Dear John,

Dear John,

I believe in you.

Love Brit

When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

Dear John,

My father showed me the article in the newspaper saying that agriculture and the smokestack sector would be shielded from paying for climate change. He simply nodded his head at the statement that you pledged only a 10-20% emissions cut by 2020 and said that “Oh well, New Zealand is such a small country it can’t afford to do what the bigger countries will - pledge an ambitious target and then do nothing.” His final comment was the most chilling of all: “You might as well get ready for global warming.”

I was ten days too young to vote at the last New Zealand election and I’m angry that I feel I can do nothing to help with what is going on at Copenhagen, that I can do nothing to change what is the most pressing issue in our world today.

I don’t want to grow up to become cynical of politicians, cynical of democracy and cynical of the system I live in. More importantly, WE don’t want to grow up to live in a world devastated by climate change. Please, prove my father wrong.

Yours faithfully,

Alec Dawson

One small step for man, one giant leap for humanity...

To the honorable John Key,

I hope your actions will fit this title.  Making history often means taking bold steps for change.  The thinking that has caused the problems of today will not be the same thinking that solves these problems.

I urge you to be bold, you have us to stand behind you and back your decisions on a strong climate treaty and binding legislation.

The science is clear, we need to adjust our lives  to fit with planetary boundaries.  An aim of 350ppm will help us determine targets.

Thank you for being present at Copenhagen and thank you for accepting the climate negotiation challenge.

With love

Youth of today, future of tomorrow.

Dear John,

I am sitting at my desk wishing I could be over there to give you a hand to get this thing sorted. I could make the pots of tea while we all sit up to discuss what to do!

I want to join with all of my friends here to say … we really need you to agree on a plan so that we can all just get on with reducing our emissions. None of us want to shirk our responsibilities - we all want to do as much as we can to shrink our impact on the environment but we need some help from you to make sure that the plan we all agree on is the right one.  It needs to be a strong plan, one that will help us to work together to reduce our impact, get a better quality of life and help those of us who are having the worst time because of climate change - especially our Pacific neighbours.

I know you will be able to do it. Just remember that we want to be the ones that show the rest of the world how hard we work, how much we care, and how clever we are. So go for it!

Ta very much,

Kena. 

Dear Mr Key

I am really excited and impressed at your decision to attend the Copenhagen talks this month, so thank you, that you have had the guts and leadership to do this.

I have been keeping up to date with news on the talks, almost somewhat obsessively. I know it seems as though at this stage, a binding agreement will not happen this year, but I would tentatively suggest that an agreement of this kind is inevitable, even if we have to wait a couple of years. The threats to many developing / island nations is too great for them to go down without a fight.

NZ has a lot at stake here, and indeed would have a lot to gain if we take a strong stance. Our country’s ‘clean and green’ image is rapidly becoming a lie. Our current offers and commitments are really not good enough and do not meet the recommedations from the worlds leading scientists.

This is an incredibly important time for the world, and i can promise you this generation will remember you for the leadership you take on this issue. My thoughts and prayers are with you in these next few days

Yours sincerely,

Chrissy Hamill

Dear John,

Please please please, do the right thing by New Zealand at Copenhagen. I know your arguements against a larger reduction in emissions, but please use the kiwi can-do attitude. Get out the number 8 fencing wire and make it happen. Kiwi ingenuity can achieve a 40% reduction and we need that for our sakes and our pacific cousins sake! SO please commit to a 40% by 2020 emission reduction target.
Thanks!

Dear John

It’s crunchtime.

You are our representative at a meeting that could decide the fate of the world as we know it.

It is time to take up a position - in line with scientific knowledge of the safe upper limits for carbon emissions which we know to be 350ppm.

John, we want to hear this:

New Zealand Announces New Agenda For Climate and World Development

COPENHAGEN, Denmark—In a major development coming three days before the final round of UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, and responding to the recent concerns expressed by the G77 bloc of countries, New Zealand’s Attaché for Environment and Planning announced today an ambitious plan for a new climate change framework that answers vital concerns voiced by developing nations.

Dubbed “Agenda 2020,” the plan sets strict new emissions-reductions guidelines for New Zealand and fast-tracks financing for vulnerable countries beginning in 2010.

“Today New Zealand has made their voice very clear,” said John Key, New Zealand’s Prime Minister “This policy is our answer. Long in discussion, and slated for release later this week, Agenda 2020 is New Zealand’s commitment to a science-based approach to climate change, and our way to assert our partnership with the developing world.”

(adapted from EnviroCananda Website)

Nothing else will be acceptable in the eyes of your public, and the future generations to inhabit the earth.

You can win this game, John - but you have to learn the rules of engagement. The game is, back the solution which will create the conditions for innovation and creativity. The Harvard Business Review can tell you about that.

Back the solution whereby the majority of people can benefit. Even if the voice in your head tells you that you are going to piss off your friends. This will make you very very popular in the long run.

Back a target that pushes us. We know how to push ourselves in the sporting world to great advantage, and this is no different. Give us the opportunity to compete on the world stage.

And dig really deep. Push yourself to find the courage to act with great honour. A 40% target means you win the game and take the prize. Its there for the picking.

with love,

Megan

Dear John,

I, as a kiwi, want to ask you a question that you need to answer honestly.

Do you, as a kiwi consider Aotearoa to be your home?

If so, then we expect you to take care of it. Of course, we all have our own responsibilities but you as New Zealand’s Prime Minister must lead to set us a good example, to show us how it is done.

Let’s compare it to our own houses. We live in these everyday. Some are simple, some are not. But however flash or run down a home is, we must take care of it. We have a responsibility to do our part.

Some of us are better at this, some of us are not experienced at all. That’s why we have parents who teach us to do the right thing, and how to keep our homes in order so we can continue to use it for generations to come. You are our parent.

New Zealand is our home. We want to keep it safe, clean and healthy. It is our investment. We cannot leave a mess and let the people of the future to deal with it.

When it comes to providing the best for our children, it is alway better to prepare appropriately and prevent tragedy. We need to build a strong foundation for them. As a father, you understand what it is like to have children. You want to provide for them, and live your life with honour and dignity so as they get older, they will have a father they can look up to. There are still many children who we don’t even know yet, and they are depending on us. Whether they will live in the clean green New Zealand we have had the privilege of growing up in is our choice.

New Zealand’s ancestors have struggled for many years to provide us with the homes we have now. The Treaty of Waitangi was a signifcant part in our history, and it was signed to save future generations from the terrors of a divided New Zealand. New Zealand is divided once more, and we ask you to do the right thing.

Hopefully this will help you to realise what has already been done for us, and what we need to do for the future generations. We have recieved many blessings, and it’s not much to ask to give something back.

We support you in your efforts in helping our home to stay green.
Lets do our best to be the cleanest greenest Aotearoa we can be!

love from,

Deanna and Caleb

Dear John,

You are a bloody legend. The move to go to Copenhagen was a very good call. You need to keep the US, Denmark and the UK on track - to ensure that the process is democratic and just for all nations. Don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes… Keep vigilant, and remember we are incredibly proud and looking forward to hearing good news of our country’s commitments to emissions reductions to maintain our solid reputation amongst the international community as a nation which is honorable, just and at least 40% Pure.

Good on ya.

Frank

To the point

Dear John,

I’ve always admired your ability to put things in plain terms, so I imagine the letters you value are the ones that get straight to the point.

I am so delighted you are going to be present at Copenhagen, but it makes me sad that New Zealanders must celebrate such a small hat-tip to the most important international summit in history.  I am hoping above everything, that you can make New Zealand happy for something much more worthy - for taking this opportunity to be strong and stand for the wellbeing of future generations.

Go on John, make us proud.

With a lot of love for the people on this planet,

a young Dunedinite.

Power and Love

Dear John,

What an invitation! To be invited as a head of state to Copenhagen at this critical time in history. People say that this next 3-4 years are critical to the future.

At a first glance, your role looks like an unenviable one, but taking a deeper look, it must be a privilege to help our country transition at this time- to one where we don’t separate the environment from our economy- have them competing or ‘balancing’ them against one another, but instead aligning them, and mutually enhancing one another.

You are one of the most charming Prime Ministers we have seen here in New Zealand and I have to admit- I have not written a love letter to a Prime Minister before.

I know you hold a lot of power as Prime Minister, and also love for our land and people. This is very important- these together. As Martin Luther King Jnr said:

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Who cares about all this? I do, and I know if framed right (not something our media is often conducive to) the vast majority of New Zealanders do. Above aIl, I would like you to show that you care, and put this duty of care into action in your role as Prime Minister of our country.

We know that Copenhagen will make some progress on International agreements- how much is not certain. But what if you can play a role in progressing it further on our behalf? At present, when you add up the commitments on the table, it adds up to perhaps 15% emission reductions on 1990 levels globally (Adrian Macey said this yesterday)-  this is short of the global goal of 25-40% and without any room to spare. There is no room for the mindset that says it is okay for people outside our borders to sink or swim. What we need is the worldview that says we are in this together and we are going to do our best. What if your presence and the words you have move the conversation further towards the global targets you and our cabinet support? Your friend Obama understands this, and he is attending at least for a part. It is not too late to make a difference.

We, as citizens, will need much determination here and around the world to enact what we are presently are and are yet to commit to. Go. Rub shoulders, bring back to our country a sense of perspective and renewed commitment from this very important meeting at this unique time in history.

With love,

An Auckland Citizen

John

I’m a kiwi working this week in the Maldives a country in democratic transition but also under huge threat from climate change. I’ll be seeing President Nasheed before I leave. It would be great to be able to tell him that you recognise the urgency of the threat to his country and the planet and that you are therefore going to the Copenhagen conference.

Yours, Peter

Dear John,

We’ve loved hearing your honesty in talking about having no regrets at the end of your tenure and making the most of the position you’re so proud to have. And we’re proud that you’re proud - you’re the father of our nation. So why not bang in some pride at having worked on future proofing the country from an environmental perspective? It won’t take much to attend in Copenhagen, but it will mean a shedload to the hearts and minds of Us.

With love,
Us

what i want for Christmas

Dear John,

I am a mother - a woman in her 40s with a great life - health, family, a New Zealander, which counts for an enormous amount.

I don’t want for much at all.

But what i really want for Christmas is for all you Leaders to get together and stop being such wusses about taking a stand on climate change.

Stop thinking someone else should make the first move.  Stop thinking that economics are more important.

Just get some testicularfortitude and make a stand against climate change in a measurable way.

Make me proud to be a Kiwi again John

yours sincerly

Jane Cunningham

Whangarei

C'mon John!

Dear John,

I am a kiwi living in London, and was very disappointed to hear you weren’t joining the other world leaders in Copenhagen. I have now just read you might be going. That would be fantastic and would make me proud to be a kiwi again. I have been ashamed to tell my british friends/clients that my prime minister isn’t going. They are wondering if New Zealand is serious about tackling climate change and joining the world in making commitments to reduce our carbon emissions.  I would love to be able to say ‘Yes we are, our prime minister is heading to the Copenhagen conference and he really wants to make a difference’.

Thanks John

Regards,

A hopeful Kiwi in London