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Saturday, September 29, 301 AP
Web posted at 2050 UST.
CANHOTO, Estontetsan Republic -- President Okarvits has given an passionate speech to the Canhoto Environmental Conference which was a call to arms for the world to dedicate itself to solving the environmental problems it faces. However, the President also explained the challenges facing the second and third world and laid the challenge before the first world nations to be partly-responsible for these issues as well.
The President's 45 minute speech was given at 3pm, Canhoto time, and was broadcast live
in Utania, from 8pm UST. It received strong applause at several points from members of
the conference, but somewhat muted applause from the Utanian Parliament.
The President emphasised the gravity of the situation saying "It well-appears that we stand on the precipice of history."
The Issues facing the globe
The President firstly described the environmental issues facing the planet, describing how the belief that the globe was infinite in resources and space held by our less numerous ancestors is still with us, but is now a fallacy: the Vexillium is very finite.
The President said that this "new idea" that the world was finite, that there was no known alternative planet to inhabit, and even if there was, it would take centuries to travel to, should be revolutionising thinking about how the planet is managed.
The President then emphasised the finite nature of mineral and fuel resources, and that future sources of energy would end up concentrated in the "science laboratories of the first world".
The President called on the world to share new technological developments in the field of alternative and cleaner fuels, saying that the consequences would be devastating, both environmentally and economically were the world's energy resources once again be concentrated in a handful of nations.
The President also laid the problem of global warming squarely at the feet of the first world, saying that they "all arise from first world practises, first-world smokestacks, first-world aerosols."
However, on several occasions he emphasised that the problem was shared, that the entire human race would survive as one or not at all. He emphasised that ALL nations had responsibilities to solve the issue, but also said that individually the world's nations could not solve the problem without a coordinated approach.
The third-world problem
The President strongly intertwined the economic poverty of the third world to its ability to engage in environmental solutions, and to its present environmental problems.
He suggested that reforestation in the first world was negated by deforestation in the third world, and called on the two to coordinate their efforts and fulfillment of needs, otherwise there would be nothing gained from "a global perspective".
The President also described the problems facing Utania and other third world nations. He described one scenario, designed to shock Utanian viewers, in which Utanians could be forced from their traditional homeland by desertification, the creeping of deserts until they cover the entire landscape, and said the first world could be flooded by environmental immigrants.
A statement of solutions
"What was so good about this speech is that it laid down in very straight-forward terms the problem the world faces, and presented the beginnings of a strategy for solving it", said Professor Brian Engels of the Vela Luka University Department of Environmental Studies. "I am not sure a politician has done this before."
The second half of the President's speech dealt with his proposed approach to solving the issue, a three part strategy, a key component of which was the establishment of a senior cabinet-level position of the Special Minister for Environmental Strategy. The President announced that the position would have a one million pund salary, substantially higher than his own, but designed to lure a foreign strategic advisor.
The second key component to the President's strategy was information dissemination in three parts: seeking the truth, meaning further investigation of the problems; information sharing between scientists, nations and specifically removing the power of patents to "hide" revolutionary new, more environmentally friendly energy sources; and passing the knowledge of the problem and solutions to the population at large who will largely determine the success of the campaign.
"In order for these strategies and developments to hold in the longer term," the President said, "we simply must educate the populations at large as to what is at stake."
The third component of the President's strategy was cooperation, and emphasised that the problems in one nation could not simply be viewed as the problems OF that nation.
"Should we choose to not coordinate our efforts, and most importantly, to pool our resources, our efforts may be in vain, they may result in greater pain for our populations than first thought, and may result in complete rejection of our strategies and plans." the President warned the conference.
He then emphasised "Action requires follow-up, wise counsel, and support from the unity of humankind."
He suggested that the conference should be a regular event.
Reaction.
The reaction in Utan Krysaror's Parliament was one of immense surprise and shock. Many MPs said the President was taking a very significant change in direction without conferring with the Parliament.
Numerous MPs, however, were supportive though similarly surprised that the President would choose to make the announcement to a Conference rather than to the Parliament itself.
Initial reaction is too much one of surprise in the Parliament to properly gauge what the long-term impact will be, however, it is worth noting that the President's Ministers confirmed that he had no obligation to confer with the Parliament on this "matter of administration".
Public reaction has also been one of surprise, and then mixed responses. Some were strongly supportive and happy to see the President showing such determination on a matter of such importance. Others were happy to see the "real President we voted for", but disappointed that he was choosing the issue of the environment over more pressing matters at home. Still others were opposed to the elevation of this issue by the President, calling it "irresponsible".
Time will tell what the long-term view will be, and whether this will affect the President's hopes in January 303.
More...
Full text of the speech
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