So Copenhagen has ground to a close, with not too much to show for it. Some had wished it to be Hopenhagen; some now call it Flopenhagen. The wash up will no doubt be debated for some time. This article was meant to be a round-up of COP15, but to be honest the only thing that seems to make sense to me at the moment is Eric Sevareid’s Law: “The chief source of problems is solutions”.

In the search to make sense of all this, the only real answer seems to be that we cannot rely on governments or politics to agree any solution for us, especially a global one. They are never going to risk ruining their chance of re-election. We need to think this through for ourselves and take action without them – there is no point waiting around for the politicians to finish their posturing.

First a few quotes worth contemplating along the way:

1. It is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting.
2. Thinking is very upsetting – it tells us things we’d rather not know.
3. The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. 
4. The facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.

If there is ever a time when the human race needs people who can think… it’s right now!

Why not start here:

or here (trust me, you will be enthralled):

References:

1. H.L. Mencken

2. The Small Society, Morrie Brickman (cartoon)

3. H.L. Mencken

4. Aldous Huxley

Image Credit: Davide Restivo via Flickr Creative Commons

Written by Suze Chalmers