HOW CAN one small young girl, Greta Thunberg, tower over the world leaders? These are the people who direct our paths for the next decades and yet at the COP26 they spoke loudly but did little, and they need to be called out for that as they were by Greta.
There is no reason why the message from one individual cannot be the right message and it seems that her message is the right one. We all need to work to improve the environment before we get a once-in-a-century event every week as seems to be happening with the fires and floods in some many places. If I hear of a plague of locusts I am going to panic.
Maybe it’s time for the world’s leaders to listen to even one young voice as they are the ones that are going to be living in the world that these leaders leave us long after they are gone.
Keep up the good work, Greta.
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Promises, not actions
It is interesting, as an Australian, to see the criticism of our approach to climate change. As is evident to all, except perhaps self-interested politicians, the climate is changing as often happens but this time it looks like it will be permanent.
There are fires, floods and famine around the world, once-in-a-century events that now seem to occur frequently and yet some are blinded by the smoke that these fires produce.
Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison – formally worked in advertising – has now announced a plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a time that seems so too far away for most to consider and yet will arrive too soon for us to make serious changes.
Of course, a plan is an intention, not action. And we have a long way to go to succeed in protecting the climate.
We all need to work on preventing climate change and yet so many are reluctant to make real steps. Australia can now go to the Glasgow COP26 with a promise of change, but we must ask how much political promises are really worth.
Action must start with the people, not the politicians. Get out there and tell your politicians what to do.
The Earth needs your support, not political promises. (dfitzger@melbpc.org.au)/PN
