Hear the message, not the messenger

I just got done reading Putin's op-ed in the New York Times. Putin, the messenger here, is far from perfect. But honestly some key messages in his piece really need to be heard:

Respect for international law and institutions: We all knew it when Bush went completely off the rails and blew off the UN to carry out his plan to invade and pillage Iraq. But it can't possibly become the new American norm to expect everyone except us to respect international law and agreements, as Obama is certainly acting. We need to embrace - and help strengthen - these multi-lateral institutions, not further eviscerate them.

Danger of American exceptionalism: The statement "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation" is absolutely true. History is full of examples where this very concept was justification for genocide: Hitler's Aryan race leading to the attempted extermination of Jews and other races; the US 'manifest destiny' claiming that God had a greater plan for Americans (really!!!?!) and used as pretext to nearly exterminate Native Americans; the Spaniards and their 'evangelization' of South America. But also things like slavery, where white farmers saw themselves entitled to own black people because of some perceived superiority, or exceptionalism. Even in the current debate on immigration, many Americans whose parents or ancestors immigrated here think of themselves as superior to those trying to immigrate here now, and use that as justification to turn a blind eye to the many abuses and injustices immigrants often have to suffer.

Americans love their country and that's great. It's a beautiful place and I chose to make my home here and become an American citizen years ago. But who are we to go telling someone from Brazil, or Italy, or China, or Egypt, or Kenya, or Mexico that we are greater than they are? Or more entitled? What defines that anyway? GDP? Most guns and bombs? Certainly not measures of greatness. Happiness index? Quality of life? Life expectancy? Population health? Percent of population in poverty? Education levels? Economic opportunity? Greatest freedoms for its population? Most democratic institutions? Impartial justice system? The US doesn't lead in any of these measures. Besides, this is not a competition. Everyone is entitled to love their country equally, but should never use their love of country as a reason to think less of another.

This is particularly important not just because of Syria, but because our world is in serious need of much solidarity, unity and equality. We have big problems to solve as a species. We are killing our planet and many of the things that live on it. American exceptionalism is often cited in the US for the justification that the US, with less than 5% of the world's population, generates close to 30% of its pollution and consumes over 25% of its resources. This is neither sustainable nor fair. When we see kids in kindergarten who hoard all the toys, don't share well, throw tantrums when they don't get their way, are mean and pick on the smaller kids, we don't call them exceptional. Maybe their parents do? But the rest of us call them what they are: Brats and bullies.

It's time for US political leaders to stop reinforcing this dangerous exceptionalism narrative, and start setting the example we wish all other nations to follow. Let's lead by example, not by force. Let's inspire respect and admiration, not fear and loathing. Let's be known for our wisdom and selflessness, not for our greed and brutality. That would be quite exceptional.

What Obama's Climate speech could be

President Obama is set to make his 'major Climate policy' announcement today. As I prepare to be significantly underwhelmed, I am having a daydream fantasy for what that climate speech could be today:

'To my fellow Americans and citizens of Earth. Climate change is real, it's already happening, and it's the biggest challenge humanity has faced, both because of its implications and the speed at which we now need to move to address it due to decades of denial and inaction. It is also a fantastic opportunity to rapidly move to a new era of clean, safe and abundant energy; of constructive rather than destructive relationships with the natural environments that sustain life on earth; and of climate justice, where we reject the idea that the poorest and weakest among us will suffer the most due to the actions of others.

The science is clear. Anyone who disagrees with the overwhelming evidence is selfishly protecting a business interest. The United States must and will lead the world into this next era. By 2050, we will have reduced our Greenhouse Gas emissions by at least 80%. By the end of this decade, we will have made significant strides to transition from fossil fuels to clean and renewable sources of energy. 

Effective immediately, we need to form public-private partnerships to invest heavily in the clean energy infrastructure that will power our future. And we need to stop building long-term infrastructure that will lengthen our dependence on the energy systems of our past. As a result, I announce today that I will not approve projects like the Keystone XL pipeline, and will enact an executive order preventing the Federal Government from buying fuels derived from tar sands.

Also, every organization that sells to the Federal Government, along with their supply chains, will need to present within three years a plan to achieve balance with the natural environment in their activities. Gone are the days of business taking endlessly from nature without worrying about the next generation. Every living system on Earth is currently in decline, and this trend must be reversed urgently.

I realize success will require other countries to follow. But the United States, with barely 5% of the world's population, accounts for more than 25% of the world's pollution and almost 30% of natural resource consumption. We must act, and compel others to follow.

I have a dream of a healthy, sustainable and abundant future for all the word's inhabitants. Let's make it happen.'

I am deeply religious

I have come to the conclusion that I am deeply religious. This may come as a surprise to some, including myself.

Merriam-Webster defines religious as "relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity".

I am indeed faithfully devoted to an ultimate reality. That reality drives me every day. The main difference of course is that my ultimate reality is, in fact, very real. It is based on evidence, on scientific fact, on undeniable truth. It is not based on myth, legend, or interpretation of what a small number of people may have written at some point in history about their take on the world.

My ultimate reality is that I am part of something bigger, something connected, something living. Some call it Pachamama, some call it Mother Earth, there are many other names for it. A key lesson I learned while spending time deep inside Brazil's Amazon Rainforest is that everything on Earth is connected. If you mess with one thing, you mess with everything. Those who deny this are heretics, as the Church would call them.

Organized religion throughout history has only been used to control and exert power, to dominate and exploit. Yet, I embrace some of their structure. They speak of many rules to follow and live by. They speak of dire consequences and reckoning for those who do not follow the rules. They speak of eternity, of things that are set for the rest of time.

I believe in those things. I believe in rules that need to be observed. Rules like the laws of biology, and physics and chemistry. Rules like not poisoning the air and water that sustain life. Like not destroying ecosystems that sustain life. Like not cutting off food chains that are life itself. Like not forever altering the chemistry of our atmosphere and oceans. Or willfully driving entire species to extinction, causing entire ecosystems to collapse.

I believe in the consequences of these rules not being followed. I believe in the Hell that our world can become. I believe in retribution too. Noah's flood as a result of humanity's sins doesn't seem so far fetched - we have a lot of scientific evidence that this is coming. Pachamama is not vengeful, she acts very predictably. Just like if I stick my hand in the fire I know exactly what to expect as a result.

Within religion there is often a message of hope. A message of redemption - change your ways and good will follow. I believe in that too. The science shows us clearly what we can do now to start slowing, halting and ultimately reversing the damage we've been inflicting on our Mother Earth. This hope is full of opportunity, as embracing a more sustainable approach to our world can unleash a new era of connectedness, solidarity and consciousness about our place in our world and our place in history. We are mere visitors, entrusted for a very brief moment by our elders to look out for future generations.

I am hopeful, but not naive. Many others - including many who embrace a different form of religion while ignoring all its teachings - are still pushing us in the wrong direction. Faith and hope alone will not suffice. Action is needed. 

I am faithfully devoted to an ultimate reality. This reality is the only truth I know. And it guides me. I guess I am therefore deeply religious.