Copenhagen, "one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind"?

Climate change is the most serious threat posed to our society both in the West and the East. Despite the sceptics, the evidence is irrefutable as to the damage that will be caused if our politicians do not take decisive steps over the next 14 days to reduce our carbon emissions. This will be a real test for the leaders of the 192 countries now gathering in Copenhagen. Unprecedented was the publication by 56 newspapers in 45 countries of the same editorial to highlight the serious state that the world is in. Well done to the Guardian for leading on this

As with these newspapers we all need to put pressure on our politicians and leaders to make the correct decisions. Equally, we have to make a commitment to modify our lifestyles. It won't be easy but we have no choice. The Future Directions of all our lives and more importantly those of our children rests in the hands of our world leaders and politicians.

The first step in achieving this was to get our world leaders to Copenhagen for at least some of the next 14 days. With the worlds’ eyes on them, we now expect them to make and take the necessary actions to bring the developed and the developing countries together to progress the inevitable difficult economic and political decisions that have to be made.

Forty years ago in 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to step out onto the lunar surface with his famous quote “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind”. As the world looks to Copenhagen and to our global leaders, the future prosperity and environmental and social well being of our countries and communities rests in their hands. The one message that Copenhagen can bring to us all, is that collectively our world leaders and politicians have made the decisions that will be that giant leap for mankind. We will all be watching closely.


Chris Gledhill

01874 638979
Future Directions web site