Conversation 3: Climate Change AND Liberty

"As a society, we accept our liberty as a right, until our actions impinge upon others' ability to enjoy their own life. What changes are necessary to our notion of liberty in this era of climate change?"

25 people came together for a World Café style discussion (3 rounds of half hour conversations in small groups, changing tables between rounds: talking stick optional…). We had a good number of active environmental campaigners and environmental professionals. The rest certainly saw it as an issue of concern (or why else would they have given up their Saturday? Its true – free coffee, a great local food dinner and engaging company may also have been a little bit attractive).

But this topic pushed us out of our comfort zone (climate change bad, Government should “make” people behave better). Where to start? Is there any point talking about liberty in the face of such an urgent crisis? Isn’t it a luxury we can’t afford – let’s just press on with the solutions? But hang on, I do feel a bit guilty flying to South Africa to visit my family. But I still want to be able to go. Its my family. Its important. How would I feel if my freedom to fly was restricted?

Western society today is like a tribe of small children whose parents have gone away – we collectively don’t feel obliged to take responsibility. Can we be trusted with rights when we don’t feel responsibility?

The long established rights of the citizen are up for grabs right now. Can we trust our leaders when they tell us we can’t do something for our own good? Is there a streak of rebelliousness in every campaigner – once our environmental aims are translated into mainstream society – by laws or cultural norms – does it become yet something else to rail against? Do we simply resent authority? And how did authority become so remote? If it were closer to the people, more accountable, more inclusive, because more of us took an active interest or even (!) were involved, could we be more trusting and establish collective action without fear of manipulation and exploitation?

Aren’t there a million things that can be done first that don’t curtail our liberty – our freedom, anonymity, autonomy….

Several conversations set off a digging deeper behind the posed question: what has brought us to this point of insanity? When did happiness become equated with material possession? Are we conditioned to keep up with the Joneses? (we didn’t think we were personally, so why should anyone else be. It may be prevalent, but is it inevitable?). Economic madness. Leisure time is shopping time. Rest of time is work time. To pay for shopping time.

Instead of looking at what we have to give up (as the environmentalists tell us) is there a different and positive/inspiring approach to both lift us out of the crisis and also harness the best of our human spirit as well as ingenuity? Cradle to Cradle gives one such direction, but are there others?
We also spoke of the question of liberty itself, and recognised how narcisistic our culture has become. Some of us felt we have become so preoccupied with ourselves, while at the same time really waiting for someone else to tell us what to do. How can we transcend our self concerns and face climate change head on?

There were some practical suggestions too: How about National Service – conscription into working on organic farms, on well projects in Africa, to ensure we got a more rounded awareness of the world and a better taste of global responsibility? Or making companies responsible for the commons too (air, water, soil) so they cared about their wider impacts too? And (appealed someone) what is being done to harness the energy benefits of gravity? [ed: see hydroelectric power - that's basically gravity at work I think, or try this article in Time Magazine http://digbig.com/4hjyq ]

Is part of the answer to work for a more civil society, where we know each other, and spend time together – spending time together talking and listening over good food? Creating the space where we can generate new ideas and find out our opinions? Actually think for ourselves. Well, it worked on Saturday. We tasted it and liked what we got. We’re going to do it again!