Can we find unity in the fight for a stable climate?
What's the one value that we all share AND how can we package it so that we stop fighting amongst ourselves?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the best way to bring about change. In my most recent article I argue that capitalism is too toxic to lead us to a solution…but what if we could harness it? What if we could “lead” capitalism into doing the work that we wanted it to do? Let’s face it, you can always find a fight but maybe in this case, with our small window of time…there could be another way. Maybe there’s a pathway to a stable climate - somewhere between full steam ahead using deregulated capitalism OR tearing it all down and starting with a new system of commerce?
This question got me thinking about the fable from when I was a kid.
The wind and the sun are talking about who is more powerful when they see a traveller walking. He’s wearing a coat. They decide that whoever can make the traveller take of his coat first would be the winner.
The Wind began, and blew with all his might - cold and fierce - but the stronger he blew the tighter the traveler wrapped his coat around him.
Then out came the Sun. It beamed down and dispersed the cold. The warmth enveloped the traveler; overcome with heat, he sat down and cast his coat on the ground.
And as the story goes, the sun was the winner, and it has ever been deemed that persuasion is better than force; and that the sunshine in a kind and gentle manner, is the best path to opening a man’s heart.
So what’s the sun in our current challenge?
Is there a way to protect the climate, so that in the process, everyone gets what they want? Everyone is able to get well compensated using their specialized skills, as they work towards a common goal?
What’s the unifying goal that connects all humans? How can we get everyone on board despite their different worldviews?
The answer to this riddle - is human health - it unites us all. But how do we package it so that we can build a unified front to protect our climate?
Please share you thoughts. There is a pathway - we just need to find it!
Warm Regards,
Brad
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In answer to your questions:
Is there a way everyone is able to get well compensated using their specialized skills, as they work towards a common goal?
- Universal basic income?
What’s the unifying goal that connects all humans?
- most humans want to see their children prosper, not experience famine, war, heatwaves, societal collapse. Not all, but most.
How can we get everyone on board despite their different worldviews?
- we won’t. But thankfully there are more people who will be better off under a different economic framework than there are people who are benefiting from this system. We need to harness these people, the numbers are on our side.
I am afraid human health is much too narrow and anthropogenic centred. It needs to specifically include the health of the biosphere, because without a function biosphere there is no future for the human race on this planet. Of course, in a sense the health of the biosphere is implicit in promoting long-term human health, but it is too indirect to be effective in my opinion. However, think about unifying goal that unites everybody to work in the same direction is a brilliant idea. It also makes sense from a systemic perspective. Whatever, that idea might be, I think it will turn out to be completely incompatible with capitalism. Perhaps, the concept of ‘furthering the general good / interest’ as a guiding objective for all organisations could fulfil that role.