not a rural plot I am in a small, old-style apartment with a small back area (now said veggie patch). Here's a link to a council compost program. If this is not operating in your area get on to your council and make it happen.
8. Ditch the packaging. Whatever shopping you do, grocery, clothing, electronics . . don't take the packaging. In supermarkets, take un-necessary packing off and leave it at the checkout. It'll take no time at all for the supermarkets to work out that customers don't want it as they'll have to dispose of it, so they'll tell their suppliers and they'll come up with a solution. I do realise that I am in danger of being seen as a 'cranky older woman' but I am inspired by Greta in an odd way. If she can be cranky at 16 I can be cranky at 56!
9. Don't buy more stuff. Resist Rob Lowe (Governor of the Reserve Bank), Scott Morrison, the IMF, World Bank, hedge funds, investment banks, the big four accounting firms, pretty much anyone who wants to make money out of you spending money you don't have. You don't need more stuff, you especially don't need to go into debt to buy it. Sure, it'll mean lower growth but that's not your fault. It's only lower growth for the small, special, financial and government elite who make money from trading. Pay down your debt, live a more contained life, think about your kids.
10. Listen to your children/young adults. I have 24-year old son and we catch up once a fortnight with a group of his friends. It's clear to me that I have to make choices that are positive for his generation, not about protecting my entitlements. The future is NOT ABOUT ME . . . it is about the next generations. On that score Greta has a point, and I hope that her parents are making decisions about their current lifestyle based on her future.

There you have it. Jaqui's way of stepping just a bit more lightly on our gentle earth.

I've worked this out myself. I 'do' simple things every day because that's what I can do.

What Greta said has no relevance to me at all because I do ordinary, boring, no social media, I'm special/different shit. I just do what I can in the everyday living my life kind of way.

What do you do EVERY DAY to make a difference?

#Greta #oceanplastic #climatechange #knowledgesharing #MichaelCannonBrooks #AndrewForrest