We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore LappĂ©, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The other debt crisis: Climate debt (23:27m video)

This is the best presentation I have seen of the issues dealt with at the recent climate change conference in Bolivia. Avi Lewis presents an in-depth look at Bolivian's perspective on the issue which is informed by graphic evidence all around them of the effects of climate change. The Bolivians also have a new strategy that they will offer to ameliorate the crisis at the next climate change conference in Cancun.