President-elect Obama promises “new chapter” on climate change

More than 600 climate change leaders from across the country and around the world convened in Los Angeles today for the opening sessions of the Global Climate Summit, a 2-day event arranged by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to break gridlock on the issue ahead of next month's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland.

In a short video addressed to the Summit's attendees, President-elect Obama emphasized his enthusiasm for the Poznan Conference and promised that his administration would mark a "new chapter in American leadership on climate change."

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Pray don’t find fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road,
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears
Or struggled beneath his load
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
Though hidden away from view,
And the burden he bears, placed on your back,
May cause you to stumble too.

Don’t sneer at the man who is down today
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall, or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, if dealt to you
At the self-same time in the self-same way,
May cause you to stagger too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins
Or pelt him with words or stones
Unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,
That you have no sins of your own.
For who knows, perhaps, if the tempter’s voice
Would whisper softly to you
As it did to him when he went astray
Would cause you to falter too.

It's not often that i read books, i just dont find the time to do it. But lately, i have found myself reading alot. i just finished reading Zoukland by Henderson and i have a book from Aurelius Gordon (Come Ye Forward Sons and Daughters, 2002) waiting on my bed for when i return to Dominica.

Currently though I am reading one of those self-help, self development books. While reading it i always remember this line by Billy Bob Thorton in this movie School for Scroundrels "How many of you have self-help books? Okay, that's your first problem. You can't help yourself, because your *self* sucks!", lol. (Don't worry that is not my quote for the week though)

I still find myself reading one by John C. Maxwell, America's expert on leadership, although im sure that is just a promotional tool. That is besides the point though, today's quote is taken from his book: The 17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player.

In the book by Maxwell he quotes Cavett Roberts on page 15 in a text box as saying that "True Progress in any field is a relay race and not a single event." I think it clearly means that in everything you do thta you can't really do it alone, being human is about being dependent on someone for some help, assistance, cooperation, collaboration. That is why we are social beings, that is why we live in communities instead of being cooped up in the hills all alone, although some people do that but that is the exception and not the rule.

I also take it to mean that in everything you do, you shouldnt see yourself as the focus point but instead you should see the bigger picture, being the team. Striving to be a team player and improving the team should be one's objective and in so doing we also develop ourselves in the process. There's more that can be said about this quote but i've got work to do, so until next time...

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