Now in cold Bonn glad to be out of a suit and away from the high tension and high security of Copenhagen and the COP15.
I want to bring some attention to the
Klimaforum09, one of the more positive things to come out of Copenhagen. Unlike the disappointing end of the
COP15 in the Bella Center the closing ceremony of the Klimaforum was a celebration of success. The various movements banded together in Copenhagen to put on a fantastic conference and several large peaceful demonstrations (
Read the Earth Times Summary). The '
System Change not Climate Change' declaration was finished and ultimately shared in a short presentation to the Plenary inside the COP15.
During the closing event
Tor Nørretranders gave a very moving speech about the sexiness of helping others. His speech (Read more on his blog
'What it Means to Be Human') centered around the theme of sex and success. Tor Nørretranders tells us that a basic aspect of evolution has been overlooked in Darwinian thought. What Darwin failed to notice is that evolutionary success is not just about being the fittest, sometimes it is about being the most generous. In other words, sharing and caring are also part of reproductive success - being attractive - being sexy. Being attractive is being generous.
Tor Nørretranders has several books out and is certainly worth keeping track of.
I have just finished reading his new book 'The Generous Man' wherein he debunks the popularly accepted idea of a selfish homo economicus. He draws upon the sciences to introduce the idea that instead we are homo reciprocans and are naturally inclined to cooperate. I am inspired to go on reading about links between sociology, biology and philosophy. 
