Two news items. Can you spot the difference?
“Something Big Just Happened at COP – Wealthy countries might finally pay for the climate change they caused.” / The Atlantic 30 Nov 2023
“Several countries immediately announced their intended contribution to the fund. The United Arab Emirates and Germany each said they would give $100 million. The U.K. pledged more than$50 million, and Japan committed to $10 million. The U.S. said it would provide $17.5 million, a small number given its responsibility for the largest historical share of global emissions.”
[The total pledged to date is approx $400 million. That amount will go up. Estimates for actual need range in the hundreds of billions. However agreement of the fund is a significant achievement and a coup for the hosts]
“Mellon Foundation Doubles Funding for U.S. Monuments, Pledging a Total $500 Million – The philanthropy will add to its ongoing initiative to tell diverse stories with new monuments in public spaces over the next five years.” / New York Times 28 Nov 2023
[The monuments are lovely creations]
Spotted the difference? It’s $100 million.
False equivalence? Of course. I just can’t find the words to delve into this further.
OK – maybe I do need to elaborate and find some words.
I simply don’t understand how a US foundation can find $500 million to fund monuments, while the international community, under duress during a highly public conference, pledges $400 million to compensate poorer countries for damages related to climate change.
I know this is a false equivalence. I know the monuments are a worthy, beautiful cause.
But really, where is the justice in this?
[…] [My take on COP28, in Dubai, was that the forces which compel us to degrade our biosphere manage to exert control in everything. “Tens of thousands fly to COP 28 – which is somewhat ironic in itself – (… and these forces) stack the deck with fossil fuel enthusiasts.” One of the outcomes, hailed as a great success, were initial pledges of $400 million to compensate poorer countries for damages related to climate change. Which is a trivial amount given the costs now and into the future. At much the same time a US foundation pledged $500 million to fund various monuments. I know this is a false equivalence. I know the monuments are a worthy, beautiful cause. But really, where is the justice in this? (see previous post)] […]
OK – maybe I do need to elaborate and find some words.
I simply don’t understand how a US foundation can find $500 million to fund monuments, while the international community, under duress during a highly public conference, pledges $400 million to compensate poorer countries for damages related to climate change.
I know this is a false equivalence. I know the monuments are a worthy, beautiful cause.
But really, where is the justice in this?