Clive Bibby: “We don’t know how lucky we are”

Most will remember the very popular theme song sung by that intrepid freedom fighter Fred Dagg as he and his band of “Trev” eco warriors waded through the pristine waters of our rural rivers.

But never a more serious truth was uttered in jest.

Here in our own little bit of paradise, well away from the polluted world (most of which is beyond redemption) we still have the ability to change the way we do things before we become collateral damage of those larger nations whose selfish actions will influence what ultimately happens to us all.

I’m not saying we should give up yet but if the climate gurus are right about the irreversible damage that has already been done to the planet, it is going to be a long hard slog trying to make a difference when our influence on its own is irrelevant in the whole scheme of things.

I suppose there are those who say we are already innocent bystanders rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as we head for oblivion.

However, I am not one of those people and my experience tells me that there are others who are likewise committed to a better future while there is still a chance that the doomsday experts might be wrong.

But when battling the odds like we are, there are a few things that need to be taken into account when plotting a survival strategy.

The first one being that any plans for the future need to be based on a visionary approach that will lead us to a better place.

It is no longer acceptable to be repeating what we have done for centuries expecting a different result. That in modern parlance is described as the definition of madness.

It is incumbent on those who demonstrate real leadership skills to design plans that will excite the bulk of humanity and convince them to join the growing numbers who still see a better future for us all. - it’s called vision.

The second thing we need to acknowledge is that any change will need to accommodate all the limiting factors that have led us to this parlous state.

In my neck of the woods, those debilitating factors include local political grievances that are the vehicle being used by a select few with an exaggerated sense of entitlement to prevent progress unless it is on their own selfish terms.

We simply can’t afford to continue indulging this tiny section of the community who have held us back for years. Their time in the Sun is over!

The last thing for inclusion in our utopian plans is that every person, irrespective of their position on the social ladder, race, gender or sexual preference needs to see a benefit in it for them personally.

And the good news is that Fred Dagg was right to suggest we are a rich nation capable of turning things around based on the wealth of our natural resources and our multi cultural heritage that will provide the strength of purpose we need during the process.

Time to come aboard - there’s room for all.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.