15/02/24. Thank you for the opening session of
the course on SDG´s.
I would like to signal a couple of things,
related not exactly to the session, but to the global context in which it is
placed. And excuse me if my contribution to your reflection, seems too
“philosophical” not to say political to an early note, but is my honest
perception, that even if we try hard to behave as we were used to do it, all
levels in which our existences occur, are changing deeper and faster than our
personal and collective ways to cope with it are made for. Recognizing reality,
in which it is -as well in which it is not-, it is a well-known principle of
science and as we convened, of building trust.
And if I take the floor of the text (…), with
these introduction to my words, it´s because, as you know, last year was the
hottest year in 125.000 years, or as we can always differ on scientific studies,
since records are kept, in 200 years, or at least, as the general secretary of
UN, Antonio Guterrez said in presenting to the assembly the results of the IPCC
6TH SR, in March 20, last
year: “Carbon dioxide concentrations are the highest they have been for at
least two million years”. But even if it is certain, that this is the product
of the burning of fossil fuels, last year was also the one whit recall most
inversions in projects to extract fossil hydrocarbons (HCF). Not hearing the
least his proposition of a Climate Solidarity Pact through an Acceleration
Agenda, presented to the countries of the G20, which could be (or may I say
“could have been”?...) the way to accomplish the Paris Agreements, and not to
surpass 1,5°C, which is considered as a tipping point, that as the temperature
continue to rise, it is accepted that we´ll attain in 2024. In Santiago de
Chile, where I am, we are experiencing 16 continued years of drought, very
large fires, melting of Andean glaciers, as well of enormous parts of the
Antarctica, and quite unusual temperatures of more than 40°, with devastating
impacts on health and the general wellbeing of the population.
Anyway, confronting in advance the general mood
of despair, that these commentaries could provoke, in the sense of built
partnerships based on trust, I´ll will quote this same UN General Secretary, Antonio
Guterrez, saying then, that “we need a quantum leap” in the form we think and
do things. As Albert Camus said, we have to imagine Sysiphus happy, pushing the
rock of consciousness, to the top of the mountain of absurdity…
Indeed, I dare to write some words to all of
you, after our first session, because in the previous day, confronting the call
of the platform to participate in a dialogue, I realized that -maybe- the form
to materialize that “quantum leap” could be to propose, as I deed, the
consideration of a new SDG, that I called: “Peace on earth”, which not being
considered, is really the one who transcends an determine all contemporary
society, as two years of annihilation wars, which, as the extraction and
production of fossil fuels, with which is inextricably mixed, indicates, it´s
expanding its manifold horrors. Did you know, for example that de DoD of the
US, is the single entity in the world who burns more HCF?... We should engage a
serious reflection on the “entanglement” of economic and military powers, and our
human wellbeing, and if this is could take us away, of our already fixed and established
goals in the course, as the little bird in the Zen story, who when a great fire
was burning all the forest and the animals run to escape, once and again, took
a drop of water in a nearby source and threw it the nearest to the flames it
could, and when a fox saw what was doing, asked to him sardonically: “come on,
little bird, do you think that you are going to extinguish the fire?”… And the
bird responded; “I don´t know if I´m going to extinguish the fire, but I am
doing my part”.
Hope the seed will fall in fertile earth.
Thanks for your lecture and peace be with you all.
Fraternalmente, Rainer María.
