Sep 09 2007
Climate Change Solutions: Beyond Science and Above Confines
Cyrano’s Journal Online and its semi-autonomous subsections (Thomas Paine’s Corner, The Greanville Journal, CJO Avenger, and VoxPop) would be delighted to periodically email you links to the most recent material and timeless classics available on our diverse and comprehensive site. If you would like to subscribe, type “CJO subscription” in the subject line and send your email to
By Abdul Basit
9/8/07
Despite the vast research and debates about solutions to global warming and climate change, most of these solutions are confined to science and scientific research. The recent developments in the field of bio-fuels, solar energy, wind energy, Geo Engineering and other fields have indeed provided solutions in reducing the carbon emission. But we have to go beyond the greenhouse carbon emissions and address the environmental issues in totality. Over the past few years, we have come across many new vocabularies due to climate change like Ozone hole depletion, Global warming, CO 2 Emission, acid rain, tsunamis, bush fires, soil erosion and others, most of which were unheard of to the generations prior to that of ours.
Science only deals with the immediate issues and does not see the whole picture. Here we have to take into account the possible natural and man made tipping points and the chain reactions that will follow. So only addressing greenhouse gas emissions without taking into account the total environmental crisis will complicate problems further and will only add new terms to the ever increasing vocabulary of environmental problems.
So the important question is whether the search for solutions should be confined only to science or is a concern beyond the realm of science alone.
Beyond Science
The recent research has undoubtedly confirmed that the human factor is the major reason for the climate change, including natural calamities, melting glaciers, rising seas, droughts, floods, extinction of many animal and plant species, dwindling water resources and reduced output of agricultural products. Since this crisis involves the question of the very existence of mankind and the habitability of the earth, the solution should not be confined to science; it is much beyond. Hence along with scientific research, we require political, religious, ideological, cultural, philosophical, economic, social and intellectual coordination.
Secondly, since the human factor is the main reason for climate change, the transformation in the method of lifestyle and concepts of economic development required are much beyond the scope of science. Most solutions provided by scientific research are very limited in scope (i.e. to fill up our automobile tanks with bio fuels instead of fossil fuels). Such solutions will only aggravate the crises and create new problems. What we need is a total transformation from what we have hitherto followed. This transformation requires the eradication of the basic concept of a materialistic way of life and the vigorous pursuit of wealth. This can only be achieved by cultivating moral and spiritual values among the society and by replacing materialistic pursuits with holistic and simple ways of life. For this transformation, we have to utilize all the resources at mankind’s disposal in order to overcome this existential crisis.
Hurdles
Below are some of the issues we have to address on the path to total transformation:
a) How can we instigate a transformation in lifestyle when the identity of every individual is evaluated by his bank balance and his money earning capacity?
b) How can we take hard decisions when instead of through love and mutual respect, family and social relationships are maintained by luxurious objects like concrete bungalows, limousines and electronic gadgets that are the very polluters of the environment?
c) How can we convince the common people about change when their livelihood is reliant on the very companies and corporations that are polluting the environment?
d) How can we persuade the leaders and governments to implement policies when the support of these leaders and governments rests on the funds and assistance of these big business houses?
e) How can the religious and ideological leadership instigate change and transformation in the society when they are part and parcel of the very ruling establishment which is responsible for the corruption and excesses?
f) How can we persuade nations when their only motive is to attract foreign investment in massive industrial and commercial projects?
Economic Issues
As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the cold war and the creation of a uni-polar world with unchallenged dominance of the USA over world affairs, the capitalistic model of economic development became virtually unquestioned and universally accepted. As a result, many countries like Communist China under Deng Xiaopeng and non-aligned countries like India under Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, jumped into the capitalist bandwagon and whole-heartedly embraced their model of economic development. Due to this, they started competing with USA in polluting the environment. This universally accepted model of economic development is the greatest hindrance in the fight against climate change and this has to be addressed at the political and ideological level.
Secondly, as we all know, the Earth provides nearly all of our basic needs, like food, clean air and drinking water—the essentials to sustain life on earth. At the same time most of the products provided by corporations are either luxurious or cosmetic. After the Industrial Revolution and the development in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, we were introduced to new products and requirements that ultimately became a necessity. As consumerism and market competition amplified, the over-exploitation of natural resources to manufacture these products also increased. These industrial items that made our life easy and comfortable but are not a necessity are the main polluters of the environment. So in effect we have been producing and consuming these unwanted cosmetic and consumer items to the detriment of basic needs that are essential to sustain life on earth. We can sustain life without these industrial products. But can we risk our very existence by wasting the basic requirements to sustain life on these unnecessary industrial commodities, especially when mankind lived thousands of years before Industrial Revolution without these fancy products? This is one of the major aspects of economy that has to be addressed through policy decisions and intellectual awareness.
Imbalance
The spiritual and creative hollowness that man is facing due to materialistic pursuit has created a great imbalance in his life. This in turn has affected the relationships between the members of society, one another, and nature. So the major role of religious, ideological and spiritual organizations is to guide mankind to both a spiritually and materially fulfilled life.
But Which Religion and which Ideology?
I don’t think Earth has the capacity to face another conflict to answer this question by any further clash of civilizations or religions.
Since we are facing an existential crisis of humanity as a whole, this crisis provides a rare opportunity for people from all faiths, ideologies, races and nations to unite to counter the threat of global warming and climate change. A marginal group cannot solve this crisis of global proportion. All the religious, ideological and national leaders should come together and unite to address this international emergency and make the necessary transformation to guide humanity out of this crisis. Moreover, these leaders should guide their followers within their respective confines to a sustainable and eco-friendly way of life.
Secondly, throughout the Twentieth and current centuries we have seen leaders who have left a trail of destruction to humanity and the environment with their arrogant and authoritarian policies and wars. The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been part of this ongoing trail of destruction. And to further complicate matters, the anticipated attack on the nuclear facilities in Iran by the self-proclaimed “apostle of Democracy” will be one of the greatest human tipping points. After this we are looking at the real possibility of the extinction of life on Earth. Who amongst us wants to get eradicated unceremoniously by the foolish action of this ‘democratic’ dictator who is trying to promote his self-styled and ill-conceived democracy at the peril of the very existence of mankind? By the time he implements his agenda there will be no being on Earth. So we have to prevent this attack at all costs for the future and well being of mankind and world peace.
The world must ensure that humanity is led by visionaries with strong moral and humane qualities who are concerned for the well being of mankind as a whole and its welfare. The recent awards conferred to Al-Gore by a remote tribe in Eastern India provide a glimmer of hope that there are some people at the top with awareness about the crisis humanity is facing. This award conferred by these distinctive and original people to him for his work in spreading awareness about global warming and climate change and the documentary ‘The Inconvenient Truth’, are more valuable than the extravagant awards that are held in glittering ceremonies at world capitals.
To conclude, the present crisis we are facing due to climate change is one of the rare moments in the history of mankind in which the survival of the whole of humanity is at stake. Many civilizations and cultures were destroyed earlier, but never on a global scale. In this hour of crisis, let us unite as one human community and face the challenges together. Let the leaders of all the communities, scientists, artists, academics, intellectuals, philosophers, poets, musicians, sportsmen along with the world populace come together and save humanity. Let us thank the Almighty creator for bestowing this beautiful earth for mankind. Let us convey our gratitude to this glorious planet for allowing the human race to develop, prosper and spread on its magnificent and diverse landscape. These beautiful landscapes and favorable climates allowed many diverse civilizations and cultures to flourish for thousand of years. In the end, let us all celebrate the unity of mankind before life gets extinguished.
This is the last in a series of articles. My earlier articles are:
‘Manifesto to counter global warming and climate change’
‘ Obstacles to counter global warming and climate change’
You may send your comments and feed back in the below email address:
.
We at Cyrano’s and Thomas Paine’s Corner need your help! Our editors and writers work hard to provide you with the most original and diverse progressive content on the Internet. We are fiercely determined to provide enough people with a sound political education so that, in authentic democratic fashion, the will not only liberate their minds, but eventually cure the economic and moral disease afflicting our nation.
We derive no financial remuneration for our efforts to build a social order based on justice, democracy, compassion, and humanity. Isn’t that your desire as well? In fact, it costs us money to maintain our Internet presence.
If each of you donated a mere $5 a month—a trifling sum these days, the price of pack of smokes or a fancy beer—we would have enough money to cover our overhead, upgrade our server capacity, expand our audio offerings, and begin to provide you with compelling video content.
By helping us in this fashion you will be assisting the birth of a new type of American democracy, one which, genuinely rooted in the ideals we profess to honor, will finally measure up to its promise.
For you, for us, for everything that you think needs defending, make a donation that fits your budget today by clicking
So long as our economic system is build on a perpetual growth model, we are in trouble, however more specifically, regarding,
“c) How can we convince the common people about change when their livelihood is reliant on the very companies and corporations that are polluting the environment?”
clearly if we are to change gears we need to change the above reality, that is, we need to have people’s
retirement security NOT depend on a perpetually-exponentially-growing stock market. You can’t ask people to commit financial suicide to save the planet (or you can, but our chances aren’t good). See
our proposal
A Workable Transition to Democratic Retirement Systems
at
http://economicdemocracy.org/democraticretire.html
which itself is part of
http://economicdemocracy.org/alternatives-to-wallst.html