by Lynn White
An agreement by countries to phase out fossil fuels would be “one of the most significant events in the history of humanity,” according to Al Gore, amid wrangling by governments at Cop28. “If there were a decision here to surprise the world to say ‘OK we get it now, we’ve made enough money, we will get on with what needs to be done to give young people a sense of hope again and stop as much as suffering as possible and start the phase-out of fossil fuels,’ it would be one of the most significant events in the history of humanity,” the former US vice-president said. —The Guardian, December 4, 2023
*
I sometimes have a Gorey moment wondering what could have been if the hanging chads hadn’t hung, or if Gore had hung up his gentleman’s suit and cried “Fraud” as loudly as Trump was to do. No hate to fuel 9/11, no war in Iraq, perhaps the end of history would be nigh as Fukuyama predicated, existing divisions becoming historic and no new ones created. With more Gore less blood would be spilled. There would be no Bushfires burning the sun would be shining but without its intensity, the storms would be still and the world would be stable. It was hanging by a thread and we missed it missed the chance to grasp those chads hanging.
*
Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality and writes hoping to find an audience for her musings. She was shortlisted in the Theatre Cloud 'War Poetry for Today' competition and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and a Rhysling Award. Her poetry has appeared in many publications including: Apogee, Firewords, Peach Velvet, Light Journal, and So It Goes. Find Lynn on Facebook.
So glad Lynn revisited this moment...I myself gave up what that imagined administration would have looked like, done, achieved and I could never wrap my head around why there was no fight for the throne and it would have been legitimate ... a mystery of modern politics in the US. To even imagine a US politco saying "OK we get it now, we've made enough money ...." Of course this poem makes me sad ... and a bit hopeless because I see no young Gore in the wings.