No man is an Island
Dr Geoff Davies asks “What are the five most precious things in my life?” Whatever the answers, all hinge on our willingness to see ourselves not as atomised, self-sufficient (and possibly selfish) entities, but part of a society.
Sixteenth century poet John Donne, in ‘No Man is an Island’, wrote: “If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less”. The poet could not have foreseen 21st century sea level rise but the principle holds: some may prefer to think we are insulated from the consequences of climate change. However, the prospect of, say, vastly increasing numbers of climate refugees from within Australia and overseas would strain our resources.
Similarly, higher temperatures will make outdoor work intolerable for parts of the year; food, farm labour and produce delivery will be in short supply, adding to the burden on governments to provide assistance. “Organising for the well-being of all” (from the title of Davies’ latest book) creates the conditions under which both the individual and the collective can thrive.
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