Effa Tambenkongho
3 December 2011
A lecturer in sustainable energy at the University of Cambridge, Dr Stuart Scott, says the world has been distracted by commercials that manipulate people into buying new technological gadgets without considering the possible consequences for our planet. He was speaking at a press briefing, presenting the Interfaith Declaration on the climate change project to COP17 on Friday.
He said, “The earth keeps failing and we do not take notice because we are distracted”. Scott said everyday new technological discoveries are advertised, and we are just lured into getting them without checking the implications on our climate.
In his view, political leaders should do something about climate change issues because they are responsible for encouraging the business sector to produce goods which ultimately do serious harm to the earth. He believes politicians are silent because they receive financial backing from private sector contributors during their election campaigns.
Scott said our leaders should rather promote non-monetary values and steer society away from our rampant consumerism. Products can be produced to last longer so that they don’t have to be constantly replaced and thrown away. Describing our current situation he said, “We buy one and throw away the other”.
A second speaker at the event, Bishop Geoff Davis said this earth is God’s incredible creation which is now at stake. He added there should be a change of heart and behavior of humans as they live on earth.
The Group presented a declaration to the conference that reads, “Climate change is a symptom; the fever that our earth has contracted. The underlying disease is the disconnection from creation that plagues human societies throughout the earth. We the undersigned pledge to heal this disconnection by promoting and exemplifying compassion for all creation in all our actions”.
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