In reaction to this article.
Business As Usual?
The new scapegoat or point of accusing inaction being Trump, this is a distraction, from what we need to be reminded of. We do not have to look far past our own doorsteps to witness the continued inactivity in implementing a swift transition to a low carbon economy. Political inaction, tinkering around the fringes, persisting with out dated thinking, continued consultations are all still the names of political games of delay. From twenty five years of fighting a new M4 bypass, with as yet no fully functioning affordable, reliable public transport system that's logically interconnected to prioritised cycling and walking infrastructure (active travel). To 'new fossil fuels' extraction, fracking, open cast coal mining, blanket monoculture, fossil fuel emissions, local authority and government pensions that are still invested in fossil fuels. Single use plastics flowing down our rivers, leaving our beaches and busting our sea life ecology, whilst re entering our food chain as micro plastics. Packaging is gushing out of global super markets, that the short sighted local authority gave the planning of; that then decimates your local economy, your local High St. Whilst the 'supermarket' globally transported factory farmed foods, loaded with fertilisers, antibiotics and pesticides enters our communities. Their drive for profit, degrading and eroding soils of their fertility and ability to lock-in carbon, here and abroad, with enormous waste, whilst others starve. All of these are still subjects of long term campaigning and activism.
This is the current 'real' picture, and I will of missed plenty.
In regards to Wales, you might point at the odd community garden, or a few community energy projects, community woodlands or farms, or high recycling targets achieved (when reduce and reuse are the first two rules of resource depletion and environmental impact). Why have so many's energies been piled into countering political inaction, all to end up with May and Trump as our bed fellows, to further exacerbate the perfect climate change storm?
Some of you might of seen the Transition film 'Tomorrow' that demonstrated all of the working models to move away from our unsustainable culture. Right across the political portfolio there are models of sustainability, from health to education, energy, economy and travel. All and more studied, measured against results and viability.
We all have an innate sense, or a hovering instinct to be grasped to in-act what has to be done, but we still are looking to leadership to deliver the road map. Like any addiction planetary consumerism is tuff drug to kick, especially when the powers that be are doing all that they can to keep us hooked; akin to dealers supporting their own money orientated, power thirsty habit. Does happiness lie within being too busy to act, to lend hands, share campaigns, all just maintaining the 'status quo'. Is the majority left to perpetually feed an unsustainable spiral, barely remembering to look up at the stars to be reminded of our sense of place? Our place is, to be in ore of what we have been given, the privilege to sit upon this beautiful life giving dot in a vast universe. Thus far we know of no other.
Where does true happiness lie, within strong connected, healthy, valued communities, thriving alongside a vibrant flourishing eco system? This is recognised in principle within the Wales Future Generations Act, which after decades of campaigning has been instated into Welsh law. Now those words on paper have to be translated into action. Wales can Transition too a low carbon self sustaining, happy, climate resilient, inclusive, educated, democratically empowered nation, but primarily regardless of your politics it will be your questioning voice and actions that make it happen. Politics does answer to you, if your collective voice is big enough, you collectively can set the tone, create the zeitgeist. Do not allow politics and private interests control you, at yours, and future generations expense. Welsh government is beening heralded international as being progressive because of the #WFGAct (Twitter hash Tag - Wales Future Generations Act)
“What Wales is doing today we hope the world will do tomorrow – action more than words is the hope for our future generations”
Nikhil Seth | Head of Sustainable Development, United Nations
It will be so much more, if at every turn you check your councillors and Assembly Members against it. As still the majority of them are not up to speed with the thinking that created it.
Well how did 'we' get here? We can't just blame politicians, as, really, on paper they do answer to us, but we are allowing them to get away with blue planet murder. In the grand scale of things the planet will heal, my personal point of consolidation, but this will be after it has evicted enough of its unwanted inhabitants. When you read a council election ward newsletter, does it mention how your candidates are creating a safe future for future generations, are your current leaders in power, driving a new vision for Wales which...
"...requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change."
If not why not...are they still not up to speed with the kind of thing we urgently need? Some words from Wales' 'Future Generations Commissioner' Sophie Howe
Business as usual has to change now...and for me, we have to deal with our doorstep. What is our 'unique selling point' to sell to the world? The quality of our environment, restore it, and the rest will fall into place. Then we will truly be that model of sustainability that many will eventually wish to emulate. Can we do that whilst tethered to an energy policy that is Theresa May's of whom wishes to hold the hand of a climate change denier. To create sustainable, empowered resilient communities is to do it now, there isn't a later.