Read the news. The. World. Is. A. Disaster.
But, according to President Obama, “the world’s always been messy … we’re just noticing now in part because of social media.” #what?
I guess, since Facebook and Twitter weren’t around, the folks who lived through World War I, World War II, and the Cold War never noticed those messy events.
Be that as it may, even with all of the “messes” going on in the world, many leaders are taking a day to catch up in New York City at the UN Climate Summit, scheduled for September 23.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders … to galvanize and catalyze climate action. He has asked these leaders to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015. #Climate2014
To translate this quote into normal English:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders … to create a world in which the developed nations agree to pass their wealth to developing (or not developing) nations (or the thugs who rule them) in exchange for reduced greenhouse gas emissions (even though regulations are way out of bounds now and have only negative effects).
The result will be severe damage to the people, economies, and environments of developed nations (both with the cost of ridiculous emissions regulations and with redistribution of wealth), and to the people, economies, and environments of developing nations (continued prohibitive cost of electricity, high food and healthcare costs, etc). #quotestoliveby
In addition to busy world leaders taking time out of their busy schedules to attend this meeting, many environmental organizations are planning street marches and demonstrations to bring attention to the plight of the planet. Included in this conglomeration of groups is the Climate Justice Alliance, who, according to their flyer, are marching to: “Stop Capitalism. End the Climate Crises.” #floodwallstreet
President Obama, as a leader on the environmental policy world stage, is using this summit to work towards a “politically binding” international agreement on fossil-fuel emissions. He knows a legally binding climate treaty will never be passed by Congress, thus the attempt to go around the legal representatives of the people to get what he wants. #again?
But, clearly not everyone agrees with President Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the importance of this summit. The President of China (world’s #1 carbon dioxide emitter) and the Prime Minister of India are not attending. Maybe they have better things to do—like pursue abundant, affordable, reliable energy to lift their people out of poverty?
What could a world leader possibly find to do that is more important than the UN Climate Summit?
Two American journalists were recently beheaded by #ISIS, which has been massacring Yazidis, Christians, and just about anyone else they get the itch to kill for months now.
Russia annexed Crimea and continues to foment war in #Ukraine, including supporting rebels who shot down an #airplane with 298 people on board.
More than 191,000 people have died in the #Syrian Civil War since 2011.
Nigeria’s Boko Haram continues to kidnap, murder, and enslave, while also forcing kidnapped children to kill others. #bringbackourgirls
This list could go on and on and on.
But, since our dear leaders are having a little chat about the #climatecrisis at the end of this month, maybe they should discuss a real crisis, energy poverty.
1.3 billion people live without electricity. 4.3 million (mostly women and children) die every year due to respiratory problems from cooking fires. President Obama, Western “green” countries, and the World Bank oppose coal as an energy source, dooming people in developing countries to continue to live in extreme poverty, and die. #notafirstworldproblem
There is, indeed, energy poverty within developed nations as well, and it is rising, but it takes different forms than that of the developing world. With rising energy prices, many poorer Westerners cannot afford to heat their homes in the winter. A 2011 study showed that 2,700 people died per year in the UK alone from cold exposure due to high energy prices, and that number was expected to rise. Alas, the expectation was met. The number rose to 24,000 in the winter of 2011–2012, and 31,000 in 2012–2013. #firstworldproblems
Plenty of world problems require attention. People are dying all over the world in a myriad of horrible ways. None are dying from catastrophic climate change. Climates change. They have always changed. They will always change. It’s a slow process; people adapt.
Since it is impossible for people to know about world events without social media, suggested hashtags for sharing this article are as follows: #ClimateSummit #EnergyPoverty #ISIS #Obama #Golf.
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