Just a joke?

You may know this one:

Two men are confronted by a menacing lion in the African bush.
One says: "Run as fast as you can!”
The other replies: "There's no point - the lion is faster anyway.”
Says the first: "Maybe, but I just have to be faster than you!”

Even though the world's leading scientists see the climate crisis as the greatest risk to humanity and biodiversity, we often behave like the two men in the bush: "We here in (insert any location) will get away with it. We here in ... are smart enough, we won't get caught."

It seems to me, however, that the current forces of nature are unimpressed. No hurricane asks who is currently governing Florida. The floods in India make no distinction between Hindus and Muslims. And the heavy rainfall in Spain is not interested in recycling or landfill quotas.

Even if it doesn't look like it at the moment, I am confident that the realization will prevail that we can only counter global threats together. Sooner or later. Disputes, war or resentment divert resources that we will need to fight the climate crisis together. The development of material and energy recovery to close landfills would be a start to combat climate heating.

Yours,

Werner Bauer

Vice President of Global WtERT Council

P.S.: I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to present an extremely good example of collaboration across different mindsets at the WtERT Biannual Conference 2024 in NY.

Comments:

Mr Sharath Kumar K. Nelamangala

An interesting understanding shared with you.
(1) Way back in 65 ( Into my teens) a classmate then of mine shared with me thus.
Sharath ( me- my 1st name) a tribal needs 5 acres to sustain a family.. Our population is high. ( back then 450 million vs 1450 million now!!).. Tribals makeup appxly 5%.
So population is the basic challenge faced by us. Malthusian paradigm apart now understand global headcount to stabilise around 10 Bil. So be it. My limited point is post PCD( Paris Climate Deal) Carbon footprint expansion targets were set countrywise. No doubt politics has vitiated and latest USS developments also a case in point . So what best does an Individual contribute? Charity begins at home. SEGREGATION. Wet Dry Hazardous Sanitary/Medical and Recycle .. Respective local civic body is the competent and concerned authority the world over . Adhering to the same is not a challenge at all. Speaking of myself and Bangalore a lot is to be desired. In implementation. From the Generating point of every kitchen and bedroom system needed. Apartment resident association to be likewise mandated by the Local Body. Countrywise this can be mooted by a Body like WtERT. 🙏.
Secondly sustainability.. Here carbon footprint quantification counts. EV vehicles are a case in point. ICE hydrocarbon is understood. EV battery disposal footprint to be quantified. 7 year life as benchmark or some suitable latest understanding to be adopted. Solar PVs too this is applicable. Lithium Semiconductor fab and ongoing miniaturisation has to be looked at with the filter of sustainability. Minds in both the Gov and the Governed need to focus on this. Now see dialogue on Nuclear and green hydrogen Biomass. There are intrinsic challenges in each of these solutions needing Think Tanks to policy making a sense of urgency.
The Lion escape running race story very well captures the reality in finding accepting and abiding by the SUSTAINABILITY challenge now staring humanity in its face.
Regards.

Yours Faithfully
NK Sharath Kumar

14.11.2024 17:24:40

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