Tick, Tick, Tick
Yes,
the clock is ticking. Critical climate change talks that will determine
the future of all of us on this planet is to be held just days away in
Copenhagen. Climate scientists, anti-global warming activists,
environmentalists, leaders of small island nations, sensitized and
sensible leaders of nations are all hopeful that consensus will emerge
from the talks to help reverse the levels of CO2 emissions to manageable
and healthy proportions.
Melting glaciers- a demonstration urging state action. AFP |
Movements such as tcktcktck.org, led by former UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan and avaaz.org (meaning action organization), have called for
citizens’ vigils on the day the talks begin (December 12) to involve
people from all over the world to participate in exercising pressure on
their leaders to be sensible and not bow to pressures from bad but
strong industry, business and other interest lobbies.
In Sri Lanka too, like in 235 other nations, there will be such
vigils held and policy decisions taken. As concerned citizens, we shall
have a responsibility by the future generations to ensure that we will
leave this lush and beautiful island, in an even better shape than it is
now, for them.
Our own clock
We also have another clock ticking alongside, in our own
socio-political front.
As all sound conservation minded thinking will tell us, uncertainty
is the worst enemy of resource depletion and of sustainable development.
We as a nation, after many failed attempts earlier, were able to put an
end to the reign of terror of the LTTE of nearly three decades. To the
rational mind, there can not be any doubt that it was the result of
committed and determined leadership, a solid team effort and focused and
effective management.
We had thereupon, begun to see a semblance of certainty setting in on
us, with a resolve in seeking a unity within our diverse national social
fabric. Equitable development was taking shape with a focus on backward
and affected regions. In spite of attempts of some at gaining rapid
self-gains, we saw some sanity, where environment and people-friendly
decision making was taking shape.
End uncertainty
I am in no way suggesting that all was and is, in an ideal state. We
have observed several instances of violations of the rule of law and
continuance of corruption and excesses. Institutions that needed to be
set up to make the system more accountable and transparent are wanting.
An unnecessarily large Cabinet of ministers and a top heavy structure
of governance are in place. Most of this can, I believe be attributed,
to be the result of the uncertainty that prevails, where a
coalition-based political governance structure has to be managed and
held together. In spite of these political game-plays, one was able to
observe a policy direction that showed resolve, in wanting to make
things better for the nation as a whole.
Having examined the options before us, I as a non-partisan citizen of
this country, is willing to back a leader with a proven track record of
leadership with resolve, focused action and strong political acumen.
I am willing as a simple but thinking citizen of this country to give
that leader, with that resolve, the time needed to put what is now
wrong, right. For that to happen, there need be an end to the
uncertainty and room for sound policies and actions to thrive. But, with
the antics we see on the political front, with strange alliances
forming, demonstrating Machiavellian intents, may get us back into those
dark holes of petty, divisive and dirty politics.
Enough is enough
Politicians well versed in the art of treachery, deceit and
below-the-belt shots may thrive on these antics. We see how what was
said yesterday being nullified or reversed today with
turn-coat-swiftness. Policy statements made yesterday turn into
meaningless noises to meet today’s on-ground self-serving political
agenda. How we the people, are left to feel like ignorant fools and
idiots.
Sadly, the result of all of this will be doses of mistrust, disunity
and even chaos and mayhem, as we have seen unfold in our political past
on several periods and occasions. What we need now are leaders who will
place the nation before their own-self interest and petty ambitions to
take on a path of ‘Mahatma’ politics, to ensure that the clock will tick
for our Motherland, radiating strong positive vibes.
Solid action
Back again on the global front, a petition signed on the Internet as
a call to world’s leaders read, “We call on our leaders to go to
Copenhagen and sign a global climate treaty that is; AMBITIOUS: enough
to leave a planet safe for us all; FAIR: for the poorest countries that
did not cause climate change but are suffering most from it and BINDING:
with real targets that can be legally monitored and enforced.
The rhetoric on the need to take urgent action to mitigate global
warming has been heard in many of the world’s conference platforms and
policy making assemblies. It is no different to what we hear in our own
country on many other issues of critical importance to our survival and
well-being.
What has sadly being missing is solid and proven action on the
ground, where words are turned into deeds. On the global warming
mitigation front, there is much hope as the level of awareness that has
been created, within a short period of time, by activists backed by
scientific findings has been remarkable. Although the pressures from
self-serving interest groups are many, the survival instincts of the
rational human mind has, now come into play.
Let rational mind decide
What we need on our own socio-political front is also to feel this
survival instinct as a people and as a nation. We must not let the clock
tick for us to reverse any gains we have made, but actively seek to
consolidate them. We must learn from the follies we have made in the
past and make our rational minds determine what courses of action we
must follow.
Renton de Alwis |
For the sake of our own future well-being and those yet to be born,
both in Sri Lanka and on Mother Earth, we need to ensure that, our
clocks go on ticking shunning short-term, self-serving interests that
lead to more and more uncertainty.
We need to let them click precise, loud and clear in support of
vision-driven sustainable development thinking and action. |