‘Big picture’ thinking for our small world
‘‘It’s a small world after all’’. Simple words of a well-known song. Very true words as a microscopic mutant virus originating in a normal local marketplace is currently severely impacting our whole world in an unprecedented way.
As the song states there have indeed been cause for tears and increasing fears as globally we realise how much we share and become acutely aware of how small our world is.
In days of sailing boats and sea-mail, people living in isolated countries like New Zealand would still be totally unaware any new disease had even broken out. Fast air travel brings us all closer together physically. Communication now connects immediately with technology rolling daily details, international images, statistics, opinions, and updates.
Everyone feels the effects as waves of change impact imports, exports, sports, businesses, share markets, or holidays. We commented how glad we are to be living out in the country feeling relatively safe from this covid character, but even here we are not protected from fallout.
Lamb prices dramatically dropped as countries we supply shut down. Only short-term slumps hopefully, but budgets require revision. We may live in a world of hopes but are very aware that we are part of this small world even in more isolated homes with lower contagion risks.
Many visitors pass through, some after arriving on international flights, our gang is a shearer short because restricted overseas travel delayed one worker returning and a friend is in lockdown in a foreign country.
No risk of being among big crowds in our corner of the world but I did go over the hill to be in a full stadium of participants in the launch of the ‘‘Nelson/Tasman Climate Forum, A community–led actionoriented project to bring the region together’’.
With their aim to hear the voice of the community and together plan for the future I chose to be part of the conversation. Having over 300 voices in the room expressing diverse opinions from widely differing perspectives was an interesting experience.
It felt like a Green Party paton-the-back party at times. Applause erupted when one speaker announced how many Nissan Leafs and pushbikes were outside. Should I feel bad because I drove 21⁄2 hours in a second-hand petrol wagon to attend?
Almost a self-righteous divide forming and maybe reminder required to respect other’s choices and reasons for what they eat, buy, park in the garage or how many offspring they produce.
Sometimes decisions do have unintended outcomes, like the planting trees to offset initiative which is creating whole farm monocultures of pines undermining rural communities.
I wonder if long term, enough sustainable energy is produced to power those increasing numbers of electric vehicles, what the impact of mining lithium is, and how disposal of all those batteries will be managed in a few years.
So I was glad that I was able to be there to contribute and to listen. The well-organised afternoon finished with a group discussion on 14 comprehensive topics covering buildings, transport, community resilience, culture, decision making and handling divides.
Being a producer of quality food and natural fibre ‘‘Food and Natural Fibre Systems’’ was my choice. Ideas ranged from composting, vegan diets, food cooperatives, reducing waste and sharing surplus. Farming was touched on but we didn’t delve into the methane versus carbon dioxide politics.
How great if governments local and national led the way in abandoning oil-based products, instead using the most sustainable biodegradable product with wool carpets, upholstery, insulation and uniforms.
It will be interesting to see what comes out and I’ll possibly attend follow-up gatherings. There will be challenges focusing on just our region as Top-of-the-South is a tourist destination heavily dependent on land, sea and air transport for both travel and entertainment. That creates significant emissions. Maybe some things need to be considered from a nationwide view.
Also food off our region’s farms feeds families overseas. Placing restrictions on agriculture to reduce ‘‘footprint’’ locally will limit production here. Meaning that food will need to be produced in countries overseas.
Since NZ has the lowest emission farming systems in the world, the consequence of growing food in a higher emission environment overall generates a worse situation.
This is really ‘‘big picture’’ stuff that requires thinking for the international good. It truly is a small small world after all.