I’m frustrated and upset by the New York Times article titled Carbon Emissions Show Biggest Jump Ever Recorded. Yes, I’m frustrated by the numbers, and yes, I’m angered that our leaders in government have done such a poor job on climate change legislation.
But I’m equally frustrated by the tone and placement of the article. It’s written as though the average citizen of Earth is just along for the ride; as if we’re in the back seat and our leaders have complete control of the steering wheel. Why isn’t this article on the front page, in type as big as “NIXON RESIGNS”? Why doesn’t it call people to action? When it comes to climate change there should be no neutral point of view, and no politics.
Mainstream news has failed us and our governments have failed us. What are we going to do about it? The fact is, our leaders could legislate their lazy buns off, and journalists could type their fingers to nubs, but there would be no substantive change. Imagine a draconian law making it illegal to commute more than 10 miles to work. Would people move or change jobs? Or would they drive anyway, or even openly revolt?
Some legislation and some apocalyptic reporting would be great — it would be true leadership — but it’s equally important for the citizenry of Earth to wake up and realize that the fate of the planet is at stake. We, as global citizens, need to take action.
Which is why the Occupy Movement is so fantastic and so critical, so vitally important. It shows that we don’t have to wait for our greedy, myopic, self-centered leaders to start leading. We can take charge of our futures.
Now that’s what I call leadership.
Robert Mitchell Jr. 