Remember climate change and consequent disruptions

Yesterday I got this idea: taking one full day, 24 hours, of remembrance of climate change and consequent disruptions of all kinds-concerning electricity, water, food, health and so forth.

How?

By choosing one day, for instance Sunday 2 September 2007, to live 24 hours without using neither household electricity-i.e. at home-nor transportation, by keeping away from all that pollutes and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions which cause protracted harmful consequences on environment and livelihoods.

One day is not the end of the world

Only experiencing one day without so-called modern technologies can help you understand the biggest challenge of our times. This initiative can serve as a way of expressing discontent about the current situation that put in danger everybody's lives. The next generations and the future of humanity is at stake. It would send a strong signal to leaders and opinion-makers to take suitable decisions to change the trend, which unless curbed will cause irreversible damage-if not already done. It is only too late when nothing at all has been carried out.

Objectives of the 'Be Aware of Climate Change' Day

- Every individual has a role to play in the fight against pollution and environmental destruction. Prepare yourself now before the rule gets imposed on you from the top or it becomes too late to act effectively. Do not opt for blindness where so much is at stake and the world needs you to embark on a peaceful and mindful reaction.
- The main goal to achieve is to tell decision-makers that it is quintessential to invest in research towards finding solutions to our urgent problem of global warming.

Democracy involves individual rights & responsibilities

In the globalised world, where countries and peoples are interdependent and connected-poor and rich, human beings ought to take bold steps-as a Buddhist monk said "self-interest lies in the interest of others, individually and collectively.

It is one thing to claim democracy and advocate for its advent everywhere. It is another to behave in accordance to this principle. Democracy is even more compelling than dictatorship because it requires educated people who can make decisions and take actions for oneself as much as for the community-which is now global. It falls upon each individual to be aware of challenges and able to find and propose solutions, and act accordingly, as much as parents have to care for their children.

What will you do?

As I suggested, I will prepare myself and on 2 September 2007-unless I am compelled to travel for work-I will not use electricity for 24 hours nor will I take a motorised vehicle. I am committed to do it and share my experience with others, for instance in writing. I wish it can serve as example and inspire some.

Briefly I can see so many things that do not need power energy to be done:
- Reading
- Having a walk
- Cycling
- Chatting with your closed ones
- Making physical exercises that do not require an electric device
- Writing on paper (still a bit controversial but not the focus of this discussion)
- Playing music with instruments which are not electrical
- And many more...

I have one week to organise myself to be able on Sunday to spend the day as follows:
- not using the laptop
- switching off the TV
- keeping remote controls (also the air-conditioning one) in a safe
- switching off the fridge-opportunity to defreeze and clean
- not using the electric stove for cooking (eat fruits, salad - raw and healthy)
- Charge my mobile phone before the day- just in case there is an emergency to call
- Buy candles to see in the darkness
- Enjoy time to relax and medidate

Democracy is our power

This day is going to be exciting and promising to understand how dependent on power energy human beings are. Hopefully, it will make us think more and towards a direction that, despite painful, is our path to save our specie and our environment that we have been consciously and increasingly wasting and spoiling. For what? Are you mostly the ones benefiting? On the contrary, the majority of the world population, especially the poorest, seems to be the worse affected-livelihoods are worsening- and paying the consequences of selfishness and the race for wealth accumulation to the detriment of all.

Note that if not stopped this spiral will inevitably burst into conflict-from which we are not safe. It is better to avoid war and privilege peace. It might be the first crisis that is sorted out peacefully. Why not make the beginning of the 21th century the first record of resolving problems in this manner? Why not be the ones to initiate it by abiding to the claim that humanity belongs to a 'global village' where democracies govern and spring up, where each individual can make a difference and associate with others to create impact?