Political Thread of the Week

The 24-hour concert extravaganza Live Earth is coming up on Saturday and while most of us will merely be grooving on the likes of the reunited Police set, there is a serious political agenda that sponsors such as Al Gore are trying to inject into the dialogue surrounding the concerts this week. Attendees of the nine concerts will be asked to sign on to the following seven-point declaration:

• To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
• To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO₂ pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become 'carbon neutral;'
• To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO₂;
• To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
• To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
• To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
• To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.
  

Now, I've got no issue with the points that are more social, but those that focus on individuals being more "carbon neutral" chap my ass. Afterall I can sort my recycled goods til I'm blue in the face but the Target Megasuperstore down the block is always going to swamp my puny efforts.

This objection isn't going to prevent me from tuning into Bravo at 9 a.m. on Saturday - and I'm be blogging on and off here during the day if you choose to join me - but it may dampen my enthusiasm a bit. Any comments?