Copenhagen Climate Summit - Might as well be walking on the sun

“…But if the offer is shun, you might as well be walking on the sun.”

Some of you might remember these lyrics from Smashmouth’s song, “Walkin on the Sun.”

Although the song is about something different, I am reminded of the chorus of this popular tune when thinking about the Global Climate Summit happening in Copenhagen.

I love the earth and nature. I planted two trees recently. I recycle. But I am by no means an expert on climate change or the environment. However recently for work, I was asked to monitor Copenhagen (that’s what folks refer to it as). And I got to tell you – WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

• Small island nations are screwed - their islands are already getting swallowed up slowly by the warming waters, their coral reefs are bleaching (=getting destroyed), and fish supplies are diminishing. They want the most stringent climate control measures possible. Makes sense.
• Developing countries have banded together (for the most part) demanding accountability (in climate measures and finance) from developed countries like the U.S., the Europeans, and Japan, who have pretty much done the most damage. But they don’t want to stray too far from the Kyoto Protocol which let them more off the hook in terms of emissions standards. Also makes sense.

“We, the developing countries... when we think in money, we should not think that someone is paying us a favour…We should not think that someone is giving something that we are begging for, because the money that would be put on the table is the payment for greenhouse emissions released over two centuries by those countries that industrialised themselves first."

- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from BBC article

• India and China are taking the lead on demanding answerability from countries like the U.S. But as up-and-coming polluters because of their growing economies, China and India have a vested interest in not making climate controls too stringent or involving monitoring (China will not agree to monitoring) Okay.

• U.S., the Europeans, and Japan - they all agree that something needs to happen now and fast but there is a question of finance to poorer countries (how much) and emissions targets. And they want emerging economies like: China, India, Brazil to be held to the fire as well for taking strong climate measures and being monitored. I can understand from their view.
• U.S. and China have been playing the power game of “whose ______ is bigger?” which has been a significant barrier to progress in making a deal. Sorry I can’t relate.

• Finally, it is likely that NONE OF THIS WILL BE LEGALLY BINDING.

= WE, AS INHABITANTS OF THE PLANET, ARE IN BIG DOO-DOO

Now as I said, I’m not an expert so I could have gotten it all wrong.

More power to the developing world for tag-teaming it and standing up for their rights. Indeed, they are not responsible for the bulk of the damage that has already been done unto the earth.

But that does not diminish the reality of a warming climate. India, oh motherland of mine, you can stick it to the man, but without taking serious measures, you are going to be sticking it to your people (poor ppl first of course) and your over-populated but incredibly diverse and beautiful land!

In order to survive as a planet, we really need to start evolving from politics as usual. Is 2012 that far-fetched? I mean, people are already matter-of-factly speaking about different places going underwater soon.

I guess I should not arrive at a judgment before the summit actually ends. The media at Christmas time suggests that miracles do happen.

Yet I can’t help but feel the urge to start spending more time with nature, visiting beautiful ecosystems around the world in the next several years, while our “leaders” sort out how WE are going to save them...

Uncle Drinking in the Basement

I’m all for online dating, matchmaking sites. I have seen and heard of a lot of great people, including good friends of mine, find a wonderful partner and/or significant other via the web.

This build-up of course, is leading to a……..BUT

Enter Shady.com, officially known as Shaadi.com. Now envision a fifty-something Indian uncle sitting in a basement sipping a glass of Old Monk Rum or five, and creating the world’s largest (self-proclaimed) matrimonial online service for the Indian community.

First, let me clarify a few culture-specific usages for those unfamiliar:

• “Uncle” & “Aunty” - Most brown folks of the South Asian persuasion use these terms to refer to members of the community that are older and not necessarily blood related. It’s a title used for respect but not always a term of endearment.
• Shaadi – means wedding in Hindi (Indian language, not a religion, or ethnicity).
• Caste – Yes, I said it – you’ve probably heard it. It was/is a social system and hierarchy prevalent in India which seems more bad than good. The Wikipedia entry on Caste drives home the fact that at the very least, it is a super controversial topic.

I love and respect those I know who have found their future brides and grooms on shaadi.com. And here’s another….BUT, I was helping a friend get set-up on this site, and it rocked my world, in an, “are you joking?!!” kind of way. The front page looks all innocent and promising and then POW!

WHY IS CASTE A REQUIRED FIELD FOR REGISTRATION? No blank option. The only non-specific answers in the drop down menu are: I DON’T KNOW that could make you look like a moron or out of touch, and OTHER which has its own negative implications to some.

WHY IS THE DEFAULT FOR MOTHER’S OCCUPATION – HOMEMAKER? Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I don’t think the father has that same default.

WHY DO PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO PUT DOWN COMPLEXION (lighter skin still translates to prettier even if you are unattractive) AND WHAT THE HELL DOES WHEATISH COMPLEXION MEAN?

All of this leads me to believe in a wise friend’s thought: that this site was actually created by an uncle drinking in his basement. An old school, traditional, conservative uncle. And when I say drinking, I don’t mean water. And when I say basement, I mean one of those bomb shelters that he must have been in for at least twenty years before we began to evolve some more.

Because clearly, from the incredible diversity of relationships across caste, class, race, religion, gender, etc, we know that you don’t have to be cut from the same cloth to be compatible. We also know that all the measures, requirements and criteria in the world do not guarantee a perfect match. Don't we?

And yet uncle, you still think its okay to make caste a required category to register to meet someone? Aren’t you just forcing a whole new generation to continue a practice that well, we aren’t shouting from the rooftops about?

Okay so one alcoholic uncle in a basement is probably not the mastermind behind this website.

BUT it’s less troubling than thinking about shady.com as the brain child of a group of uncles, with wheatish complexions drinking in the basement…