Listen. The word’s telling you it doesn’t want your crap anymore. So here’s a quick and easy guide to walk you through saving yourself and the planet...according to sire Thomas Friedman... let’s hope he’s right.
Step 1: Don’t go anywhere birds don’t fly
Unfortunately, we’re already living in that zone. Our hot, flat and crowded earth is turning Americans into Russians. Gone are the good-old days of Clinton-like diplomacy. Freidman says that in America nowadays, birds don’t fly because there’s nothing “on the other side” of the War on Terror.
Americans are known to be friendly, so please don’t go cold turkey on us. Here’s how you (America) can help: Freidman says innovate. Invite those who innovate, collaborate with those who innovate, lead those who innovate—don’t keep talking green, live green America! Show the birds you’re where the nests are, or the birds will simply go to Russia... or maybe even China.
Freidman says it starts now. 1 E.C. E means that the world is hot (just look outside. This time last year, the snow didn’t melt until after Easter!). The world is flat: it’s been flat for a while, hence imports from Seychelles through Amazon. com. The world is crowded: think New York City, not China or India. It’s closer than you think.
So, with warmer weather conditions, easier commerce and communication, and more brains to innovate, it should be easier right? Apparently, not quite. Don’t become the nation where birds don’t fly: direct the birds to their right nests. The world still wants America to be a global leader. Greening is becoming an international trend and America should lead it. Not Costa Rica or Switzerland or France.
Step 2: Stop the Carbon Copies
Taller buildings mean improved civilization, so why should the World stop displaying the wonders of modern architecture just because America’s done with its construction work? We’ve heard of Doha and Dalian, Dubai and Durban, but there are thousands more skyscraper cities sprouting up around the world, and it just won’t stop. If the world enjoys copying America, how about re-defining what it means to be American? How about leading and encouraging the newest stage of green construction? Friedman says it’s all in the design. It only makes sense to save money while designing new buildings, and this nation probably won’t want to bite its tongue, nagging China to become green while the West was the hub of the pollution industry only a few years ago.
Step 3: Don’t feed the Petro-dictatorships
Make way! The Russians are coming! And so are the Arabs!
The countries with the largest supply of oil tend to be the worst dictatorships. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela lead the way for other deviant oil producing countries. Freidman found that as oil prices go up, so does corruption and repression in petro-dictatorship nations.
How you can help: establish proper relations with alternative oil-producing nations such as Norway, Angola, Nigeria, and Mexico—countries that have, based on common trends, welcomed improved U.S foreign relations. This nation could also manage its energy use more efficiently and channel its use of petro-energy to the most beneficial uses. There need not be a complete boycott of oil resources, but proper management is surely needed.
Step 4: Give to the poor
Poor people won’t think twice about saving the environment. America may work ten thousand times harder to become green, but the poorest Congolese, Chinese, and Indians won’t think twice about setting their entire country ablaze if it meant better living conditions for their families. All this green work is being thrown off in another country—no matter if they are rich or poor nations, where air-conditioners are used 24-hours a day, seven days a week three hundred and sixty six days a leap year, because it’s too hot. Desperately poor countries really won’t care about the environment in their suffering—they’re too hot to be bothered, and they can’t afford to be green. If we all live in the same world, the nations that can afford to be green will have to share the price of this burden, or else, we’ll all soon be fried. Rich and poor nations, alike.
Step 5: Don’t be afraid of government
Though none of us likes to be ruled or controlled, governments exist because nations can’t be managed communally—there’s simply no other way to do it. Governments and politics exist for a reason. In the United States, the littlest government-proposed reform seems to spark the greatest amount of political squabble. Goodness America! Why are you so scared of socialism? Have you ever lived in a socialist nation before? Do you know what it means to actually live in one? As a great, literate, wealthy, and powerful nation with no history, apparent or immediate desire to become a China, Russia or even England in the least, why is the American populace so scared of the slightest proposal of government management? Government management in America simply means direction from the government in a worldwide context, and successful nations do it everyday. It will save this nation energy, time, and money if it agreed to be lead by its government, and the populace worked with government more often, rather than constantly criticize its proposals. Does being American really mean being red and blue? As Friedman says, green is the new red, white and blue. It’s important to make consensus. The Democrat-Republican battle is leading to no progress, quite frankly.
Step 6: Change your habits, and government will follow
Freidman thinks it’s more effective to influence your leaders, but if don’t like their recommendations, then start with these “simple” steps and save energy on your own:
i) Ditch your car. Call for public transportation and the Waverly City Council will have to develop one.
ii) Make it smaller. Everything in the U.S is big. Not too many people are oversized. Smaller building space, smaller cars, smaller Big Macs, and smaller stuff will lead to less energy consumption and more effective use of resources.
iii) Recycle. This country is already quite good with that. Make it easy, convenient and cheap.
iv) Play the guilt card if you have to. No one likes to be a jerk. If you notice anti-green behavior, discourage immediately.
v) Compete. Why so blue? Green is the new black! Countries like China will like to pick up on this new trend. Others in the Middle-East will like to boost their image with the latest green fashion. Challenge your friends on the internet... but don’t leave your computer on for too long.
Step 7: Become a tree-hugging, vaguely European nation.
The world listens to America. When Americans endorse Susan Boyle, the world took note. When Americans objected to the treatment of the Dalai Lama, the world heard. If Americans protest against the razing of the Amazon, the world will listen. Do not under-estimate the socio-political clout of this nation, despite its economic struggles. When the U.S. reacts, the world will respond (at least slightly).
Freidman highlights loss of biodiversity as a theme throughout his book. Climate change is evident and energy resource supply and demand provide conditions for the development of a tree-hugging, vaguely European nation. Freidman says, “If it isn’t boring, it isn’t green.” The word “green” has espoused bad public relations sentiments, but it can become a standard. If Americans adopt the tree-hugging fad, this country can make it look cool, and the world will follow.
Step 8: Sustain yourself
Don’t buy too much (like I need to tell you that) don’t consume too much, and don’t “live” away too much stuff. Use just enough. (This is Freidman’s underlying theme). I know—easier said than done, but it saves time, money and energy if done.
Feeling tempted?
You should.
Step 9: Negotiate
A theme that stretches throughout the book. Friedman says we’ll have to negotiate with the NGOs, developing and developed countries, their citizens and governments, and different groups. There are too many Noah’s and too many arks. If we don’t bother to negotiate now, the world will become terribly crowded and very soon, we’ll all be able to see Russians from our houses. (Which would be quite cool, actually).
Step 10: Declare a War on Climate Change
Five themes highlight the book: Energy and resource supply and demand, Petro-dictatorships, Biodiversity loss, Climate Change, Energy poverty
Freidman endorses “out-greening” as a strategy for fighting terrorism, and it’s very convincing. Encourage Obama to declare a War on Climate Change; and the birds will soon fly again. Weather conditions will be more favorable, and though the world may still be flat and crowded, we will not be so hot, which just makes everything much more bearable.
I should know. I’m from Africa :)
Goodluck!
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