Rasta Reflects On Al Gore Climate Project
Fresh from the cold grey streets of Melbourne I am reflecting on three days I spent within Al Gore's Climate Project training program aimed at sending out climate change messengers into our community. The intention is to inform the public, and inspire action amongst our society to reduce our negative impact upon the environment. I missed smoking waves to be a part of this course, but I am super grateful to have been able to hear the worlds leading environmental scientists, economists and climate change leaders brief me and 299 other people on how best we can go out into our areas of expertise and inform the public on the science of climate change, and how we can collectively curb our destructive ways.
I learnt that as an ''average Australian'' I pollute the environment around me five times more than the ''average Chinese'' person and sixteen times more than the 'average Indian'' person.
There is no longer a debate on the reality of human caused climate change, the worlds leading scientists are all in agreeance that we are having a measurable effect on the world around us via carbon emissions. The proof of this can be seen in the recent weather events around the world. Australia was simultaneously burning and drowning earlier this year in record temperatures and water levels. Increased cyclone activity, global droughts and flooding are occurring every month. It is a sad irony that the countries who are least responsible for human induced climate change are the ones already suffering the most from its severity. Developing countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh have been overwhelmed by storm and flood events in recent years.
I learnt that we have all the available technology and plans in place to change humanities toxic ways, as Al Gore says '' we have enough technology and understanding to solve three climate crises, all we have to do is solve one''! All we need now is our political leaders to step up and implement the necessary changes in environmental policy that see our co2 levels drop dramatically.
It was shown that we are in a very important time in history where our worlds leaders are now at least discussing the climate change issue at G8 Summits, like recently in Italy. Their movement on the issue is very slow, but at least there is movement. Another gathering of world leaders occurs in Copenhagen in December. This is where we can direct public pressure on our national leaders to follow what the worlds leading scientists are urging us to do and take instant action to reduce each of our nations emission levels and negative impacts upon our environment.
As caring individuals we can make a difference by writing to our political leaders urging them to take action. The following gives an outline of what we want our government to do.
As a first step the Federal and State Governments should lay out a national plan of action. We need to commit to dramatic cuts in greenhouse pollution by at least 30 per cent by 2020 and 80-90 per cent by 2050 and to put a price on pollution. At the moment there is no charge for polluting the atmosphere and that has to stop. Putting a price on pollution will encourage companies to be more energy smart and make sure future electricity comes from clean energy sources. This is done in different parts of the world through an emissions trading scheme and/or carbon levy.
More options for taking action are available at www.acfonline.org.au/climateproject
With gratitude,
Dave Rastovich
I learnt that as an ''average Australian'' I pollute the environment around me five times more than the ''average Chinese'' person and sixteen times more than the 'average Indian'' person.
There is no longer a debate on the reality of human caused climate change, the worlds leading scientists are all in agreeance that we are having a measurable effect on the world around us via carbon emissions. The proof of this can be seen in the recent weather events around the world. Australia was simultaneously burning and drowning earlier this year in record temperatures and water levels. Increased cyclone activity, global droughts and flooding are occurring every month. It is a sad irony that the countries who are least responsible for human induced climate change are the ones already suffering the most from its severity. Developing countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh have been overwhelmed by storm and flood events in recent years.
I learnt that we have all the available technology and plans in place to change humanities toxic ways, as Al Gore says '' we have enough technology and understanding to solve three climate crises, all we have to do is solve one''! All we need now is our political leaders to step up and implement the necessary changes in environmental policy that see our co2 levels drop dramatically.
It was shown that we are in a very important time in history where our worlds leaders are now at least discussing the climate change issue at G8 Summits, like recently in Italy. Their movement on the issue is very slow, but at least there is movement. Another gathering of world leaders occurs in Copenhagen in December. This is where we can direct public pressure on our national leaders to follow what the worlds leading scientists are urging us to do and take instant action to reduce each of our nations emission levels and negative impacts upon our environment.
As caring individuals we can make a difference by writing to our political leaders urging them to take action. The following gives an outline of what we want our government to do.
As a first step the Federal and State Governments should lay out a national plan of action. We need to commit to dramatic cuts in greenhouse pollution by at least 30 per cent by 2020 and 80-90 per cent by 2050 and to put a price on pollution. At the moment there is no charge for polluting the atmosphere and that has to stop. Putting a price on pollution will encourage companies to be more energy smart and make sure future electricity comes from clean energy sources. This is done in different parts of the world through an emissions trading scheme and/or carbon levy.
More options for taking action are available at www.acfonline.org.au/climateproject
With gratitude,
Dave Rastovich
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20th Jul 2009 |
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Lovin the Rasta Summer 09 collection, looking forward to picking up some boardies soon