Down to the Wire Confronting Climate Collapse David Orr.
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Transcript of Down to the Wire Confronting Climate Collapse David Orr.
Introduction
• A pragmatic book about the synthesis of politics, history, religion, and public policies
• Explores solutions for how future generations
might address global problems
• Practical
Chapter 1Governance
• How well does the constitution work relative to the climate and environment?
• We have not had an open and honest system that encourages public participation
• The hardest tests are to come and have to do with the relationship between governance, politics, and the dramatic changes in earth systems
• Transformational Leadership-creative leaders
Chapter 2Politics and Governance
• There are a lot of forces that work against democracy. Al Gore argues that decades of TV have contributed to irrationality
• The American voter, according to Rick Shenkman, is pretty stupid (pg. 51). We are distracted by consumption
• Societies fail (Pg 54).
Chapter 3Leadership in the Long Emergency
• Abraham Lincoln pg. 88 – He did not overthink the subject– He saw how the issue was central to other issues– He used language and logic with mastery– He did not abuse religion to describe it
• Lincoln’s ideas are important to us because they help us understand the the importance of the larger framework
Chapter 3Leadership in the Long Emergency
• FDR Pg. 92– Displayed positive energy– Understood people– Restored confidence
• Obama Vs. Bush Administration• Energy Policies• Use Persuasion• True Leadership
Chapter 4The Carbon Connection
• Carbon Dioxide is at its highest level in 650,000 years and continues to rise
• Example p.117—mountains turned onto gravel• Coal mines• Experts justify the destruction on the grounds
of necessity and cost• Americans & Prozac— “I can do nation”
Chapter 5The Spirit of Connection
• U.S. most Christian—least in Christian behavior
• “Religious nuttiness”: Blames Bush• Homo Sapiens Pg. 138• Bush is gone, but the extreme fundamentalists
are still with us
Chapter 6Millennial Hope
• Gloom and doom• Liabilities Vs. Potentials• Cognitive Dissonance: people holding 2
contrary beliefs….are we proficient rationalizers?
• Begins in childhood—according to psychologists pg. 166
Chapter 7Hope at the End of Our Tether
• Optimism Vs. Hope• Feeling optimistic is hard BUT,
• How do we find authentic hope in the face of climate change?
Chapter 8The Upshot: What is to Be Done
• Obama running 2 deficits: Money, credit and ecological.
• The President needs to put in to place a government that is transformational
• Proposals include:– Creation of council of elders (pg 209)– Transformational leadership needs to come from
all those in political power in DC