Nov 18, 2023·edited Nov 18, 2023Liked by Alexander Verbeek 🌍
Bravo Alex. Great interview. I can understand the laugh. Our planet is burning while our politicians are engaged in elbow slams and fist fights on the Senate Floor; the priorities here are laughable but very scary.
I am often overwhelmed with the massive scale of climate change. It is then helpful to lean into the simplicity and beauty of nature. To sit with trees. The lungs of our planet.
Martin Luther King: "For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver."
All the silver and gold in the world cannot replace our scorched earth. It is the things that are precious to us that we protect. How hard is it to make the choice to protect our children's future? Vote? Fly less? Eat less meat? The choice is clear. La vida es preciosa.
Well done! Your “disaster scenario” reminded me in detail of the wildfires that consumed Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii not so long ago. I payed close attention out of worry for friends residing there a few years ago. The inhabitants faced precisely the challenges you outlined. Just one example; only one highway on which to evacuate with fires blocking exits. There is discussion that Maui should not be inhabited again because the risk is unavoidable and yet those who have lived their lives there are reluctant to relocate. I was never able to locate my friends; must assume they were living back in the states as they were of advanced age and likely with children. But I’ll never know for sure.
As you are aware, in the USA, we are fighting the battle of our lives for Democracy daily and thus funds needed beyond what dear Joe Biden has legislated in prior years are tied up in a MAGA GOP House with purse strings in knots. We hope to change that situation but the impasse is prohibitive at present. Day by day we advocate, write, rally,
etc. especially around Willow and similar projects that were passed due to initial actions by our former president of whom I will not speak further. Have done all day. No more. We can focus on no meat, no flying, using less energy and switching to green alternatives, maintaining wardrobes of plastic free fabrics over lifetimes of use ignoring the “planned obsolescence “ encouraged by fashion houses. Oh my, too much coffee. ☕️. I’ve been on a roll. Nice change of topic although this is extinction level and governance may or may not be. Off topic, but hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the genocide going on there and the demonstrations here. Great interview! 😘❤️🇺🇸🇺🇦🌎😽😽🐾🐾🐾🐾🌎
Well done, Alexander. The opening question was fairly incredible following the introduction to the interview, but as always, you delivered a clear and unambiguous response. Thank you.
On a separate but related note, I posed a question in the Patreon chat for you and/or any of the other participants. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
With a bit of delay, I got back to your question in the chat and I changed the notification settings so next time, I should see it directly. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Rena, I'm not sure why the word subsidies is so popular when talking about fossil fuels. I know WRI has been doing so for years. But that word can easily be misinterpreted by all who want to by using a narrow definition. Support is probably the better word, but as you know it is not my language so who am I to comment.
The word support will help more people better understand how this system has been working. You may not dream in English but you definitely have mastery of it.
I'm asked every year but since my last participation in Marrakech in 2016, I have each year decided not to go since I fear my contribution to solving the climate crisis by going there may not outweigh my contribution to the crisis itself by flying there. This year, in Dubai, there is basically no alternative, it can only be reached by plane.
“Just how worrying is this news?”
You couldn’t help but laugh.
Nevertheless it was a great interview and I’m always pleased TRT goes to the guy with the right answers even when the question is ambiguous.
Expertly done as always!
Thank you. 🙏
Thanks Lizzie
Bravo Alex. Great interview. I can understand the laugh. Our planet is burning while our politicians are engaged in elbow slams and fist fights on the Senate Floor; the priorities here are laughable but very scary.
I am often overwhelmed with the massive scale of climate change. It is then helpful to lean into the simplicity and beauty of nature. To sit with trees. The lungs of our planet.
Martin Luther King: "For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver."
All the silver and gold in the world cannot replace our scorched earth. It is the things that are precious to us that we protect. How hard is it to make the choice to protect our children's future? Vote? Fly less? Eat less meat? The choice is clear. La vida es preciosa.
I wish everyone would see it this way, a solution would then be easy to achieve
Well done! Your “disaster scenario” reminded me in detail of the wildfires that consumed Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii not so long ago. I payed close attention out of worry for friends residing there a few years ago. The inhabitants faced precisely the challenges you outlined. Just one example; only one highway on which to evacuate with fires blocking exits. There is discussion that Maui should not be inhabited again because the risk is unavoidable and yet those who have lived their lives there are reluctant to relocate. I was never able to locate my friends; must assume they were living back in the states as they were of advanced age and likely with children. But I’ll never know for sure.
As you are aware, in the USA, we are fighting the battle of our lives for Democracy daily and thus funds needed beyond what dear Joe Biden has legislated in prior years are tied up in a MAGA GOP House with purse strings in knots. We hope to change that situation but the impasse is prohibitive at present. Day by day we advocate, write, rally,
etc. especially around Willow and similar projects that were passed due to initial actions by our former president of whom I will not speak further. Have done all day. No more. We can focus on no meat, no flying, using less energy and switching to green alternatives, maintaining wardrobes of plastic free fabrics over lifetimes of use ignoring the “planned obsolescence “ encouraged by fashion houses. Oh my, too much coffee. ☕️. I’ve been on a roll. Nice change of topic although this is extinction level and governance may or may not be. Off topic, but hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the genocide going on there and the demonstrations here. Great interview! 😘❤️🇺🇸🇺🇦🌎😽😽🐾🐾🐾🐾🌎
Thanks Judith, indeed so many challenges at once to deal with!
Well done, Alexander. The opening question was fairly incredible following the introduction to the interview, but as always, you delivered a clear and unambiguous response. Thank you.
On a separate but related note, I posed a question in the Patreon chat for you and/or any of the other participants. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
With a bit of delay, I got back to your question in the chat and I changed the notification settings so next time, I should see it directly. Have a great weekend!
I think you handled that well. Priorities will be key. We know we can do it, but our priorities keep getting diverted.
Thanks Evelyne
The rueful laugh: perfect
The housefire analogy: perfect
Replace the term "subsidies" with "support": perfect
Save the mature trees: perfect
Vote for leaders prioritizing our planet: perfect
Well done!
Thanks Rena, I'm not sure why the word subsidies is so popular when talking about fossil fuels. I know WRI has been doing so for years. But that word can easily be misinterpreted by all who want to by using a narrow definition. Support is probably the better word, but as you know it is not my language so who am I to comment.
The word support will help more people better understand how this system has been working. You may not dream in English but you definitely have mastery of it.
PS Will you be attending COP 28 in Dubai?
I'm asked every year but since my last participation in Marrakech in 2016, I have each year decided not to go since I fear my contribution to solving the climate crisis by going there may not outweigh my contribution to the crisis itself by flying there. This year, in Dubai, there is basically no alternative, it can only be reached by plane.