A "perfect storm" is an expression that describes an event where a rare combination of circumstances will aggravate a situation drastically.
The term is nearly synonymous with "worst-case scenario," although the latter carries more of a hypothetical connotation.
(Source Wikipedia)
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Last week, Prince Charles used the term in his speech to the International Conservation Caucus Foundation in Washington, D.C. He concluded his talk about the worldwide problems in the fields of fishing, deforestation, declining wildlife and sustainable cities with the comment:
".... today we are faced by truly exceptional challenges and threats – a veritable "perfect storm" which, if not met by strong, decisive and far-sighted leadership, could overwhelm our capacity to rectify the damage and thereby destroy our grandchildren's future inheritance".
I actually agree with the underlying message in what Charles says about sustainability issues. It's just who it is coming from that I have a problem with. When you live a globe trotting lifestyle like the Royals, travel in your private jet, drive an old Aston Martin and live a life of conspicuous consumption, then you are ill advised to lecture others on sustainability issues. You tend to come out of it looking a complete hypocrite. Still, in fairness to him, he looks like he keeps those old double-breasted suits of his a long time.
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But when I heard the report of Charles' speech something in my mind told me I'd heard something similar before. Thought so - it was in Peter Hain's speech at Swansea Uni earlier this year about global threats to mankind. Among the threats, Mr Hain cited future food and water shortages, population, migration and climate change. He had concluded:
“Radical change, radical reform must happen. But one truth remains: we all need each other more than ever before in the global search for a ‘perfect solution’ to the gathering ‘perfect storm.’”
I think this was one of those lectures that comprised a suite of talks by our MP, for which our MP was paid £15K by the University.
http://caspp.southwales.ac.uk/hain-lecture-2015-global/
As with the case of Charles, the message is one I generally endorse. And again, it's the manner in which Mr Hain conducts his lifestyle that is the problem for me. Jetting off around the world, family retreat in Spain, Aga cooker, totally off-the-wall heating bills, buzzing all over the UK right now like some frantic bluebottle, when to be honest, in 23 years of him being a Neath MP, I have actually seen him in the flesh once - just once. And then he sent two "minders" into the pub first before he'd come in - one was so bleeding obvious you could see his gun holster beneath his jacket!
You see, if everyone on the planet actually lived like Charlie Boy and Mr Hain, the polar icecaps would in all probability no longer exist and the only polar bears would be in zoos. It seems to be a case of "Do as I say, but not as I do".
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Anyway, I digress. Back to the "perfect storm".
When I re-read that concluding statement by Hain, I again thought "I'm sure I've heard something along those lines before?"
And there it was. In the Guardian newspaper, March 2009:
"World faces 'perfect storm' of problems by 2030, chief scientist to warn"
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/mar/18/perfect-storm-john-beddington-energy-food-climate
A "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy resources threaten to unleash public unrest, cross-border conflicts and mass migration as people flee from the worst-affected regions, the UK government's chief scientist will warn tomorrow.
In a major speech to environmental groups and politicians, Professor John Beddington, who took up the position of chief scientific adviser last year, will say that the world is heading for major upheavals which are due to come to a head in 2030.
He will tell the government's Sustainable Development UK conference in Westminster that the growing population and success in alleviating poverty in developing countries will trigger a surge in demand for food, water and energy over the next two decades, at a time when governments must also make major progress in combating climate change.
"We head into a perfect storm in 2030, because all of these things are operating on the same time frame," Beddington told the Guardian.
"If we don't address this, we can expect major destabilisation, an increase in rioting and potentially significant problems with international migration, as people move out to avoid food and water shortages," he added.
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That's when I realised there was nothing new under the sun. A perfect storm of references to a perfect storm had hit me. It was time for a stiff drink before Armageddon.
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The phrase "perfect storm" was awarded the top prize by Lake Superior State University in their 2007 list of words that deserve to be banned for overuse. (Wikipedia).
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