Invictus and Global Warming

Mandela realized that he would alienate the white minority by taking 'their' Springboks away. He also saw in the rugby world championships a great opportunity to unite his country behind a common national goal. His gamble brilliantly paid off as South Africa took the championships and the vent triggered national celebrations never seen before indeed bringing together South Africans. It is a beautiful film with Morgan Freeman (Mandela) and Matt Damon (François Pienaar). And it's a lesson in statesmanship. As Freeman says in the film to his angry black supporters who don't understand why he wants to keep the Springboks (and Mandela might have well said the same): "You elected me to lead you. Now let me lead you". Mandela withstood vested interests and built a new nation.

That's exactly what government leaders around the world now need to do as well in response to the challenge posed by global warming: withstand vested interests and build new clean energy economies. It is hard to expect the oil industry with all its related political interests to easily and happily join in the transformation of the economy. However politicians representing the interests of the people at large should, like Mandela, point the way and make the shift to clean energy happen.