The COP17 Conference on Climate Change begins on Monday in Durban. All over our landscape, especially in Durban, green projects are springing up like the first shoots gracing our mielie (corn) fields. After all, the delegates must have something to look at, and we certainly need something to boast about.
People will dance, and celebrate, and eat, and earn Oscars in political correctness and green embellishment, and when everyone finally leaves, it'll be back to business as usual.
Once again we've got our hands on a serious issue, which we'll use to try and enhance our rather diminishing standing in the world, and then, when it all comes to an end, we'll toss it out like a used up toy.
Call me a cynic, I really don't mind, but South Africa is as far from green as Cairo is from Cape Town, and that's not stretching it. Apart from so much else, simply look at the country's rivers and it's coal-powered electricity plants, and you'll know this to be true.
We've become masters of disguise and deception. We can talk about our glorious democracy, yet begin a process of pushing through a secrecy bill which assaults the very fibre of our democratic living and practice. We can talk about our deep concern for the poor, but personal enrichment surges on, even more so with those in power, who hypocritically declare loud and clear their solidarity with the poor. Now, with the Conference on Climate Change being held in our backyard, we've all suddenly become so thoroughly green and environmentally conscious. The charade continues and it's enough to turn your stomach.
Don't get me wrong; COP17 is of immense importance and we look forward to all its crucial deliberations. I also hope that Asad Rehman's dream of establishing a global climate justice movement to put pressure on world leaders to act, comes to fruition. But, hell, let's stop the play acting and call a spade a spade. After all, it's the only way real change takes place.
People will dance, and celebrate, and eat, and earn Oscars in political correctness and green embellishment, and when everyone finally leaves, it'll be back to business as usual.Once again we've got our hands on a serious issue, which we'll use to try and enhance our rather diminishing standing in the world, and then, when it all comes to an end, we'll toss it out like a used up toy.
Call me a cynic, I really don't mind, but South Africa is as far from green as Cairo is from Cape Town, and that's not stretching it. Apart from so much else, simply look at the country's rivers and it's coal-powered electricity plants, and you'll know this to be true.
We've become masters of disguise and deception. We can talk about our glorious democracy, yet begin a process of pushing through a secrecy bill which assaults the very fibre of our democratic living and practice. We can talk about our deep concern for the poor, but personal enrichment surges on, even more so with those in power, who hypocritically declare loud and clear their solidarity with the poor. Now, with the Conference on Climate Change being held in our backyard, we've all suddenly become so thoroughly green and environmentally conscious. The charade continues and it's enough to turn your stomach.
Don't get me wrong; COP17 is of immense importance and we look forward to all its crucial deliberations. I also hope that Asad Rehman's dream of establishing a global climate justice movement to put pressure on world leaders to act, comes to fruition. But, hell, let's stop the play acting and call a spade a spade. After all, it's the only way real change takes place.
Will there be at least a few token protesters, to call attention to the hypocrisy?
ReplyDeleteThere are plans afoot and it'll happen. Going to be interesting.
ReplyDelete...i think as long as we continue to feed the massive machinery of production/consumption then there really is no credibility to the discussion...im wondering what might facilitate a pardigm shift or turning in our thinking/behavior...maybe a cataclysmic Global economic collapse/depression might could do for us what we cannot do for ourselves....
ReplyDeleteSo True. When a particular kind of consciousness refuses to change, the very consequences it persistently generates, ultimately, becomes the means by which it is changed. We just need to look at history to see the truth in that.
ReplyDelete