Down to the Wire

Confronting Climate CollapseDavid Orr

Introduction

• A pragmatic book about the synthesis of politics, history, religion, and public policies

• Explores solutions for how future generations

might address global problems

• Practical

Chapter 1Governance

• How well does the constitution work relative to the climate and environment?

• We have not had an open and honest system that encourages public participation

• The hardest tests are to come and have to do with the relationship between governance, politics, and the dramatic changes in earth systems

• Transformational Leadership-creative leaders

Chapter 2Politics and Governance

• There are a lot of forces that work against democracy. Al Gore argues that decades of TV have contributed to irrationality

• The American voter, according to Rick Shenkman, is pretty stupid (pg. 51). We are distracted by consumption

• Societies fail (Pg 54).

Chapter 3Leadership in the Long Emergency

• Abraham Lincoln pg. 88 – He did not overthink the subject– He saw how the issue was central to other issues– He used language and logic with mastery– He did not abuse religion to describe it

• Lincoln’s ideas are important to us because they help us understand the the importance of the larger framework

Chapter 3Leadership in the Long Emergency

• FDR Pg. 92– Displayed positive energy– Understood people– Restored confidence

• Obama Vs. Bush Administration• Energy Policies• Use Persuasion• True Leadership

Chapter 4The Carbon Connection

• Carbon Dioxide is at its highest level in 650,000 years and continues to rise

• Example p.117—mountains turned onto gravel• Coal mines• Experts justify the destruction on the grounds

of necessity and cost• Americans & Prozac— “I can do nation”

Chapter 5The Spirit of Connection

• U.S. most Christian—least in Christian behavior

• “Religious nuttiness”: Blames Bush• Homo Sapiens Pg. 138• Bush is gone, but the extreme fundamentalists

are still with us

Chapter 6Millennial Hope

• Gloom and doom• Liabilities Vs. Potentials• Cognitive Dissonance: people holding 2

contrary beliefs….are we proficient rationalizers?

• Begins in childhood—according to psychologists pg. 166

Chapter 7Hope at the End of Our Tether

• Optimism Vs. Hope• Feeling optimistic is hard BUT,

• How do we find authentic hope in the face of climate change?

Chapter 8The Upshot: What is to Be Done

• Obama running 2 deficits: Money, credit and ecological.

• The President needs to put in to place a government that is transformational

• Proposals include:– Creation of council of elders (pg 209)– Transformational leadership needs to come from

all those in political power in DC

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