[Newfie]

At least a few of us here believe strongly the world is a mess and our BAU is pushing us to disaster, if not extinction.

What to do? If we do nothing then this is all rhetoric and conjecture, meaningless.

Not a great idea, a rumination perhaps, but this crowd funding thing got me thinking.

What if we did a crowd sourced open letter to TPTB to tell them to knock it off. To start showing some leadership on the problems we face.

I don't like all the various organizations that lobby, I don't think they are very effective for the money spent.

But a simple crowd sourced statement, a petition that could be signed and forwarded. Maybe a place on the Internet where we could each go and state our disgust with the situation.

"WE THE PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY RECOGNIZE THE OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF HUMANITY CONTINUING ON ITS ORESENT COURSE OF OVER COMSUMPTION AND RESOURCE DEPLETION WHICH IS FEEDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUTTING ALL OF EARTHS LIVING ORGANIAIMS AT WORK.

THE ISSUES FACING HUMANITY AND EARTH IN LARGE ARE EXTREAMLY DIFFICLUT. OUR LEADERSHIP HAS COLLECTIVELY IGNORED THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES AND FOCUSED INSTEAD UPON RETAINING THE BUISNESS AS USUAL MODEL WHILE LOOKING BUSY DEALING WITH LESSOR ISSUES. WHILE THE ISSUES ARE HARD YOU HAVE STOOD UP AS OUR LEADERS AND PROMISED TO HANDLE THESE PROBLEMS. YOU HAVE NOT.

THE BELOW SIGNED INDIVIDUALS, AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS, WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUTABLE FOR THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME.

DEAL WITH IT."

Just a suggested statement.

Is such a crowd sourced petition possible?

[Newfie]

Don't all rush in at once now.

[Pops]

"I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter..."

LoL, we need to address the letter to ourselves: we are the overconsumers, we are the resource depleters, we are the ones seeking business as usual — us, here on this site — we are the powers the be.

[Plantagenet]

A crowd sourced letter (i.e a petition) entreating the world's leaders to do something about climate change, overpopulation and resource depletion is a great idea.

Of course there are existing organizations already working on these problems. I'm a member of 350.org and you might consider coordinating your planned petition with them. 350.org will even help you organize a petition campaign ---- they've got a web page at their site where people and groups can put their petitions on line in order to publicize them.

Just go to: petition campaigns.350.org

CHEERS!

[SeaGypsy]

Did you guys get the news a few days ago about a Netherlands Citizens group just successfully took the Gov to court over climate change targets?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33253772

[kanon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he judgment was unprecedented in Europe, and unexpected. It pushes the Dutch government to honour its commitment to cut emissions.
In terms of the practical implementation, the government has already agreed to close coal plants, increase the use of windmills and solar energy and drastically reduce gas extractions in the north of the country.
The court case puts pressure on the government to speed up the process in order to meet the targets and become more energy efficient within the next five years.
The judgment is legally binding, and based on "Tort Law" - a general and universal concept which essentially refers to a duty to refrain from causing harm.
. . . .
The Dutch government can appeal to a higher court and it is not clear yet how the ruling will be enforced.

[kanon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '&')quot;I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter..."

LoL, we need to address the letter to ourselves: we are the overconsumers, we are the resource depleters, we are the ones seeking business as usual — us, here on this site — we are the powers the be.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kanon', 'I') don't want to downplay personal responsibility, but it is just plain wrong to say that "we are the powers that be."

[kanon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '
')Every day you vote with your dollars and actions to perpetuate "TPTB". As long as you excuse yourself from any responsibility I'm pretty sure they are going to continue on their merry way.

Newf's letter or any letter that does not have a bargaining chip attached means nothing—saying you aren't happy about the way the cake is baked (but are gonna continue eating it) really isn't much of a statement.

[ROCKMAN]

" So it is not only a matter of voting with dollars and actions, one has to vote with a ballot as well..." Which is exactly what the American public has been doing all along and why the situation is as it is today. Or do you mean they should vote the way you would prescribe? Good luck with that wish. LOL.

Your personal efforts are fine and should be acknowledged. Unfortunately they have zero effect on the system. At least you can take some comfort from your actions. But that's all you get for your efforts.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ROCKMAN', '&')quot; So it is not only a matter of voting with dollars and actions, one has to vote with a ballot as well..." Which is exactly what the American public has been doing all along and why the situation is as it is today. Or do you mean they should vote the way you would prescribe? Good luck with that wish. LOL.

Your personal efforts are fine and should be acknowledged. Unfortunately they have zero effect on the system. At least you can take some comfort from your actions. But that's all you get for your efforts.

[kanon]

Voter participation has been in a steady decline Voting and Registration. Maybe Newfie's letter would help reverse the trend.


(Wish I could resize the image) I don't want to go on about it, but gerrymandering, electronic balloting, campaign finance, and negative advertizing all have an adverse effect. In many elections less than 20% of registered voters make a majority of ballots cast. My policy is to vote for Green Party candidates.

[Pops]

Common public opinion is pretty well just what has been laid out:

it is Their fault
why should I be a martyr?
doesn't matter anyway

dd I miss anything?

[Lore]

When things get nasty, everyone wants to shout it from the roof tops. People have been coddled into this false sence of security. That is until things really start affecting them personally.

The U.S. citizenry was against getting involved in WWII as well until the Japanese bombed Perl Harbor. They were more than content to watch the conflict from afar.

[Newfie]

Perhaps my statement was too subtle, although I have seldom been condemned of that crime.

One should read it and wonder if they hear a street level rebellion in the offing.

Perhaps it requires some modification, beyond my poor spealing.

[ralfy]

Related:

"1992 World Scientists' Warning to Humanity"

http://www.ucsusa.org/about/1992-world-scientists.html

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'C')ommon public opinion is pretty well just what has been laid out:

it is Their fault
why should I be a martyr?
doesn't matter anyway

dd I miss anything?

[americandream]

And a 5th one. Its a function of history.

[Newfie]

Apparently you are more likely to receive Good Samaritan help if only one person is around. If many folks are around, then receiving help is less likely. Everyone assumes Someone else will do it.

That is why I tried to write the statement as I did.

It is personal, and requires no further immediate action. It is simply stating a fact, "At some point the populace will get tired of the BS and bring out the pitch forks."

It's a way to tell the "leaders" off.

I don't like tying it to 350 or anything else.

Just as straight and simple as possible.

I just don't have the tools to do it.

[ROCKMAN]

Lore - "That is just a matter of time Rock. The public runs from pillar to post and it only takes a few events to change popular opinion 180." So true. But do I have to run down the very long list of all the terrible events associated with energy production/consumption and then ask if collectively there haven't been enough "events" to sway voter attitudes to more sane approaches what do you envision happening that will? Especially in the face of lower oil prices: the public will flock towards the alts? They'll buy less motor fuel? They build fewer homes? They'll stop having babies? They'll take fewer commercial airline flights? Etc.

The fossil fuel consumer public is happier about the energy situation today then they have been for about 10 years...what positive changes in attitudes are you expecting?