Earthling

Many months ago, I was at one of those luncheons where politicians come to say things to the group that everyone wants to hear, yet rarely does any action follow the luncheon speech. This one was not an exception. What was an exception, at least for me, was something that former speaker of the house Dick Gebhardt said. I thought it was very insightful.

He said something like, "Climate Change is the most complicated political deal ever to be made in the history of humanity".

Those words have rattled around in my mind ever since. It's one thing for activists, like myself, to talk about a "global climate premium" where the costs of emitting carbon are added to the good or service, but it's quite another thing to get all of the nations of the world to adopt such a measure. Who would enforce the law?

Even if all the nations agreed to Kyoto, (and they have except for the US) who would apply penalties if emission targets are not met?

Certainly the UN has no hammers in its tool box.

I guess that would leave the World Trade Organization. Historically that organization has had more to do with destroying the environment, not saving it.

Gebhardt's remark is the product of a man who has been in the trenches of real politic, where deals are made and compromises are agreed to, even if you must hold your nose as you sign off on the agreement, and silently wonder how you will explain it to your constituents.

So, how do we implement policies that actually put the price of dumping carbon into the environment on a global scale? Humankind has been making fires for a long time. Most of us consider it something akin to our birthright.

The obvious solution is to create some kind of global parliament that deals with the climate issue as well as the other global issues that cannot be met in a peicemeal way. I found this site from a right wing blog that was railing about the destruction of the nations and the secret occult mission of some very powerful people to create a world government. I don't know who wrote this or WHO these people are, but their organizational principles seem more rational that most.

Here is part of their Constitution:

ARTICLE I •

Broad Functions of the World Government

The broad functions of the Federation of Earth shall be:

To prevent war, secure disarmament, and resolve territorial and other disputes which endanger peace and human rights.

To protect universal human rights, including life, liberty, security, democracy, and equal opportunities in life.

To obtain for all people on earth the conditions required for equitable economic and social development and for diminishing social differences.

To regulate world trade, communications, transportation, currency, standards, use of world resources, and other global and international processes.

To protect the environment and the ecological fabric of life from all sources of damage, and to control technological innovations whose effects transcend national boundaries, for the purpose of keeping Earth a safe, healthy and happy home for humanity .

To devise and implement solutions to all problems which are beyond the capacity of national governments, or which are now or may become of global or international concern or consequence."

In the section on How World Government Works, I found this

ELECTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Earth is divided into 1000 Districts, 20 Regions, 10 Magna-Regions, at least 5 Continental Divisions.

FIVE WORLD CAPITALS, to be established in 5 continental divisions, one is the Primary Capital, the others are Secondary Capitals.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EARTH CONSTITUTION BY STAGES:
Provisional World Government, before 25 countries have ratified.
First Operative Stage, when 25 countries have ratified.
Second Operative Stage, when 50% of countries have ratified.
Full Operative Stage, when 80% of countries, comprising 90% of Earth's population, have ratified.

Pretty clearly, expecting any country to ratify away its sovereignty shows that these guys score about 99999 on the naive meter.

I imagine that such a world government, when it comes, will come about from individuals, newly created regional rural alliances, cities, cyber-alliances, and other earthfamilies.

However, should you want to be one of the first on your block to join the World Federation, here is part of their individual ratification page.

I do hereby sign as a personal ratifier and affirm my readiness to live as a Citizen of Earth under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth and the World Government with an elected World Parliament as provided thereunder, which will also assist the good functioning of the Government of my country and of all countries as parts of the World Federation...

If Gebhardt thinks that dealing with climate change is the greatest political negotiation of all time, perhaps he should ponder the World Federation for a moment.

A big building doesn't look so big

after a new giant one is erected next to it.

.

But you don't need a global government to be a

Citizen of the Earth.

.

For from the day we are born, we are all

earthlings.

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"earthling" courtesy of David Bowie