Honest Government Ad | Net Zero by 2050 (feat. Greta) (Patreon)

Surprise!

You probably weren't expecting a brand new Honest Government Ad so soon after the last one. But history is happening right now and so here's a brand new Honest Government Ad.

Our previous HGA about COP26 focused on the Australian Government - which is among the shittest of the lot. But even Governments that are doing well compared to Australia, are still doing way too little about this emergency.

And that's why I decided to reprise our non-denominational Government™ character - whom we last saw in 2020 with The Machine. This HGA is also a sequel of sorts to our very first Government™ HGA: We're F***ed.

I love writing for this character. It's not just a break from the shitfaced smirkiness of the Australian Government. It also gives us a chance to really take a broader perspecive on humanity. And it's a different type of honesty: whilst the Australien Government Ads are honest in a "fuck-you" kind of way, these Government™ are honest in a "we're fucked" kind of way - if you know what I mean. Almost like a plea for help. So I enjoy switching it up.

Anyway, enough of my literary musings.

I was inspired to write this HGA by Greta.

She was asked in an interview what would success look like to her at COP26. And she replied: [I paraphrase] success for me would be if governments could be honest about the climate crisis, because then we have a hope of dealing with it. (I can't find the interview now, but here's an article about it)

And it suddenly dawned on me - hey, I make this series called "Honest Government Ads" ...I might be able to help here.

So I wrote this Honest Government Ad.

And then I asked Greta if she'd be in it. I didn't really want to trouble her (coz in my mind she's busy kicking ass all day) but she replied with a cheerful: "Hi! Of course! Audio or video?"  (I said hell yeah, video please).

She must get a hundred requests every day, but she made the time because she really values our work. She told me (and this time I am direct quoting): "Thank you for all that you do! I'm a huge fan of your videos!"

Well, I wanted to share that with all of you - our Patrons. Because what we do here is only possible thanks to your combined support.

Apart from addressing Greta's wish for honesty - I also wanted this HGA to explain how "Net Zero by 2050" - that slogan we keep hearing from governments now - fits into this framework of governments being honest (ie. how it functions as a substitute for honesty).

And I also wanted to use this opportunity to help people understand the concept of cumulative emissions - ie. how there's a massive difference in terms of risk and damage to the global climate system between acting fast and acting slowly; between taking the "honest" path (ie. going hard and early, at least halving emissions by 2030) and the "Australian Way" (ie. doing nothing until the last minute).

If you'd like to better understand this concept make sure to read this piece by Tim Baxter wwhich explains it in a brilliant and funny way. It's a critical concept, yet not very widely known - which of course benefits fossil-fuel interests and their political stooges.

Ok, that's it from me for now.

I hope you enjoy this Honest Government Ad - which your contributions have made possible - and I'll catch you soon for the podcast companion!

Also a big hello to all our new Patrons here - welcome aboard!

Giordano & team

LINKS:
Link to YouTube video
Link to Facebook video
Link to Twitter video