The speech of Tony Blair - an unrequited work

This speech is available in a video format at http://coull.tv/node/673

TRANSCRIPT

People of Britain, thank you for time this evening. In this, the eve of my leadership, I must come to you, once again, with a heavy burden.

It has given me no joy, to come to you with burdens.
It gives no leader joy to go to their people with burdens.
And I get no comfort, in the knowledge that soon, I must leave these to another. Or that they still weigh heavy on your minds.

This is why, after many calls for me to give the date of my departure, I have been unable to do so. This is because I still had time,
and no matter how impossible many of these problems seem,
I still had time.

And like you, I too, want to see these problems solved and be proud to live in a better world. A world of equality, a world of peace and a world in which humanity can find their true purpose, together, unified.
Because I, like so many of you, know, there must be more. It is the very reason we aspire.

Because of this, I have one more thing to ask of you, as your leader.

For decades, environmentalists and scientists have been trying to deliver us a message. These people have dedicated their entire lives to this passion they have. This passion to discover why our world is changing and they have taken upon themselves to communicate with us, what they think is responsible for these changes.

For the first time. There is a coming together in the scientific community. The power of this community is asserting itself. We are realising how fragile our frontiers are in the face of the world's new challenges.
Round the world, climate change is bringing Governments and people to reflect, consider and change. And in this process, amidst all the talk of war and action, there is another dimension appearing.
We are the first generation in history to have all been given the same purpose and responsibility to generations yet to be born. Science has advanced, it no longer only determines ways in which we can overcome obstacles and problems we are faced with today. It is now a prophet of our future.

The models that science uses are not 100% accurate, how could they be? There is still so much to do not know, so much we are discovering. But they show us probability, our best guess. In the past, science has proved that the best guess at that time, is most likely accurate. Otherwise we would not be where we are today.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has written a summary of its findings that are to be released later this year. This report was authored by some 600 scientists, and it bases its assessment mainly on peer reviewed and published scientific and technical literature, from all over the world.

In this summary they state, “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”
And that, “Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.”

This report is conservative, many legitimate findings have not been included, as they were not incorporated in climate models. The reason they were left out is because the IPCC had to get the summary and report details sanctioned by 300 government delegates from 113 countries around the world. A challenge by anyone’s standards.

Some of the factors left out, present scarier models. But they were left out, so that there could be no argument. The science presented in the report is valid and proven, as far as our science can determine.

Perhaps humanity is discovering the next step in our evolution. The next step must be for humanity to start off down a new path and forge a new way of life for our children and grandchildren. We can wait no longer.

In the past, Britain has often been a leader among nations. And people of Britain, tonight I ask you to take that role again.

Listen to the calls of these scientists. These some of our most educated and intelligent citizens. They have led our progress thus far.
Climate change is a scar on the conscience of the world. We all feel it. We all know it.
But if the world as a community focused on it, we could heal it. And if we don't, that scar it will become deeper and angrier.
Whatever the dangers of the action we take, the dangers of inaction are far, far greater.

There is no compromise possible, just a choice: defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it we must.
We can't do it all. But the power of the international community could, together.
We could defeat climate change if we chose to.
As Prime Minister I have learnt that some things are impossible. No man alone can change the world.
But people, united in a common purpose can, and indeed have many times before.
There is a call for a day, just one day, for us to start. This day is called 1day and it is a call for all people in the world to choose to take one day off. Not in remembrance of something past, but in reflection of things to come, a holiday to our future, to celebrate our home, to pay thanks to this beautiful planet on which we live. It is a day that we give to tomorrow's children.
And on this day, to use as little energy as possible, so that we can start to learn how to make the changes we need to make. Let us no longer think of only self, let us once again develop the capacity in each and everyone of us, to value, consideration for others. Others yet to be born. Let us not leave burdens too heavy to for them to bear.
Because, if we all start to make small changes, we can start to turn the tide, we can all play a part and we must. It is going to take governments too long to put the things that are needed in place. But we, the people, if we chose to, we could do it in a day, just one day.
I believe the world can change in one day. And we have a responsibility to make that change, to start it. This opportunity will not be given to the next generation. It is a burden that we must bear.
Therefore, as one of my final acts as your Prime Minister, I ask you to consider joining me in taking off the 21st March 2007, not because it is decreed, but because we chose to.
And if we do, others will follow and our world will start to change, because, we accept our time has come, this is our challenge and it is a challenge we must face, united. For our children and theirs, and polar bears, and glaciers, and ice caps, because would the world not be a lesser place were they not here? Their grandeur, their enigma gone.
And why, because we would not change?
People of Britain, let us lead the world, let us chose to accept that we all have a responsibility to act. Not just governments and leaders, because as a people, we are more powerful than governments, as a people united, we can rewrite our future.
And I call on leaders and people everywhere, that know this to be true, please support 1day. And let us make it the equinox, a time of change, because we must all be leaders to face this challenge.
Mothers and Fathers, lead your children and teach them how to live lighter, as these are skills that they are going to need, they are skills we all must learn, together and now.
The time has come. Our 1day is here. This is the day we must change, the future has already begun, let us not pass into history as the people that “would not”.
Let us say the most positive statement in our human language,
Yes.
Because we are lucky enough to have the privilege to.
Thank you for listening and good evening.

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