Now we are bargaining with the climate gods

Deep psychotherapy basically puts this to the client who comes for help when suffering. Even those who have come willingly and who are seemingly prepared to face their demons , frequently relent. They seek to go back to old destructive patterns , declaring things will be different this time. The alcoholic argues that she can manage with just a drink or two now. The smoker says that a cigarette or two won't get him back to his previous two packets a day. The toxic relationship returns to its old form after a brief honeymoon reunion. These bargains invariably fail to secure the changed outcome originally sought. Typically therapy for substance addiction involves relapse with its confirmation of the bad old results. This can stimulate the addict to start the process of withdrawal, anew.

We are hooked on our old ways, even though they are visibly destroying the world around us. The scientists poets and writers and activists are needed to remind us that we have gone back to our forgetful default position of same old same old ,business as usual.

The six women from Green Peace who recently scaled the UK's tallest building , in order to protest Shell drilling for oil in the Arctic, were reminding us . We need to recollect that the fossil fuel industry is vandalizing our planet and devouring our future. Many busy and bustling commuters paused to gaze and gawk at the climbing figures.Having reached the 310 metre peak, two of the activists waved a 32-square-foot flag with the demand "Save the Arctic"

Some in our own coal and gas rich country argue, that we have so much coal and we must therefore use it, to foster jobs and prosperity. But this is very short sighted. As with the promotion of all unhealthy industries such as tobacco, asbestos, gambling and massive alcohol consumption, there is short term economic gain for some, followed by massive health costs. In the case of coal, the cost is to the entire planet.

But there is now some reason to hope. It is late in the day but we are coming much closer to acceptance.

President Obama has said while delivering his climate change plan "all the hopes and dreams of posterity , that's what we are fighting for."

Obama gave a shout out ,nudge and wink to transitioning with cleaner gas. This may represent the other sort of bargaining that is done with nervous vested interests. Unfortunately this is what has held us back and may hold us back from investing in truly clean energy. However Obama has warned that the measure of allowing the Keystone Pipeline to go ahead was what is in the national interest He defined this as including climate impact. Keystone that would bring oil from the tar sands, 'must pass the test determining the net impacts of the progect on climate.'

In Australia we remain poised for another election where the stakes for climate are high. Will we join the increasing global awareness and action or lag behind in climate change denial land ? Obama has said that he doesn't have time for "a meeting of the flat earthers" The ALP backed by the Greens has introduced a price on carbon .in Australia. The Rudd government is proposing to move more rapidly to an Emissions Trading Scheme. Despite the bargaining that may still be occurring, at least it is a price on carbon! Australia cannot afford to linger in the morass of the old climate change science denial absurdities of the LCP.

It is not a contest between economy or environment. The planet is our economy.

The price of denial and bargaining with a changing climate is impossibly high. We must face the truth, grieve our losses, then move from denial anger bargaining and despair to acceptance of what we must do, to save what we can, of our beautiful world.