Low impact people in a low impact nation

Like many of my columns in the past suggested, we in Sri Lanka, together with several of our Asian partners are solidly placed at a vantage point to present to the rest of the world a strong model for alternate living. We indeed can present, lead and promote a low-carbon consuming socio-cultural and economic order based on self-reliance in producing our own food and other essentials, like our leadership has begun to take on now. In so doing, we can amend our own ways in paying more attention to protecting our green and forest covers even growing it further with a complete stop to illegal logging and clearing of forest areas. We, as people and a nation, can focus on a less-greed centred sufficiency economy model as an alternative to the current dominant western cultural model which thrives on excesses, offering unlimited choice and promotes greed and selfish ways of living. We can demonstrate that it is indeed possible to be different for ensuring sustainability and move on to present its merits to the rest of the world.

Stop being slaves

We must stop being blind slaves of dominant cultural beliefs and learn to be defiantly proud and content in driving our own ways of linking with the global economy, deciding on where, how and what will create a sustainable world for every citizen on planet Earth. We must take on a process of being carbon neutral, perhaps within a decade, through the practice of our own mitigative ways within our country first and seek to lead by demonstration, that it be so within our own region.

We need to make those who have been carbon inefficient in the past and those who go on polluting now pay, but not sell ourselves into schemes designed to avoid paying penalties or continue to maintain unsustainable and inefficient lifestyles, such as through 'innovations' the likes of carbon-offset share exchanges.

No more recipes

Just the other day, we were referred to a new World Bank's Development Report (WDR)which identified that there was a critical issue facing humankind and even offered directional solutions in terms of mitigating emission levels and presented yet another 'recipe' for the developing countries on what we should be doing. It suggests that developing countries can shift to low-carbon paths in their future development with adequate assistance from the developed countries.

Among some of the statements therein were these; "Grappling with climate shocks that are already hampering development will not be easy. But promising new energy technologies can vastly reduce future greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change. We also need to manage our farms, forests, and water resources to ensure a sustainable future," Rosina Bierbaum, WDR co-director and University Dean of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment.

"The good news is that a climate-smart world is within reach if we work together now to overcome inertia, keep costs down, and modify our energy, food, and risk management systems to ensure a safer future for everybody," WDR co-director and Chief Economist for Sustainable Development at the World Bank Marianne Fay, said.

"There are real opportunities to shape our climate future for an inclusive and sustainable globalization, but we need a new momentum for concerted action on climate issues before it is too late," World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick.

Seek a new model

There was also mentioned that the developed world will need to take on strong mitigative measures as part of the upcoming Copenhagen Round of climate discussions. In my mind, what is missing from the report and the thinking behind it, is recognizing the opportunity the world has today, to shun the failed western dominated model for growth and 'development'. Since this very model was prescribed and promoted during the past few decades by the World Bank and other similar organizations what it would take is a strong and candid look in the mirror. What perhaps the 'developed' countries need to do is to look at, understand and learn from the ways of the past of most 'developing' countries and opt to develop an alternate lifestyle order based on principles outlined by the likes of the Buddha, Gandhi, Schumacher and the King of Thailand.

Duality and dichotomy

Given this huge opportunity, the title of this column is what I suggest we have, as our positioning platform in promoting our nation to the rest of the world, be it for our investment, tourism, export development, promotion of tea or any of the likes. I am sure that some among us will be agitated at the very suggestion that we Sri Lankans should be positioned as 'a low impact people in a low impact nation'. They will argue that we have a glorious history and a heritage dating back to several thousands of years and the potential to become a hugely modernized growth centre, the likes of those we see in the Far-east, the Middle-east and other urban-scapes, especially after we have successfully concluded a war on terror and are well placed to 'make up on lost time'.

A new modernity

I beg to suggest that we recognize and seek to end our own dichotomy of talking about our glorious heritage and past, but choose to seek the ways of a decadent and unsustainable lifestyle of opulence and self-centred advancement.

What we ought to do ourselves is to emulate the ways that made that glorious past sustainable and immensely carbon-efficient. We need to shun our excesses and greed; bring back discipline, the rule of law, end corruption and seek to live in harmony with ourselves and our natural environment. Some might not see such ways as being 'modern'. But let me urge you to ponder again and seek in your mind's eye, the 'new modernity' such alternative lifestyles present in ensuring human-kind's very survival on this only planet we have to live and leave it in tact, for those to come in the future.