There are days when I despair for the human species. There is compelling evidence that we need to make major changes to the way we live if we are to avoid catatrophic collapse in the coming decades. Yet our leaders fail us at every turn, clinging to a 'business as usual' paradigm - no foresight, no vision, seemingly no idea. But worse, people everywhere seem not to care. Sure, many are just trying to get through their busy lives, to make ends meet and to pay the mortgage. But many others are actively in denial. As a good friend of mine wryly quips, 'they've got it coming'.
The level of political debate is depressing. No one seems to expect a reasoned argument and certainly few are able to put one forward - on any issue, let alone the most important issues concerning our survival. The media are mostly 'missing in action'. In politics, everyone seems to be only interested in what's in it for them - and I don't just mean the politicians. The concept of the 'public good' has been abandoned in favour of individual self interest. The tragedy of the commons now not only applies to the natural environment but to so-called democratic institutions.
So what is one to do? At times I become defeatest and even selfish. I accept that it's going to get very ugly and focus on what my wife and I can do to ensure we can live out the remainder of our lives in as much comfort as possible. As we don't have children, I sometimes wonder why I should be concerned for the coming generations. But in addition to friends and relations who will be here after we're gone, there's the existential need to do something towards ensuring the survival of the species.
I began this journey more than a decade ago when I started reading and researching these issues. Soon afterwards I was sufficiently motivated to stand for parliament, thinking that the Greens were the answer. Perhaps they still are (certainly none of the other political parties have a clue), but involvement in the political system was frustrating, in part because the electorate and media were really not interested in reasoned debate. It turned out to be much more effective to work with people who were prepared to examine issues in depth and listen to reasoned arguments. If they happened to be influential, all the better, a case in point being my discussion with Andrew McNamara that lead to him being the first mainstream Australian politician to speak out on peak oil.
My position as a lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland allowed me to research these topics more fully and to actually develop and teach a course on sustainability issues. Academic rigour demanded that I adequately research all the information, and to not make outrageous claims. I have found that by presenting clear information and reasoned arguments to students that they quickly come to understand the gravity of the situation. Most students soon realise, as I have, that the political situation will only change when there is a critical mass of people who understand the seriousness of our predicament. As such, education is the key to our survival. But education is not just formal courses but also the many informal learning opportunities in which people may engage. Hence my desire to spread the word through this blog.
Of course there are many other somewhat similar blogs, not to mention numerous books, documentaries and the like. So what do I have to offer that is different? Perhaps not much, although I believe I am able to convey big picture issues to people in simple terms. My science background and systems thinking abilities certainly allow me to see that big picture all too clearly. But perhaps above all, by writing a blog I hope to reach a new and different audience, initially based around family, friends and acquaintances, as well as adding some more fodder to the search engines that may allow others to find my words of wisdom. Every person who reads far enough to 'get it' is another one on the path to that all important critical mass.
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