Two stories

Staying positive is hard. Just ask Kevin Rudd, who was recently overheard dismissing hopes of achieving a global agreement on climate change in Coperhagen. I believe Rudd was elected in large part because he gave the impression that he would act decisively on climate change. Together with the simple need for change, that was central to my decision to vote Labor. Naturally, he was careful not to give any specific promises, and we have since seen Rudd decisively avoid taking any action to mitigate climate change. I’m therefore not surprised to learn that he has no faith in the current talks, and is privately undermining them. Not behaviour one would want in a nation’s leader.

More inspiring are paralympian Kurt Fearnley’s plans to crawl the 96 kilometers of the Kakoda Trail. His positive outlook and refusal to take the easy way out by living within stereotypical limits really give pause for thought. Too often we accept limitations prescribed by habit or history, and accept defeat before we try. Those who can see other ways are truly rare role models.