Doctor's notes for Copenhagen

by BELLA COUNIHAN

It's been a big week. The climate change/ETS debate is still in flux in one of the most exciting and bizarre weeks ever, with pointless leadership spills, mass resignations and prospects for more Liberal Party chaos to come.

At the beginning of the week there were a million hypotheticals and lots of guesswork; will the ETS be passed? Will Turnbull remain leader? We still don't know.
But let's look back to one of the key reasons for all this kerfuffle, a split in the Liberal Party over whether or not we should be doing anything before the global climate summit in Copenhagen also known as COP15 in December. But maybe endless political tedium isn't the answer. Maybe we need to inject a little musical inspiration into the mix to solve this highly complex dilemma. Maybe we need a light rock ballad to solve all our climate worries?

The Rock Doctors, a Dad band from Adelaide, have beaten Goanna to the punch. Before you could say "Get out the acoustic guitar and hold your lighter high and sway" they have written a hopeful ballad, entitled simply Copenhagen. The message and sentiment is encapsulated in the chorus sung by local songstress Jane-Ann Power, "Want something, say something, do something", with backing vocals "the world must change".

Although my favourite/the most unusual lyric has to be "don't waste your time just do something right now".

This may well be at best terrible Eurovision material sung by some Doctors/Dads in the suburbs of Adelaide, but the intent is what is important here. Patrick O'Leary, rhythm guitarist in the four-piece and composer of the song, said on the rockdoctors.net "normally I'm not inspired enough to write a political song, however, this time I think politicians should cease trading on their emissions and actually 'do something' for climate change". O'Leary pointed to Hawthorn coach John Kennedy's prophetic words, "Don't think, don't hope. Do. Do something", which shows that international political dynamics and AFL footy in the '70s do have something in common after all.

Music has always had a political stream; the obvious Bonos and other hairy Irish fellas come to mind. Our own Environment Minister Peter Garrett (though as you type his name into Google it is unfairly suggested that you add the words "sell out" to your search) obviously has a big history with political song writing.

He once said: "I think songs matter, that music matters, indeed I know it does. Music is a major cultural reference point for people of all ages. Songs are often the poetry of the moment, and can reflect the politics of the moment too."

There is no doubt music plays an important part in our lives. But aren't songs with a political message they just naive? I think you'd have to say in most cases yes. The last time that they probably did make a difference was 30 years ago. I'm thinking Vietnam War, I'm thinking long hair, I'm thinking a time long ago. Expectations about change through song were higher and people were more keen to be politically involved. Although O'Leary maintains that he will send the song to radio stations in Denmark, let's hope there at least, in the bicycle-riding nation, the song might catch on.

Then again what about the expectations of this climate summit? Is it naive to expect anything concrete to emerge, songs or no? Most of us want and expect something to happen. But we've seen it before, a summit is organised, countries go there saying they need concessions because of x and y factors in the domestic economic/political situations. Other countries say if they're not on board then we won't get on board. It becomes a game of international chicken in reverse — no one wants to go too far. The terms always become politically binding not legally binding and shouted out at the end is how much progress there's been.

Recent events could also no doubt put pressure on the summit. The international leaked emails scandal, where hackers obtained and distributed emails that suggested climate researchers at the University of East Anglia had manipulated data, has been jumped on by climate sceptics. Although Obama has announced that he will now definitely be attending. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

After this week most are certainly tired of this climate related chaos and over-politicisation of the issue in parliament. It's good to know that people still feel that a song can at least help the befuddled mess we have before us. The Goanna certainly appreciates the sentiment.