Hot Air In Copenhagen (2009) Poem by NAYYAR SHABBIR AHMAD

They descended on Copenhagen in
their droves from all over the Globe
by private jet
plane
cruise ship
stretch limousine
some - admittedly - by more modest means
But, all belching zillions of carbon emissions
for a 2 week jamboree
of arguing
bickering
wrangling
in-fighting
and grandstanding
those hectoring, self-righteous, and often vainglorious
diplomats, journalists, global warming hypocrites,
activists. sceptics, outright deniers, ego-trippers etc. etc.

And, lest we forget, the hoards and hoards of prostitutes
employed by an otherwise disorganised Host
to service the needs of the idiosyncratic multitude

The chaotic co-ordinators hired a hall fit for a mere 15 thousand delegates
Whereas 145 thousand denizens of varied description turned up
Thus, the scene was set for rowdy powwows and fireworks
Amongst which were protest marches galore
mass walk-ins, mass walk-outs,
stirring speeches
blatant fudging
and, dodging anything unpalatable
or considered politically incorrect

The West and South were constantly at loggerheads
about setting emission targets
and monitory compensation
considerable arm twisting and arm wrestling took place
Corporations bent on protecting their own interests, attended
as did hypocrites
know-it-alls
charlatans et. al.


Certain Mediators promised to decrease carbon emissions
only to hop back on a plane to their Home Countries
in order to approve plans for the construction of, state of the art, airports
whose planes promise to discharge even more carbon!

192 Countries were represented
All with diverse agendas
Minutes were taken
countless trees felled for paper
there were arguments
propaganda
uphill struggles
downward trends
finger pointing
accusations
vacuous spinning etc.

But, after all that
The negotiators and hard workers
were pushed aside as their Leaders
looking all-important
and knowledgeable
breezed into Town at the last minute
for the grand ‘signing of resolutions’ ceremony

Only one thing was missing
there was no resolution
no binding agreement
only blinding photo opportunities
‘note’ taking
and promises to meet again in Mexico
in a years time
for another summit
and further initiatives

Thats the way
put off until tomorrow
Something - apart from posturing
you could start putting into practice today

Over the years, a constant accusation and suspicion has been:
The West industrialized at a leisurely pace
polluting rivers, land and atmosphere
Now, it doesn’t like the South progressing in leaps and bounds
So it’s devised a plan to blame China
India
Brazil etc
for what it calls Climate change
Its empty promises easily offer the South millions of dollars
as compensation for desisting from denuding their lands
only to just as easily, go back on its word and resist compensation



Contrary to belief
I’m a believer in climate change
but, it isn’t as straightforward as people think it is

Take population explosion, for example
It’s very relevant
But, few people give it much thought

nor do they consider the natural progress of nature
one can’t change it
an earthquake here, a typhoon or snow blizzard there
puts all targets, however well thought-out, off limits


Anyway, if summits on climate change are as urgent as we’re told they are
Where have the politicians been these last few decades?
When rain forests were being chopped down at an alarming rate
Or, farm land was being cleared for biofuel?
I could name many, many other abuses
But, you know them too


I predict that within a few years
No amount of meetings and pledges will come to anything
Money and compensation will be the bone of contention
the West will loose some of its economic muscle
the South will become ever more powerful
politics and grandstanding won’t matter
economics will
Climate change will take a backseat
As Nations compete with each other
for fewer resources
and, an unpredictable nature