BRATTLEBORO — The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris was encouraging. But not encouraging enough.
The world is still not aroused. From day to day we and our leaders have things higher on our agenda - if climate is there at all. We get up in the morning with enough other tasks and concerns to occupy us. And tomorrow is the same.
In fact, nothing has seriously mobilized our country and the world for 75 years.
When World War II began, the challenge and what to do about it were on everybody's mind. Many gave their lives, others' lives quickly changed, children saved tin cans, and national budgets were radically revised.
The war wreaked havoc around the world. But when it was over, cities were rebuilt and, eventually, lives went back to normal.
Today, the threat of climate change is more diffuse but not less serious. Bangladesh and the Maldives are gravely threatened by climate change, but its effects are much closer to home.
As I write, the federal government will, for the first time, “move an entire community struggling with the impacts of climate change” - Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana.
And according to a May 4 Common Dreams report on the fires engulfing Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, “Experts attribute the early onset and extremity of the fires to human-caused global warming.”
Fighting global warming will call for mobilization similar to our approach to World War II. Without doing so, havoc will be worse, and, though life may continue, it will not go back to normal.
Mobilization in World War II came mainly from the top. Governments took control of lives, work, resources, production. Today, we put up solar panels. And the president makes efforts to reduce emissions.
But because the threat is not yet in our face, there's no across-the-board government effort.
So mobilization must start with us.
Kids must not leave middle school without awareness of the threats we're facing. If the government won't mobilize a new Manhattan Project, universities and corporate interests must.
The young must organize as they did for civil rights and against Vietnam.
Religious leaders (not just the Pope) must get with it.
The media must arouse and inform us even at risk of ratings or revenue.
Foundations and think tanks must shift their focus.
At shareholder meetings of fossil-fuel and other companies, there must be serious protests.
Congress's feet must be held to the fire and different people elected.
And other nations must mobilize similarly, and the United Nations must exert more leadership.
Or there will be widespread dislocation, strife, and extinction. And then worse.