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You are quite right, Thea, in reminding me also about our own power. I am nowadays trying to bombard myself with as uncomfortable the truths as possible. I have in front of me George Monbiot's “Heat”, Mark Lynas' “Six Degrees”, Fred Pearce's “The Last Generation” and Ross Gelbspan's “Boiling Point”, amongst other books - the best of “popular science” in the climate change debate and I recommend all those books. Their message is similar: our governments failed. WE are the ones who must act now, to force the governments to force ourselves.
Yes, exactly this: forcing our governments to force us to change is what should be on our schedule. Because, as these authors say, the governments do exactly what we actually want ourselves - to talk about it quite enthusiastically, and then, quietly, do nothing. Like us. We are unconsciously hoping that nothing will be done to decrease our comforts.
The problem is, the main focus of protest in our environmental demonstrations is us. Imagine an unshaved person going to the street with a banner “I must shave!” - and this is similar to what is happening with climate change, in a way. This is what these authors point out, and this is what is making me feel VERY uncomfortable.
I know quite well what wealthy people do. They have several jeeps and SUVs, several homes in different countries, possibly yachts or planes even, and they fly abroad often. The problem is, Thea, I am sitting here wondering if this can be changed. What am I going to tell to all those people I know? To sell their cars, their houses, to stop travelling? To stop enjoying the comfort they actually worked really hard to get to, and feel, perhaps rightly so, that they deserve? Or perhaps I should inspire them instead to use their wealth to invest into sustainable practices and technologies that would benefit all? I see this as a more realistic possibility. We should all combine our comparatively small “monetary power” into one big pro-environmental “monetary power” that would be strong enough to counter the entrenched ways.
Thus I must also comment another thing you say: ”I think PEOPLE do run this country”. Something makes me propose that no, I think MONEY runs this country (any modern country in my opinion). And Wal-Mart would do anything to appear, even to be, greener, anything to keep that cash flowing in, while small local retailers die off a month since they started. Not because of people, but because of money. Do you really think you have a choice in your democratic vote? I hugely doubt it. Your choice is limited to two parties who represent the same elite. This elite is only “elite” because it is supported by HUGE amounts of cash, oil cash, sweat cash, even blood cash. Did you give at least a dollar to Mrs Cinton's or Mr Obama's pocket? I bet you didn't. But some people, very wealthy people, did.
See what I plead for in my profile? ”Do not give in to bribery! You may be bribed by not only people and not only money…” These words sound like scratched glass to me every time, as I feel with my very aura as every minute someone somewhere closes his eyes, ears and mouth and looks away, because someone (or something) else “bribed” him. It pains me, it makes me frustrated, it makes my teeth clench. But to understand this, I must ask you something, and ask you to reply to this.
Imagine you just got elected the president of USA. You, Thea, the President, whose campaign was 30% sponsored by me, Mr White. So you sit there in the oval office, planning on alleviating the sufferings of African people, stopping the wars, helping the poor… And I, with a long cigar in my mouth and two rather meaty bodyguards, elegantly find myself into your office and lock the door. We are about to have a little chat.
I am about to tell you that I have three videotapes, on which you are doing something unthinkable and which can get you out of office immediately. I also know your weak spots - you daughter's health for example - which I can “influence”. I also have an empty cheque in my pocket with your name on it. All I need from you is three legislations, irrelevant of what you talk about on public TV: to legislate in favour of oil companies, to legislate in favour of “peacekeeping” in Afroiraquistan, and to legislate for adopting a “slightly harmful” anti-depression pill for hospital use, for example. Now, how many zeroes whould you like to see on that cheque? Six? Seven? Eight? Nine? Ten? Your grandchildren will not know where to spend this money, but I can keep going…
Imagine this situation really vividly. Imagine this cheque on your luxurious presidential table. And remember president Kennedy. Somehow, something tells me that in this situation you will quickly realise who, what, really runs the country.
You think I am exaggerating? I just witnessed a battle of two economic giants in Ukraine a few years ago, still going. Russian interests vs Western interests. The poison from Russian interests, that was almost lethal, is still quite apparent on the face of our president, even after a cosmetic surgery.
We, “ordinary people”, can still mount an effective pressure, but we have apparently forgotten two things: how to do it, and how politics really works.
Yours truly,
Zet
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