Thread by @SteB777

I'd like to use this point to illustrate why the claim that all people are responsible for the climate and ecological emergency, through their consumption, behaviour and the governments they elect, is a monstrous false argument and misrepresentation of the facts.
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https://twitter.com/Irishfeelings/status/1484561349422239750

As rightly noted, those without a sympathetic employer (and most aren't) or wealth i.e. most of the population, have to keep in the rat race driving the crisis, just to keep their heads above water. This includes voting for a government most likely to keep them in work.
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This is not just about time off to protest. It's about the ability to make alterations to your lifestyle, or the government you vote for, because most are just trying to keep their head above water.
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In reality, a very large proportion of people in developed countries are just one step away from destitution, massive impacts on their family, losing there home, if they stumble, lose their job, get behind with payments, mortgages.
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Many in developed countries may seem to be living a wealthier and more luxurious lifestyle, than those in poorer countries. But the fact is, in reality, that can all disappear very quickly if they were to trip up by focusing on other things.
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The general public are often chided by certain activists, for voting for the wrong party or government. Again this is an entirely false argument. If an individual votes for say a Green Party, this is likely a wasted vote, if most others do not.
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Therefore people will vote for parties that will likely win power and have influence, and this is rarely more than 2 parties, and 3. Whilst better in some form of proportional representation, a small party will have little influence, and have to compromise in a coalition.
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What is more, people have a limited understanding of these matters, given how the powerful and wealthy own the corporate media, which is actively misleading people about the situation, along with politicians in their pockets.
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It's not really that the public don't care, are greedy, stupid as this false myth assumes. It is really very difficult for them to coordinate, understand the situation where the rich and powerful (which includes the employers of most people) have such power and influence.
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What I am using to reach these conclusions is what I call big picture thinking, and not mistaking the map for the territory i.e. mistaking the idea for the reality. All thinking is based on countless assumptions and ideas, which are hard to verify.
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map%E2%80…

You see, here one very widespread myth, false idea is being used. That false idea is that people have far more freedom, freedom of choice, ability to chose their actions than they really do.
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People who blame the public, not the powerful and rich at the top, pulling people's strings, are referring to the idea people have the freedom and information to make these choices, and not the reality i.e. mistaking the map for the territory.
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You don't have to know everything, to be aware that the reality is often very different to the idea about the reality. You just need to be aware that the idea might not be consistent with the reality, and make a few checks.
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The big problem with our modern culture is we mainly refer to pre-existing ideas about reality, not reality itself. It is just assumed these ideas are accurate. Very few are educated that the idea is never the reality, and have never heard of the map territory relationship.
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Because of this, it is easy for people to come to the wrong conclusion, because ideas that form the premise of their argument, are false and misleading i.e. completely different to the reality.
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I'm talking creating an accurate overview of the situation (big picture view). It's about effective problem solving, based on the premise, that the only effective way to problem solving is a thorough understanding of the problem - which is an ongoing process of re-evaluation.
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You see, if you misunderstand the problem, and come to hasty and mistaken conclusions, and don't regularly re-evaluate your understanding of the problem, you solutions and conclusions will be for a different situation than the one which actually exists.
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I'm referring to multiple problems. This includes the actual crisis itself, our understanding of it, but in this thread I'm focusing on how to effective recruit the public to assist in coming together, to pressure our leaders into taking effective action.
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It is tactically naive to blame the public at large for this crisis. It will make them less likely to be sympathetic, if they are being blamed. Likewise it will create a feeling of helplessness, in them seeing themselves as responsible, whilst not knowing that they can do.
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This is why I believe it is very important to focus on the high emitting wealthiest in society, who also have the least motivation to take action, and the strongest motivation to obstruct action. With the most ability to obstruct action.
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It is very important to realise I am not trying to blame this demographic. Blame is a legal concept which is absolutely useless for understanding the problem and its solutions. Nor am I trying to whip up hatred. I'm trying to focus on the principle part of the problem.
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The part of the problem most likely to produce the most effective action if addressed. This Oxfam graphic shows how individual emissions are highly correlated with wealth.
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It demonstrates that big reductions in the emissions of the bottom 70% or even 80%, will have little effect, unless accompanied by massive reductions in the emissions of the top 20%, 10% and especially the top 1%.
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oxfam.org/en/press-relea…

It isn't just relative emissions. It is about relative power, and the ability to block action. The higher you go up that hierarchy of wealth, generally the more powerful someone is and the more ability they have to block action.
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This is why it is important to focus on these demographics. Without both their emissions and their influence and power to block action being curtailed, there won't be any significant reductions in emissions.
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It must be held in mind at all times, that this is a hierarchy of responsibility (not blame, I am talking about cause and effect), where say the top 10% varies between those with a salary, not much above average in developed countries, to the richest people in the world.
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The bottom of the 10% only need small reductions to their emissions and the influence to block climate action. Whereas the top of that 10% need massive reductions in their emissions, and even bigger reductions in their ability to block action.
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If the public understand this and are not equally blamed, they are far more likely to be sympathetic to action to reduce emissions. It really is silly and self-defeating to demand significant action from everyone, due to climate equity.
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When this is understood, it helps to focus the ability vote for and elect better leaders.
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I should have mentioned in the early tweets. Often voters are blamed for voting for the wrong politicians and parties. We need to bear in mind, most parties now promise significant action to address the climate crisis. It's difficult for the public see what is genuine.
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The public are often unaware that the big political parties are disingenuous in their promises to address the climate crisis, because they're supported by the same powerful and wealthy people, who also own the media, and misinform the public.
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@GretaThunberg @ClimateHuman @GeorgeMonbiot @KevinClimate @JKSteinberger @DoctorVive @NaomiAKlein

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