The State of the Union

While the cold of the winter seems to slow time here in Copenhagen, world affairs continue to move ahead in dramatic fashion.  The events in Haiti made any hopes of a smooth transition into a new decade wishful thinking. And there is still buzz even here about the Massachusetts Senate race, as it appears voters are looking to lash out at anybody remotely close to responsible for making political decisions.

Meanwhile, it seems that any time I read about economic growth or investment it’s the creation of some massive wind farm being built in Brazil, growth in China exceeding 10%, or even how Uruguay is producing the next great wave of Hollywood hit-makers.

Here in Europe there is a lot of speculation about what it all means for the Obama Administration, as well as the overall direction of the US. No need for me to suffer through Cokie Roberts, George Will and Sam Donaldson  (warning: click here at your own peril) I get to see European anchors on the tube speculating about all this stuff. The good news is I can’t understand most of what they are saying, just like those guys on the Sunday morning news shows. But what I do pick up is that even overseas where President Obama enjoys great support, there is a growing perception that the rest of the world is catching up to the US and that the current Administration is faltering.   It’s not just the economic downturn – everyone is getting hit – it’s more the sense that the US is no longer the dominant force on the global stage and has in fact lost its footing at the top of the mountain.

The President’s State of the Union offers a chance for him to shape the national debate by putting America’s focus back on track and away from the finger-pointing and name-calling that makes up political discourse right about now.  He’s a “socialist.”  They’re “tea baggers.”  Just brutal.

So in all humility, but in the spirit of the upcoming State of the Union address, a few thoughts from the cheap seats in anticipation of the speech:

The beginning, middle, and the end of the speech has to be about jobs. I know I’m not saying anything that nearly every political consultant and so-called message guru on CNN is probably saying right now. That by itself doesn’t mean it isn’t right, and it definitely doesn’t mean that the White House and Congress need to talk job creation at the expense of broader policy objectives. In fact, virtually every major policy initiative under consideration and attack is in some ways connected to jobs.  Health Care: healthy population and efficient delivery system means cost savings and productivity. Climate: We need to lead on green technologies because it is a huge center of growth and opportunity for our people. And please, will everyone just stop using the words “cap and trade”? It’s total bullshit to most of us.  Education: If we don’t invest in kids and challenge all involved (teachers unions, parents, and the bureaucracy) to do better, we are screwed.  And we have no chance at getting the jobs of the future.  Simple, huh?

Unify the country around a common threat: Of course, Al Qaeda and the rest of those wing-nuts are a common threat.  The President will mention our “renewed and vigilant efforts to fight terrorism” in the speech and rightfully get a standing O from both sides of the aisle.  But another kind of threat that needs to be articulated is that the rest of the world is going to eat our lunch economically if we don’t get things in gear.  China is experiencing over 10% growth.  Countries in the Persian Gulf are looking at ways to get off dependence on Persian Gulf oil (I know, crazy but it’s true). Here in Europe, despite a crapper economy there continue to be pockets of growth and actual confidence in the future. So…time to rally the troops, take on the rest of the world and do what we do best.  Innovate and compete.

Reject the Supreme Court’s decision on campaign finance and call for “unilateral disarmament” by the Democratic party while challenging Republicans to do same. After the decision pundits on the left and right predictably lined up calling it either a “crushing blow to democracy,” or one that “frees American business from the yoke of second-class citizenship.” I’ll take a stand here: allowing unlimited corporate and labor union money in elections is just plain insane. But that’s just me. I know the argument in many places will be that “we can’t fight with one hand tied behind our backs”  so we’re going to play by the rules as they are. That approach will lead to some very bad decisions by politicians and their consultants and even worse public policy.  Besides, running crappy :30 second spots and buying a ton of media intended to overwhelm voters just won’t work anymore. Great brands don’t gain market share just because they beat their competitors into submission.  The key to elections are good candidates with effective messages that connect with voters.  And believe me, not a single major candidate on either side of the aisle is having any problem raising enough money to at least be competitive on television.  “Just say no” people.  It will pay off for you in the long run.

So Mr. President, there are a few thoughts. Good luck tomorrow.

Kierkegaard on the value of “reflection”

It’s bitter cold with howling winds and the City is extremely quiet, which is actually a good thing as December was filled with non-stop action. So not a whole lot to do other than read, recharge, and reflect.  All of which has led me to seriously consider a quote from everyone’s favorite Danish existentialist Soren Kierkegaard who said: “Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good.”

Soren Kierkegaard

And really, who am I to argue with that kind of reasoning?

A chilly start to the New Year

A beautiful but bitterly cold Sunday here…and a far cry from the mayhem just a few nights ago.  Took a few shots from our place today and thought I’d share.

Our downstairs neighbors...

The Harbor beginning to freeze over

A head-banging New Year in Copenhagen

It’s New Year’s Day and my head is ringing…but not for the usual reasons. Last night we experienced New Year’s Eve Danish style.  For what seemed like hours pyrotechnics roared over our heads and all around our neighborhood.  Everywhere you looked fireworks and rockets were being fired off from all corners of the City.  It sounded like a war-zone.  Rather than just sharing video – you can see it below – take a listen to this audio clip to get a sense of what Copenhagen sounded like from before Midnight until well in the night:

Of course we are used to bringing in the New Year at home every year – and each time my wife wonders “where are the fireworks?”  I always blow it off and tell her “just wait for the Fourth of July” – but have to tell you that what I saw last night makes our celebration of the Fourth seem absolutely tame. Keep in mind that we took this video from the balcony of our place in Islands Brygge which is on the Harbor but faces AWAY from the center of the City.  And these fireworks are shot off by residents and not the City or some other “officials.” Absolute madness!

Speaking of Officials…memo to LA City Leaders: It’s a shame that the best we can do to bring in the New Year in a world-class City like LA is a $300 cover charge at a cheesy place on the Sunset Strip.  Let’s finally find a way to bring in the New Year in LA with an iconic celebration that showcases the City and gives us all a place to do it right.  And no, Pasadena on New Year’s Day or fireworks off Santa Monica Pier don’t exactly count.  Ideas anyone?

COP15 – A postscript

Two days since COP15 officially concluded and people are still in recovery mode. Clearly the outcome is not what many hoped for – or expected.  After two intense weeks of discussion, negotiations, parties, standing in line, snow, and very late nights both inside – and outside – of the Bella Center, the so-called “Copenhagen Accord” has been roundly criticized by political pundits and environmental activists alike.  Meanwhile the City has quickly shifted from saving the planet to preparing for Jul (aka Christmas) – which judging from the madness taking place as people prepare for the holiday around here is every bit as important for the Danes as is climate change and saving the planet for future generations. Maybe even more so.

In any event, there is a huge global summit to recap so I’ll share a few thoughts on the conference before returning to our “originally scheduled programming.” And while there is a ton of coverage of what has transpired in Copenhagen the last few weeks, I guess my viewpoint is as valid as any since I was here for the damn thing and have just a little experience in the world of politics, communications and mega events. I mean, I went out on the first Lollapalooza Tour back in 1991, so I know all about big events. I also spent a whole lot of time the past two weeks at the Bella Center working with and talking to people deeply involved in the event. So…

My take: I think the criticisms being leveled against the conference and its outcome are too strong.  Yes, the time was right in many ways for making significant movement on a global agreement to cut emissions, etc.  There is unprecedented global awareness on the dangers of climate change that has moved well beyond the scientific community and into politics and popular culture creating real opportunity for change.  And political and grass roots organizations like tck,tck,tck have been pointing for at least the last eighteen months to COP15 as the time and place where the world would finally come together to sign on to a major agreement.  But tremendous barriers to making a deal at the global level continue to exist, driven primarily by domestic politics and this continuing crapper of an economy.  So while most world leaders (well, maybe not the Saudis) do want to address this issue in a unified way they still have to deal with powerful interests at home and the demands being placed to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. So to me, it is not a huge surprise that the conference came up a bit short.

A few things that stood out though:

Obama: He is getting a ton of grief from the left and countries around the world for failing to close the deal.  I think generally the criticisms are unfair.  But for the world of me, I can’t understand why he would basically come in for twelve hours on the last day of the conference to try and make this thing happen.  It’s sort of like being in Game 7 of the NBA finals and bringing in Kobe for the last five minutes.

When you play, you play to win.

China: These guys talk big but don’t deliver.  The fact that they were unwilling to allow for any meaningful reporting of their efforts is a straight-out deal killer.  Anyone who has been involved in any kind of negotiations knows that without verification a deal ain’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

The Kids are Alright: I wrote in an earlier blog posting during the conference about how smart, passionate, and composed the young people at the conference were.  I have no doubt they will get things done from here.

Cities and States: I heard a lot of talk during the conference about the role of “sub-national governments” in making climate change happen.  I absolutely agree that the place where real change will occur is in state, regional and local government.  To use the U.S. as an example: California is seeing that its future is in a Green Economy and is mandating major changes in the way it does business.  If Texas, or some other oil-producing state, wants to depend on oil and gas production until they become irrelevant then I guess that’s the way it’ll have to be for now.   But I’ll put my money in the places that are embracing new technology anytime.

Communications: Cell phones, email, and iPhones are supposed to make our lives easier. Try having a Danish phone call a US phone# on an iPhone that isn’t charged because the plug doesn’t fit in a European socket.  Then try and remember if you are supposed to call 0-1-1 or 0-0-1 or a country code and a city code first…who the hell knows?  Then look at all the devices being charged, plugged in and turned on and think to yourself…isn’t that the problem all of these people are supposed to be here fixing? Maybe these guys have the right idea.

Denmark: Last but not least, little Denmark capably hosted the largest single gathering of world leaders in any place since the Treaty of Versailles.  Some people bitched and moaned about not getting into the Bella Center in the final days. Allowing all those people in while over 100 of the world’s leaders were under the same roof would have been an invitation to disaster.  Plus, Denmark gets huge points for not only “talking the talk” but “walking the walk.”  As I’ve written here before, this country really understands how transportation, technology, and lifestyle can all work together.

So that’s my take on the the events of the last two weeks.  I have posted a gallery of pictures you can view by clicking here that may some give additional feel on what it was like here over the past two weeks. But after all that went on over that time I’m perfectly content with sharing the observations of a guy from Los Angeles just trying to get through Jul. Stay tuned.

It’s getting tense out there…

In the final days COP15 the mood around the City has changed considerably.  As I had suggested in an earlier post, last week was a warm-up for the real action as well over 100 heads of State and global leaders are now on the ground for the final discussions.  The City is on virtual lockdown with dignitaries like Prince Charles, Desmond Tutu, and even Iranian President Ahmanjinedad arriving hourly.  And President Obama is not even here yet.

As you can imagine the police presence is massive. I happened to be in the room as some of the police officers were getting ready to go in the streets.  These guys are huge and tough.  Viking huge. Viking tough.

As the action here intensifies, much has been written at home about the tactics of Danish law enforcement. I’m sure scenes are being splashed across the TV’s around the world with protesters clashing with police.

Video Screen at tck...tck...tck news room

I am not at the protests and can’t speak to what has precipitated the activity on the streets.  But from my point of view the police have been respectful to the delegates and visitors here in Copenhagen.  We will just have to see what happens. But I hope it doesn’t overshadow the very important things that are happening here.

Bloggers at the tck...tck...tck Fresh Air center

As for what exactly is happening?  It is very hard to tell. There are countless rumors and political maneuvers and even the most highly placed observers and political leaders are left to speculate. I’ll leave a lot of that to the so-called experts that are writing and blogging furiously from the Fresh Air Center. Overall there seems to be a sense among many that a deal is a tough sell at this point.

But if I was to bet – I’d say that Obama’s visit and the pressure on the world’s largest countries to come home with a deal will force a real resolution here.  It may not be pretty but it will be meaningful.

Speaking of pretty…all of this is no laughing matter. But you have to do a double-take when you see these very imposing Danish cops around town alongside female officers that are very often – well – beautiful.  It may not be PC to say but it is the fact.  As Lily Von Shtup said in Blazing Saddles: “It’s Twue, it’s twue!, it’s twue!”

The kids are alright…

It’s been a full week at COP15.  Loads of speeches, endless political maneuvering, and sporadic protests and stunts intended to create media coverage have dominated the news coverage so far.  But what’s perhaps made the greatest impression on me are the thousands of young people who have come to Copenhagen for this first week to make their voices heard. Next week will have scores of world leaders arrive on the stage here, but what’s really blown me away so far has been how incredibly articulate, well informed and composed these kids are.

Meeting of US and Chinese Youth

Check out Gabe and Olivia’s latest Copenhagen Dispatch, with a video assist from yours truly.  Just don’t tell the Cinematographers Union back at home that I was working the camera!