Sunday 17 November 2013

Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson is one of my heroes.


She was the seventh and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002,
and currently Chair of the International Institute for Environment and Development.

In 2004, she received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work in promoting human rights.

In 2010 she created The Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice.
I believe that this [global warming] is the biggest human rights issue of the 21st century, and I believe that it’s a way of addressing issues of development and issues of tackling poverty.... It’s also an opportunity for new values and a change in our lifestyles and a whole approach that I hope we can really bring home as being a better way to live with the earth that should nourish us and our children and our children’s children. Mary Robinson
When Mary speaks I listen.

Today she asked "if you knew a 'plane was 95% certain to crash would you get on?"

She was referring to the report released in September of this year by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The members of the panel reported they were “95% certain” humans caused more than half the warming observed over the past 60 years mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels and land changes such as deforestation.

I am getting on a 'plane in a couple of weeks. It might as well be the global warming plane as every time we travel using fossil fuels we are adding to global warming. It made me wonder if 
we all stayed home, 
didn't travel around the globe, 
slowed down, 
stayed close to our families 
and invested our time and skills into our local community 
whether the good things about being human would become strong enough
to stand up to greed and monopolies and gross inequality and the lust for power,
and we would have a say in how things get done
in ways that don't do harm to everything and everybody.

14 comments:

  1. You make a very good point. If only more people would listen to the voices of those like Mary Robinson than those voices from Wall Street.

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    1. The sun is going to flip its magnetic poles soon so maybe other things will get reversed too.

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  2. I listened to an interview with Mary Robinson on the radio a few weeks ago - fascinating.
    I'm hugely concerned about the environment and depressed about what the human race (through greed, largely) is doing to it. I so agree that we should think more about what we can do and should do locally. I must admit I don't fly anymore, largely because of environmental reasons. But it may not be such an easy choice for someone else.

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    1. We moved a considerable distance from our family, about 15 hrs driving, only 90 minutes by air. Although the opportunities were not great where we were I am beginning to wonder if we should have stayed and made it work because of our significantly increased carbon footprint.

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  3. I listen too. I listen because just yesterday here in Illinois in the middle of November there were tornados that ripped through the area. Tornadoes in November?? Scary times and for the sake of my children I want a change! Thank you for this post...I wish more people were talking about this.

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    1. I am very sorry for what people are going through. The report Mary was referring to predicted more unstable weather. People who share our concerns need to make a little more noise I think.

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  4. Wow an alarming message and so necessary to be told again and again... We need to be like her :-)

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    1. There is a lot of complacency, Stephanie. Not sure what to do about it.

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  5. Great post Susan! Something very important to keep in mind when we choose how to live our lives.

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  6. Mary Robinson is one of my heroes too. Very nice tribute to all she has done and all she continues to be. I wonder if the magnificent Irish saying: "There is no fire like your own fire" has a lesson for us all: home is really where we put down our roots and love deeply. It is just tough--when in our society we all live so far apart. Thanks for stopping by my site Susan.

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    1. Thoughtful quote. I shall ponder it when the going gets tough.

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  7. Susan she is a remarkable woman and your message is strong. We all need to do more or we are certainly doomed as the earth is telling us to stop but we are ignoring her. One of the reasons I have changed my gardening practices and what I grow.

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    1. My gardening is much more thoughtful now.

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