A Call to Responsibility

This last week, I've had a conversation with some colleagues about academics and writers who write, think and talk about Climate Change for their career, and yet who also fly to give talks, papers and attend conferences for their work.

The problem was presented as if these writers are attempting to go and do some good. One person talked about flying to a Climate Change conference, yet was delayed due to a Plane Stupid action at the airport. This person was incredulous that they had been delayed. 'I was actually going [abroad] to make a difference' she declared. I have mixed reactions to this.

It is admirable that she wants to DO something about Climate Change, and all its' consequences. Even if that involved participating in some structural injustice that would continue apace whether or not she partook in said flight. I couldn't formulate a specific - or coherent - response at the time, yet this statement left me with disquiet. I spoke for a bit about the relationship between the message and the median, how the manner in which you convey a certain statement ought to be part of that statement. How a message is delivered changes that message, however subtly.

I also mentioned how a problem can't be solved with the same thinking that started, or caused, it. That old Einstein chestnut.

However, I wasn't entirely convinced by my responses. I want to avoid utilitarianism, but there must conceivably be a situation where to commit an immoral (sinful even) or harmful action may be the least worst thing we could do. For now, I'm going to content myself that these are matters for the soul. (Which is not to say our individual soul.) These exterior actions are reflective of our interior, or moral, wrangling.

Particularly with regard to Carbon emissions, so deeply harmful to the least well off, the poor and marginalised, we are completely complicit. What do we do that doesn't in some way contribute to the problem? This complicity ought to drive us inward, to reflect, chew and wrestle with what the best use of our skills, time and resources is the most alive way to be.

Perhaps this is a get out of jail free card to the problem? Everyone to themselves, no meta-morals to promote or defend. Perhaps it is.

But if taken seriously, this call to be responsible (the ability to respond rightly) for our actions, the way we go about our lives could be the most profoundly challenging thing we'll ever do.