OPINION

Generational trust

Re: "Tiny Vanuatu steps up to protect the climate", (Commentary, Aug 28).

One addition to the heartwarming story of Antara Aldar, I would like to make. The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change have done a miracle by getting this Advisory Opinion on climate justice from the International Court of Justice.

From bottom-up advocacy, through the UN General Assembly, to this bold legal result. One important "detail" escapes most citizens' and experts' attention. An issue was raised by Justin Sobion in his statement to the court representing a cluster of Caribbean allies. Justin recently earned his PhD at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in Earth Trusteeship.

In line with his presentation, the ICJ formulates in the Advisory Opinion a principle that could become a new paradigm of world order. "Intergenerational equity is an expression of the idea that present generations are trustees of humanity tasked with preserving dignified living conditions and transmitting them to future generations."

This implies a shift from ownership and sovereignty to trusteeship as the most fundamental rationale for governance.

Digital shackles

Re: "Stop money policing", (PostBag, Aug 23).

While regular PostBag letter writer Michael Setter makes an interesting case that I agree with, he has missed out some vital information.

A few years ago, in Canada, where the whole digital money fad was in full swing, the truck drivers went on strike against Covid and the vaccine mandates.

Justin Trudeau, then Canadian prime minister in 2022, literally ordered to freeze bank accounts and crypto assets belonging to leaders of Canada's anti-vaccine mandate movement, choked off support for demonstrations that paralysed international commerce and clogged Ottawa's downtown.

Every day, I seem to spend much wasted time waiting behind people paying with their phones, while others around use money in half the time. The blind are following the blind down a technological black hole with AI, autonomous cars, lorries, and soon buses, and even pilotless aeroplanes will become the norm.

Most importantly, though, if you dare to step out of line with government policy, you will be punished. In the UK, people are now going to jail for posting tweets that "might possibly cause someone offence". This is being done under the guise of "protecting children online".

There are also "non-crime" records kept that could stop you from getting a job or joining a club for something you said in your own living room. Now you know what "Smart" speakers are really for.

Anyone who has read how people were controlled by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao will be familiar with these tactics.