We all know a better world is possible. On a quiet day, we can hear her breathing.
A nation of homes, businesses and transport powered by clean renewable electricity and free of dirty fossil fuels. A place where food production systems are transformed from polluting industrial agriculture to regenerative farming, that nourishes rather than replaces nature. A country where we protect the oceans and forests instead of exploiting them, and where we reconfigure our economy to be circular - free of waste and single-use products.
Right now, we have a golden opportunity to realise this new world as we get New Zealand back up and running - but we will have to stand up and demand it.
The Government has pledged billions of dollars to stimulate business and create jobs as we get Aotearoa back on track in the Covid recovery.
But the influence of big vested interests like the fossil fuel industry, and the intensive agriculture industries will be strong. Their greedy hunger for more profit means they will seek to protect the status quo, and resist the changes that could bring about a better world.
We can have a better world and flourish, if we push for the transformation that is now possible as we Build Back Better.
We must not let self-interested elites push us back to ‘normal’ - it was normal that was the problem.