A GCSP interview with Alexander Verbeek on climate change, environmental activism, the climate summit, the pandemic, pollution, biodiversity loss, and other global challenges.
A startling headline to begin this article & certainly something to think about as plastic has invaded every facet of our lives. This is an excellent interview covering a range of subjects each important in their own right &, in your usual fashion, you do indeed weave the varying subjects into an interesting tale. I’ve enjoyed all your speeches & interviews in conjunction with GCSP & have taken advantage of courses they offer. Thank you for sharing this very informative exchange & for the wonderful photos of beautiful Geneva.
Happy to hear you liked it. Plastic seems to have invaded every aspect of our lives and every corner of the planet. It has now been found at the deepest bottom of the ocean, in the snow on Antarctica, etc. What a sad thought that millions of years from now 'archeologists (of whatever species is by then running this planet) can date our time easily in deep layers in the ground. The microplastics will still be there.
My first thought was “ew!” And then I saw your comment about Geneva. I, too, miss Geneva. I remember what it brought me in my life, and I remember the clarity of thought that I had when I was there, on larger issues. I have a phrase I use with friends when I am faced with a very challenging yet potentially very creative day of solutions-finding: “Let’s have a Geneva coffee...” which for us means, let’s grab a Lavazza coffee from the United Nations vending machine in the lower level of Building E of the Palais des Nations, coffee that is strong and sweet, and let’s get to work. So, on the issue of plastics and micro beads, I say, “Let’s grab a Geneva coffee and get to work on this... what direction do we want to go? What do we want to write at the center of the conceptual mind map of these solutions?” I leave you with that thought as I jump into my day, and I contemplate fewer disposables, fewer coffee cups, fewer vending machines... and simultaneously, more good coffee.
That's great coffee. And those disposables are something I may write on in the future. I often did on Twitter and in Substack comments, but it is worth an article.
Very interesting interview. So much to think about. Thank you for sharing this.
I like the GCSP, well worth a follow. Coincidentally, I was sitting on a train that would have continued on to Geneva when I listened to the podcast. I don't think I've ever given much thought to all the good things that have come out of Geneva.
So many good things came out of Geneva, especially in the field of humanitarian law and issues. The ICRC and lots of UN conventions have been negotiated there. The GCSP actually has its roots in the 1985 Geneva Summit where Reagan and Gorbachev met.
Plastic started out to be a boon to humans and now it’s the exact opposite. Seems even those plastic items that are recycled into polar fleece cause problems when they are washed and microfibers break off. Bottled water is not necessary if you live where you have accessible clean water. Many of the bottled waters use the same water as municipal water systems. Paying for the convenience of bottled water doesn’t make sense.
Thanks for the tip of following GCSP on Twitter. Another informative article.
Thank you, Lilly. An obvious way to change the behavior is to make plastic bottles more expensive than glass bottles that can be recycled. Looking at the amount of pollution plastic causes, I wonder why we don't let people just pay for it at the counter.
I have a friend who did post doc research in nano plastics on the Gulf of Mexico 10 years ago or so. His work was focused on nano plastics being ingested by some the tinier participants on the food chain. It was worrying then and must be much worse now. :(
I wasn't aware of plastic in the air. That is a new one for me.
Thank you Alexander. I will chew on this most likely for the rest of my life. Perhaps never see the day without this well meaning human product floating. Who would have known that it would pollute our environ(s) in such an incredible extensive way? I think that product producing companies can be held responsible for their products, by taking everything back they produced when discarded. I would like to know if there are any companies who support there product from 'the cradle to the grave' in a responsible way, perhaps starting at point of sale?
It’s a privilege to read your newsletter, Alex. liked everything about this particular entry. It’s more than possible to bring the mainstream Americans along since there is quite a lot of gardening and composting going on in all political groups here over the last two years. Also, hospitals are using compostable cutlery and more people are using reusable straws, walking places where there are sidewalks, small things. Our next elections are in two years time, which seems a long way off. Biden is doing well in the polls so far, though.
A startling headline to begin this article & certainly something to think about as plastic has invaded every facet of our lives. This is an excellent interview covering a range of subjects each important in their own right &, in your usual fashion, you do indeed weave the varying subjects into an interesting tale. I’ve enjoyed all your speeches & interviews in conjunction with GCSP & have taken advantage of courses they offer. Thank you for sharing this very informative exchange & for the wonderful photos of beautiful Geneva.
Happy to hear you liked it. Plastic seems to have invaded every aspect of our lives and every corner of the planet. It has now been found at the deepest bottom of the ocean, in the snow on Antarctica, etc. What a sad thought that millions of years from now 'archeologists (of whatever species is by then running this planet) can date our time easily in deep layers in the ground. The microplastics will still be there.
A sad thought indeed. I wonder if they will be puzzled at the magnitude of the strange relics.
My first thought was “ew!” And then I saw your comment about Geneva. I, too, miss Geneva. I remember what it brought me in my life, and I remember the clarity of thought that I had when I was there, on larger issues. I have a phrase I use with friends when I am faced with a very challenging yet potentially very creative day of solutions-finding: “Let’s have a Geneva coffee...” which for us means, let’s grab a Lavazza coffee from the United Nations vending machine in the lower level of Building E of the Palais des Nations, coffee that is strong and sweet, and let’s get to work. So, on the issue of plastics and micro beads, I say, “Let’s grab a Geneva coffee and get to work on this... what direction do we want to go? What do we want to write at the center of the conceptual mind map of these solutions?” I leave you with that thought as I jump into my day, and I contemplate fewer disposables, fewer coffee cups, fewer vending machines... and simultaneously, more good coffee.
That's great coffee. And those disposables are something I may write on in the future. I often did on Twitter and in Substack comments, but it is worth an article.
Very interesting interview. So much to think about. Thank you for sharing this.
I like the GCSP, well worth a follow. Coincidentally, I was sitting on a train that would have continued on to Geneva when I listened to the podcast. I don't think I've ever given much thought to all the good things that have come out of Geneva.
Love your pictures as well.
So many good things came out of Geneva, especially in the field of humanitarian law and issues. The ICRC and lots of UN conventions have been negotiated there. The GCSP actually has its roots in the 1985 Geneva Summit where Reagan and Gorbachev met.
How interesting! Thank you.
Plastic started out to be a boon to humans and now it’s the exact opposite. Seems even those plastic items that are recycled into polar fleece cause problems when they are washed and microfibers break off. Bottled water is not necessary if you live where you have accessible clean water. Many of the bottled waters use the same water as municipal water systems. Paying for the convenience of bottled water doesn’t make sense.
Thanks for the tip of following GCSP on Twitter. Another informative article.
Thank you, Lilly. An obvious way to change the behavior is to make plastic bottles more expensive than glass bottles that can be recycled. Looking at the amount of pollution plastic causes, I wonder why we don't let people just pay for it at the counter.
I have a friend who did post doc research in nano plastics on the Gulf of Mexico 10 years ago or so. His work was focused on nano plastics being ingested by some the tinier participants on the food chain. It was worrying then and must be much worse now. :(
I wasn't aware of plastic in the air. That is a new one for me.
Thank you Alexander. I will chew on this most likely for the rest of my life. Perhaps never see the day without this well meaning human product floating. Who would have known that it would pollute our environ(s) in such an incredible extensive way? I think that product producing companies can be held responsible for their products, by taking everything back they produced when discarded. I would like to know if there are any companies who support there product from 'the cradle to the grave' in a responsible way, perhaps starting at point of sale?
It’s a privilege to read your newsletter, Alex. liked everything about this particular entry. It’s more than possible to bring the mainstream Americans along since there is quite a lot of gardening and composting going on in all political groups here over the last two years. Also, hospitals are using compostable cutlery and more people are using reusable straws, walking places where there are sidewalks, small things. Our next elections are in two years time, which seems a long way off. Biden is doing well in the polls so far, though.