THE PEPONI POST 1H

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The

1H

Hilary 2020

Post

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The Headmaster’s Address Speech delivered to the School on 6th January 2020 ver the holiday there was much to celebrate and enjoy. However, against this backdrop of joyous parties and our reasons for celebration the news coming out of Australia made grim reading. For those suffering the loss of loved ones or those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, it must have been horrific. For the rest of us the issues with climate and the problems facing humanity were brought to the front. It won’t be news to any of us that we’re facing what many are calling a climate emergency. You may be tired of hearing about it: for many people a sense of fatigue has set in. It’s very important that we shouldn’t try to block it from our consciousness, though, because I believe there’s no more pressing, urgent, important, crucial issue facing humanity.

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The very future of our planet is at stake. Sir David Attenborough has asked whether we’re happy to suppose that future generations may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book. It’s over a year since scientists issued what has been referred to as a ‘final call’, in the most extensive warning yet on the risks of rising global temperatures. Their dramatic report on keeping that rise under 1.5 degrees makes clear that the world is now completely off track, heading instead towards 3 degrees Centigrade. It’s a scary read – for us and, even more so, for the next generation and those who follow. Greta Thunberg angrily expressed her views to world leaders and asked why has nothing been done. There seems to be a danger that we will continue to do nothing. Australians are clearly angry with their government at the moment and potentially it will lead to a change in that countries direction over the next few months

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February or years. However, Europe, the Americas, African nations all seem to be bumbling along with, what seems to me, little intention of change. The book of Genesis insists that human beings, are stewards over God’s creation and God’s good earth. We’re not making a very good job of it, to put it mildly.It’s easy to feel paralysed in the face of so great an impending disaster. But if we all do that, we sink. Much wiser to heed the Chinese proverb, “it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness”, and do what little we can. Collectively, we can make a difference. When we were addressed by the environmental profession from Ol Pejeta last term, we were asked to sacrifice a Christmas gift and make a donation to a charity. The hall was full of raised hands and our language of intention was excellent. I wonder how much money was donated; how many made that sacrifice.

We can make a difference but we need to change our intentions into actions. I believe we are the custodians of this good earth and it is our responsibility that we leave it to the next generation better than we found.

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