Dr. James Hansen, Head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York City, New York – Rock Star Climate Scientist

Steven P. Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc., Cupertino, California – Rock Star Consumer Tech CEO

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL), head of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala, India – Simple Monk, a.k.a. Rock Star Man of Peace

Young Happenin' Server – Fan of Rock Stars

Unnamed Manhattan Café, 2:00 pm

Young Happenin’ Server (starstruck, hesitates): You guys ready to order?

Dr. James Hansen: I'll have a coffee.

Steve Jobs: Green tea, please.

HHDL: Whatever Steve has. (Aside to server.) You know, I was featured in the Apple "Think Different" campaign. But I was not an old man then, fewer wrinkles (points at his own face, chuckles).

Young Happenin' Server (visibly relaxes, heads to kitchen)

Jobs (to Hansen): So you’re the rock star of climate science.

Hansen (to Jobs): And you’re the rock star of consumer tech.

HHDL to both: You are great men of technology and of science. Me, I am just a simple monk, some say a “man of peace.”

Jobs: So what should we do about this climate thing, Hansen? There could be some really cool iPhone apps that get people to reduce their personal carbon emissions.

Hansen: We need to get way past iPhone apps and small steps, Steve. We must reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere to 350 ppm or less, and I’ve just proposed a national low-loss electrical grid system that would criss-cross the United States. And we absolutely must implement a moratorium on coal-based electricity generation–this is our last chance. I don't mean to get personal, Steve, but I sincerely hope no coal-based electricity generation is feeding Apple plants in China.

Jobs (hesitates): Um, I hope so, too. Your Holiness? Thoughts?

HHDL (experiences "aha" moment): Come to think of it, I was the 146th recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 2007. President Bush presented it. Steve, you are my witness: I am not gloating when I say that award really upset the Chinese Communist Party.

Jobs: Huh?

HHDL: Er, sorry (chuckles). As I was saying, we must have universal responsibility that places kindness and compassion at the center of protecting future generations. It is because of greed, wanting more than we need, and because of our fear of suffering, in particular, that we have built a society based on delusion. So, if we think more clearly, we see that it is the pollution of our minds that is creating pollution and climate change on the planet. (Pause.) Steve, what’s that about your making iPhones in China? China isn't respecting the human rights of the Tibetan people.

Jobs: Your Holiness, it's all about extending our award-winning products and customer service to China. If we manufacture iPhones in China, the Tibetans will enjoy them sooner rather than later. Plus, like I said, there'll be some really cool apps so Tibetans can track climate change.

HHDL: What are "cool apps"? Cool appliances? You mean refrigerators? (Lets out belly laugh.)

Hansen: The Tibetans don't need to track climate change, Steve, it's right outside their windows. You’re barking up the wrong tree.

Young Happenin' Server (returns with order, lingers)

Jobs (to Hansen): Right, let's cut to the chase: We need His Holiness the Dalai Lama's universal responsibility, based on kindness and compassion, and using our kindness, compassion, and maybe a little righteous anger, we can lobby Congress to build the national power grid that you advocate. Right?

Hansen: You bet. Any additional thoughts, Your Holiness?

HHDL: Yes, in 1989, I was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. So, you know, maybe, just maybe, I am a rock star. (Beams with pride.) Perhaps I can even get a few monks together with my friends, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Vaclav Havel, to chant something for download on iTunes. Steve?

Jobs: Your Holiness, I think we can get you a free iPod Touch for that great idea.

Hansen: And maybe we could place a podcast of my congressional testimony up on iTunes, too. Steve?

Jobs: All right, I suppose you want an iPod as well?

Hansen: Sure, why not?

Jobs: (Sighs.) These free iPod requests stress me out.

HHDL: Steve, James, you both have good hearts. And we must all, every one of us, develop our hearts in this time of change.

Young Happenin' Server: Right on.