I came across this compelling video to help us understand:

Global Climate Change, in the context of choosing the right options for the future…

I believe that once you have seen it you will choose the risk containment option.

Here is a follow-up video…

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A few weeks back Gordon Brown (UK Prime Minister) was asked if company directors and the ‘City’, the latter in terms of continued bonus awards, should pay themselves large dividends and salaries, especially if their companies are not performing to their potential. He suggested that they, ‘the execs’ certainly need to make the call.
I noticed on Tesco’s web site, the following, in terms of their statement on Corporate Responsibility: ‘Our core values ‘no-one tries harder for customers’ and ‘treat people how we like to be treated’ characterise our approach to Corporate Responsibility. We believe we can achieve most when we work together on practical things that make a difference. ‘Every little helps’ can become a great deal when everyone pulls in the same direction.’… Sir Terry Leahy

Quite nice that the statement appears customer centric and I agree that we should all ‘pull together’. Further examination of some of Tesco’s policies reveals that Tesco do have some initiatives for the environment and selective charities.

It would be great if more multi-national organizations could come together to unite their efforts, especially as there is still so much poverty and injustice in the world.
I wonder sometimes if our reaction and attitude to poverty or human right abuses is based on being conditioned to ignore it. Or, simply being passive to news feeds.

Imagine if you have missed a meal because you are busy. It does not take long for your stomach to signal your brain to take action! The rumbling starts and then your performance begins to run down. For many in the world going without food, shoes, shelter or a family, poverty  is an everyday situation. Yet, in another part of the world many countries live in luxury. There has to be something wrong in this world if we have designed a system of such unfairness.

Wonderful programmes such as, ‘The unreported world’ reveal the extent of exploitation by rich countries. A recent programme showed how China is investing heavily in Africa. It showed how African workers are currently being exploited in terms of working conditions and greedy middle agents, simply to gain access to vital resources that are destined for consumer products that the west are hungry for.

Most recently, the peace marches in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) by Buddhist monks was shut down by the country’s military rulers. The world watched silently as the monks were beaten and imprisoned. Myanmar’s supportive countries (e.g: economic traders such as China) fumbled over any influence that they could administer. Ironic, as China is keen to attract visitors to the Olympics in ’08. The United Nations tried to gain resolutions. The US watched. The rest of the world were shut-out. Technology, for example, cell phones and the Internet were blocked from reporting any news. Right now it appears that the Military got away with their abuses, yet again.

Another case of some of the world sitting back watching, ignoring and administering justice where they feel it should be applied.

How long will we sit back and let politicians choose the battles they wish to fight? Should we not all stand together and demand an urgent need for a world initiative to bring about harmonization of living standards and human rights?!

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The Earth’s average temperature is predicted to rise by 1.8-4C (3.2-7.2F) during this century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report.

Hang on ! There is now a new initiative to help us all and it is called Kyoto2. It offers a structure for a new Climate Protocol after the existing Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.The key features of Kyoto2 are:

* Abandon the country-based system for regulating greenhouse gas emissions created by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and replace it with a unified global system.
* In the case of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, assess the emissions at the point of fossil fuel production according to the global warming potential of the fuel in question, so requiring the necessary Rights to be held by fossil fuel producing companies.
* Apply the funds raised from the emissions rights auction, which could easily achieve $500 billion - $1 trillion to per year, to tackling both the causes and the consequences of climate change.

It was at the point of ‘rights’ where I started to get confused. There is more on this whole area at http://www.kyoto2.org
I’m sure that what is being suggested here makes sense to those that wish to negotiate and eventually transpose each element into practical policies.

However, I did a little research to find some practical and immediate steps that we can all help.

The car you drive could be the most important personal climate decision.
When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class. Each gallon of gas you use releases 25 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Better gas mileage not only reduces global warming, but will also save you at the pump over the life of the vehicle. Compare the fuel economy of the cars you’re considering and look for new technologies like hybrid engines.

Look for the ‘Energy Star’.
When it comes time to replace appliances, look for the Energy Star label on new appliances For example, refrigerators, freezers and increasing in the UK air -conditioners. These items may cost a bit more initially, but the energy savings will pay back the extra investment within a couple of years.

Light bulbs matter.
Regular light bulbs can be replaced with an energy-saving model
Think before you drive.
If you own more than one vehicle, use the less fuel-efficient one only when you can fill it with passengers.

Buy good wood.
When buying wood products, check for labels that indicate the source of the timber. Supporting forests that are managed in a sustainable fashion makes sense for biodiversity, and it may make sense for the climate too. Forests that are well managed are more likely to store carbon effectively because more trees are left standing and carbon-storing soils are less disturbed. You can also make a difference in your own garden.

Finally, let our policymakers know you are concerned about global warming.
Our elected officials and business leaders need to hear from concerned citizens. We need to work together to help the situation, especially as politicians may consider that a tax is all we need rather than an initiative with a solid drive.

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It has been 2 weeks since my last article. Reason? We’ve been away on a South India road trip. The round trip was from Bangalore to Kanykamuri (the Southern tip/Cape of India). There is nothing like visiting another country, especially one that is as extreme in its current economic progressive state as it is in its yesteryear bystander status. More about that another time.

At the start of 2006 I wrote the following (abridged)…

Twelve months on and I’ve now clocked another year of writing articles / blogs and reviews. But how much has the world really changed? Earlier in the year I attended the ‘Make Poverty History’ semi-launch in Trafalgar Square. It was great to see Nelson Mandela get up and give us inspiration to become the generation that will make the change happen.

Twelve months on and poverty still exists and human rights abuses are still occurring, even though we all know what countries are still maintaining their stance of denial.

Bottom-line – The world needs to change but the power from the people is not being exercised, instead our will has been exorcised/removed from our psyche, replaced by materialistic goals. Corporations are not interested in sharing or harmonising the world, yet the top US firms are keen to spread their market based culture – fast food rules in a world of mass consumerism and the introduction of the ‘no time’ culture. Reduction of pollution is still not considered as a priority – Statistical arguments hide children that choke from the fumes. The world is hungry and we standby with our declarations of the need for improvement.

Although the media in so many countries paints a picture of gloss, it covers the tracks of reality – the truth is out there and its strokes of pain are taken by barefoot and hungry souls. We need change and it can come from a collaborative approach. We need to break free from the shackles / attitude of ‘we’re Ok and someone will sort it out’ and come to terms with demanding greater priority / accountability from the people we put in power.The latter was written at the very same moment as today’s article.

Consider it our folly that even after 12 months we have seen little progress.

1. There is still suffering in Dafur – even though documentaries have highlighted the issue
2. The Iraq situation is still causing innocent causalities
3. The Israel / Palestine issue is still out of control
4. Pollution strategies are still unclear (pardon the pun)!
5. Spirituality seems to be replaced by the Spectre of celebrity!?

Let us all dream, hope and inspire ourselves to make the world a better place by exercising our personal power as consumers !

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