Reasons to Believe: Lightbulbs (with Susan Sarandon)
… or in NZ’s case — reason to hang our heads in shame!
The Energy [R]evolution is Greenpeace’s international plan to save the planet from catastrophic climate change. Susan Sarandon narrates the first of three ‘Reasons to Believe’. The latest one below explains why energy efficiency is so important and also so easily achieved, just by small changes such as a switch from traditional lightbulbs to more energy efficient ones. In the one minute you will spend watching this film solar energy could power a country the size of Portugal for one week. In one minute.
Unfortunately the NZ National Government forced a post production edit …
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Well then we do know where Keys focus has always been at and that’s stay rich at any cost he has desisted from furthering our our drive to be more than “aware” of the waiting devastation of humanity as we know it due to our (Key & co) not being wholly active in resisting the obvious outcome that the changing climate is and will continue to have IF we we do not take action now – however the reality of it is that we have done so much damage that it is going to take eons for our planet to recuperate
To Greenpeace,
As a previous fundraiser and supporter of your organisation I would like to ask why instead of using your vast economic resources you insist on promoting false and misleading forms of action that complicitly support institutions and economic systems geared around the exploitation of our planet and its communities?
What if everybody turned off their lights for an hour or changed to energy efficient light bulbs? So what. The very same hour consumerism will still demand that resources are ripped out of those countries whose political and economic automonomy has been destroyed by the priviliged societies you are trying to amend. Rainforests will continue burn, the other half the population will continue to starve and all the good-intentioned people you continue to manipulate will feel even more disillusioned and frustrated when they realise their “activism” is just a performance.
Why not consistently pursue and encourage direct action, vegetarianism and demand social justice for people around the world who can’t afford to debate the merits of switching off a lightbulb?
Yes, boo to John Key and all; but why believe that he has the capacity or intention to listen and affect change our planet needs in the first place?
To Matt,
Great to see your input, but 1st off GPis a non-profit organisation, there is no “vast economic resource’
And I fully agree- the system of economic growth by any means neccessary is flawed on so many levels. I don’t agree that lobbying our political leaders is buying into this system- more like challenging it with alternatives ie community based, de centralised energy/bio-logical farming etc
Kyoto protocol may not be the answer to saving the planet but its the only global legally binding solution this planet has and the more we blame things the less we progress.
It’s clear from the website and from Greenpeace people i have met that they do consistently pursue and encourage direct action, vegetarianism and social justice for all
In support of Matt,
I too am an ex supporter and fundraiser of Greenpeace and fully agree with Matt’s comments re: greenpeace’s more recent moves away from engaging with the public in an empowering manner. Rather, I have watched as Greenpeace has mislead the public in its efforts to get very minor and ineffectual policy changes. Have you no faith left in people at all!?
A weak emissions trading scheme excluding agriculture delayed untill possibly 2011 is not challenging economic growth, waste or encouraging direct action or community action. It has nothing to do with social or climate justice.
I have seen little or no attempts made by greenpeace new zealand to encourage direct action among its members or anybody else. Spending the equivalent of the budget of the entire grassroots climate movement in new zealand on single actions carried out by professionals does not convey to others that they can do the same, rather it sends a message that unless you have alot of money and many years of training you wont be able to make such changes and therefore you should just give Greenpeace more money.
The fact thet Greenpeace is a ‘non profit’ has nothing to to do with the amount of financial resources you have at your disposal, and you all know that as well as I do. If we’re going to get ANYWHERE on Climate Change, Greenpeace better quicklty realise that it is part of something way bigger than itself.
John Key and National, like the previous government have stalled and offered no short or near term concrete solutions that are adequate and just. Solid Energy, Rio Tinto, Fonterra, and the rest of them, with the aid of lobby groups like the coal association and greenhouse policy coalition are delaying real action, change comes when people who are informed with the truth and the reality of the situation take the appropriate action.
Either New Zealand acts or it does’t. If the government has a choice between little action and continuing the same actions that are causing climate change and doing what is needed, and there is no real informed pressure they, will continue to delay.
Climate issues ministers Tim Groser and Nick Smith have not delivered the goods, the New Zealand government is offering no leadership on climate change – talking to them will not change that, neither will a couple of small infrequent expensive stunts carried out by a tiny amount of people.
Fonterra will not change its behaviour and Solid Energy will not halt coal expansion and exports. Unless the buisness of climate pollution is challenged, the buisness of climate change will continue and Greenpeace will remain marginal and ineffective until the day it reengages with people on the ground in an inclusive, cooperative and respectful manner.
Please come back down to earth and reengage with the real world and those who are trying to change it.
We’re all in this together.
Mat, Rob, Sounds like sour grapes to me.
I’m a proud supporter of Greenpeace and recognize that the people there do the best they can with what they have in an imperfect world.
You talk ask if Greenpeace is responsible for the emissions tradings scheme – it’s not.
Turning off light bulbs is a symbolic action aimed at conveying a desire for better leadership and action on climate change – no one ever suggested that it’s the final word in turning off climate change.
As you say, Matt – we ARE all in this together and it really doesn’t help for you to be trashing the people who try and make a difference just because in all your wisdom you think there is a better way. And why not make a suggestion instead of simply offering criticism ?
c’mon guys – get with the programme!
Thanks Pete, I couldn’t agree more.
I won’t enter a debate point by point about the arguments you make Matt & Rob because I believe we will only win this thing if we all pull together to solve climate change. Criticizing without alternative solutions simply hampers that effort. Greenpeace do simply amazing work and they really have changed the world so you would do better to support them with their efforts then to throw stones from the sidelines.
Good on you Greenpeace – I think you do an awesome job – and the task ahead is huge but I have every faith you are the best placed group to tackle it (even with the frustrations of critics on both sides of the spectrum!)
The solution was be real about the situation and don’t hide behind false solutions like pollution trading and things that dont reduce emissions and cost the public rather than the source of pollution ie companies like Shell, BP and Solid Energy etc.
Fonterra needs to pay its way. If an ETS is weak and ineffective – don’t support it. yes change lightbulbs to more efficient ones and bike, garden and put washing on the line when the sun is out. But also campaign against Fonterra’s dairy expansion and coal exports, motorway expansion and so on. We need green energy, public transport, cheap and healthy affordable food (not just for the white, liberal elite) and alternative industries to coal mining.
Be honest and engage the public, we are all in this together, surely we agreen Gerry Brownlee is shiite – and action is needed. When we acknowledge National will never do what is needed, we can work out what to do and move forward.
Emissions are growing, not shrinking – that means govt and its cheerleaders are failing…
I want to do more as an individual to help save this planet from catastrophic disaster before it gets to the point of “I told you so” to the government when there is no turning back.
No one is slowing down and nothing seems to be happening!
Are we really going down this path of destroying our earth!
The only one our species has ever known?
We as people need to unite and step up to the governments,
this is our world too and we care about it,
and we cant let others blindly let go of something as precious as the earth all for a greed of money!
Why is climate change not on the news EVERY night!
is there really anything more important and critical than our earth!
And if climate change isnt worrying enough! theres war! and starvation!
while the rich continue to play the earth dies and people on the otherside die with it!
When will our race learn to co-operate and solve this global issue!
I wish for one government to rule our planet!
2012 =)