What happens when you fail to act on your belief about climate change and do nothing?
This docudrama is based on actual events, real people and fictionalised into an action-driven psychological and political thriller.
Set in the near future with flashbacks to the past, shadowy powerbrokers behind climate-change denial face a world no longer delivering the wealth, privilege and security they've taken for granted?
Aided by a World Bank governor gone rogue, rising star government editor Cassandra Adams heads a small band of activists ready to break through the enclaves protecting seven of the world's wealthiest fossil-fuel tycoons and unravel the secrets behind the greatest challenge the planet's human population has ever faced.
Murdered protestors, a shock jock warped by his latent homosexuality, an enraged young scientist, and a mystical Aboriginal couple propel the story from New York to Washington, to Sydney and then the remote West Australian coast.
The World Playoff is the highest stakes game of all as one side cheats, lies and manipulates their way toward winning no matter what. And they have a plan for the rest of us - a shocking new plan that hides in plain sight.
Can the activists muster public support and overcome their own fears in time to bring back truth and hope to a disintegrating world?
Whose side are you on? The answer may not be so easy.
About the Author :
Ian Brooke owned and managed Australia's highest altitude horse riding school, raised the profile of the world's biggest fund manager, and was under contract to write How Not to Commit Suicide when he became angered by inertia in the climate change debate: Believers waved science papers under the noses of those who didn't believe. The Didn'ts viewed the paper as one more hoax. Governments let doubt prevail. Didn'ts won. The debate needed new blood and so he initiated Building Bridges, the first Australian forum bringing blue-chip business and environment heavyweights together. Business media covered it. Then nothing. Next came Australian Business for the Environment, a venture that brought environmentalist rock star Peter Garrett on board. A better initial result, but it too trailed off. Forces at work other than his own poor planning weren't yet known to him. Today, fossil fuel funding to stop climate action flows into every corner of our lives. It corrupts governments and media, suppresses democracy, curtails civil freedoms, and now warning signals it may be fostering the growth of end-times religions because they discourage climate change action. He says, "'Liars for hire', misnamed think tanks who do exactly as they're told, slurp up some of that funding. Many have tax-free status and misleading titles, 'Heartland', 'Independent', 'Public Affairs' - breeding grounds for people who care more about their ideology than they do about people. We've seen that movie before. "It is laughable, but not funny. Credible scientists, fire chiefs, and the informed 'get into trouble' if they speak out. The right to protest narrows. "Honest debate is exhausted. They have the money. Protestors have the science, but not enough protestors. Money wins. "The most potent threat to fossil fuel funding is the growth of peaceful protests for climate change action. There's good evidence that governments capitulate when 3.5 percent of a democratic population passively protests. "Is there hope in this book? That's up to you. You'll know what to do. You might have to change. They won't. They'll just keep lying."
Review :
Anyone who thinks they know the outcome to climate change might think again. The World Playoff is a sometimes painful, sometimes funny, and mostly suspenseful ride from Washington all the way to Exmouth, Western Australia. Apple doesn't let bad guys use their phones on screen, and this work only gives us a glimpse of the fossil fuel oligarchs, but it's enough. The scene where the investigative journalist drugs one of them to elicit a confession is electrifying. Vivid images of Australia from the air stay with me. So does the ending.
James Cameron, Los Angeles
A thought provoking page turner -facinating characters and a mind-blowing insight into the motivations of powerful climate change deniers.
Aube Jarkey, Sydney
Exciting read, terrific characters, heartbreaking scenes. I so very much wanted her to make it. For me, a call to action, but not to arms. You're never going to guess the ending.
Edwina Thorley. Catherine Field NSW
