COP17 Durban – process and posturing, or progress and potential?
Have we too many urgent economic and social crises to worry about the planet that sustains us?
Are we all simply too concerned about where the money for our next meal will materialise?
Will our governments, political and business leaders fail us and our planet in favour of political, economic and personal gain? Is there simply too much at stake, too many conflicting priorities, and not enough really serious, hard reality to environmental degradation, resource depletion and climate change (read: climate disasters) to make anyone stand up and take notice yet?
What will it take?
Flooding in New York City? Hurricanes in London? Blizzards in Biarritz?
The end of oil? Food riots? Unabated pollution and severe declination in public health?
Will the delegates to COP17 please press for binding, lasting and significant agreements to help support all the critical life systems and environments our glorious planet sustains? Please?
France24 reports that c6500 climate activists took to the streets, frustrated by the by the bureaucratic process and the typical political posturing made by delegated somehow finding themselves influenced by big business and fossil fuel companies.
This journalist, interviewing South African Lubna Nadri of the group Women in Action, summarised it well: “Decisions so far … reflect more the interests of big corporations and oil industries than the poorest people, most exposed to heatwaves, drought and floods intensified by global warming.”
Photo courtesy of Michael mazengarb: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kincuri/
