Dear John,

We set this site up to send encouragement to support you to go to Copenhagen.

It seemed to have some success... so we are encouraged to keep it going.

We want to support you to be a brave courageous and honorable leader, and there are some new policies on the table that threaten your reputation as a good leader.

We want to support you to work hard to protect the things that we hold dear, to guarantee 'thriveability' for all New Zealanders - today and in the future.

We have great hopes for you as a leader, and now is your chance to shine. There's a special role for you in the Big Work of our time. We know that it's hard work, but we are confident that you are up to it. Go on John, make us proud.

We stand behind you.
With love,
Us

Would you like to send John Key (New Zealand's Prime Minister) a love letter too? You can share a letter with John on this website by clicking here www.dearjohn.org.nz/submit You can upload pics as well! Invite your friends to write a letter too. Copies of all these letters will also be given directly to John Key.

Wednesday, December 2 2009

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