W S

First, many thanks for inviting me to join the circle. As a scientist, it was a really enlightening experience, and I'm sure I learned far more than the bit of knowledge I might have been able to share. I came away with hope for the future..... but only if those of us from the powerful segments of the colonial societies learn to listen and respect....... and learn. I can only echo and endorse the words of Susan below.  Just a few days ago I was over in Wellington, NZ, for a conference on climate change in the Pacific. It was the most interesting climate change conference I've been to, and followed on very nicely from the weekend in Bellingen. The Wellington conference was dominated by First Nations people from the Pacific Islands - perhaps about 200 of the 300 participants were from the Pacific. Some of them face existential threats - their islands are going under because of fossil fuel burning in the wealthy world. They gave a really clear and eloquent message - this (climate change and more) is not really an issue about policies and technologies. It is an issue of how we think and what we value. And there, the First Nations people were proud in saying that they are very much ahead of the colonial people in how they think and feel. And I'll leave you with a wonderful banner that the young people from Kiribati, one of the most vulnerable nations in the Pacific, took to Paris:  "We're not drowning; we're fighting!".
With very best wishes to all,

W S