reflections on the swedish election 2018

The credible surveys on the different Swedish political parties environmental politics before the election showed there were only two parties that take global warming and climate change seriously. Of which one, the Left party, will never have any real influence since it's the ex-communist party ie is apparently still very revolutionary and extremist in Sweden in 2018. No matter how many votes they get apparently. Seriously, for x sake, grow up. We are all on this planet to learn and grow.

- As I recall, conservatives have a pretty heavy luggage of sins themselves; they were against voting for women, women's, workers, gay rights, they worked long and hard to keep slavery and apartheid. And have been and are just as heavily involved in dictatorship regimes all over the world as left wing politicians. To name a few things. Let s/he who is without sin first cast a stone. It's interesting that right wing politicians, at least in Sweden, never have to be accountable for their predecessors appalling behaviour, but forever left wings. Food for thought. -

The other one is the Green party. Ie the only party that has the environment as top issue on their agenda. They have formed the government alongside the Socialdemocrats for the last four years. turbulent years, with very uncomfortable scandals among good new environmental policies. Granted, not nearly as strong policies and straight climate talks that were needed, but still better than it could have been.



In the scary times we're living in there shouldn't be a need for a Green party. Every party from left to right should have strong environmental policies and agendas. Because whatever other issues the respective party think are important, *newsflash* they're not if we don't have a livable, healthy planet to have any kind of visions for.

But not even after this awful summer before the election did the climate get a lot of attention in the election campaigns. Because clearly immigration, housing, taxes, education and health care etc etc ad infinitum are much more important than a livable planet. Face palm.



And after the Sunday election with a truly bizarre result the 15 year old on climate strike leading up to the election - and will continue to be every Friday until the Paris agreements goals are reached - is still the smartest cookie in any jar compared to those so called grown-up politicians. Whom act like spoilt, petulant children in a sandbox.

It was impossible not to watch the election night on TV. Even if, with few exceptions, it was like watching a horrifically embarrassing mud wrestling match between toddlers dressed like grown ups. There really is no wonder at all that the disgust of politicians is so widely spread.



The most embarrassing thing to watch was the four conservative/liberal party leaders repeating themselves in high pitch voices "The prime minister must resign, the prime minister must resign, the...!" - instead of, as proper dignified, mature grown-ups would say "The election result is very strange and inconclusive so far. We will bide the end result and solve this as grown-ups, act our roles and work out a solution that's best for the country and the world."

I've always been very sceptical about block politics, it leads to ridiculous lock in effects. Grown ups, no matter party affiliation, should be able to work together on dire and important issues (like our mere existence for example). Period.

And the best thing that was said - mind you, by three red politicians that managed to act like grown-ups, far from always the case with them either - was that this election should be the death of block politics, it's time to come together in coalition and rule in the center of politics. The times calls for it.



I've never been faithful to any blue (conservative) or red (progressive) side or party. My heart is obviously very green, but certain years certain issues have been more important for me when I've casted my vote. I've never voted with my own wallet in mind, but always for what I think and hope would be a better society. I don't like the idea of being tied to one party or side - free spirit me talking here too - I prefer to entertain many thoughts at the same time, and grow with thoughts and time.

This year I was, finally, be able to vote 100% with my heart and head. But after this apocalyptic summer, I just couldn't. I had to vote for the climate, anything else would have felt irresponsible and immoral.

And (in hindsight naively) I thought the majority would.

Oh my, was I wrong. On the election day the earth passed the 1,5 degree global warming target. Apparently there's only 5% chance of reaching the Paris agreement goal. Still, most people just don't care. Which the Swedish election results is just another proof of.



The day before the election we marched in the global People's Climate March in Stockholm. Sadly the arrangement was quite dispiriting. We don't need more dopiness in the environmental movement, that will just continue to alienate those that still needs convincing, we need straight talk and clear facts. And a lot of action. It would also have been nice to see a wide influx of attendance from all (reasonable) political parties.

But I guess they had their hands full with the last bit of campaign smearing before the elections.



We can't continue to burn fossil fuels, fly, drive, shop, eat meat and dairy - which by the way aren't human rights - like nothing has changed. We need drastical structural/political changes as well as change our personal habits. And we as private citizens can't continue to live like we've always done and wait for someone else to fix this because we are all eachother's someone else.

So, despite being deeply disappointed about the election results, I still continue, in my little green corner of the universe, to lessen my carbon footprint and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

And I am still looking for my kind of people.