Climate Collapse

Melting Glacier. Iceland, July 2023.

We are now in the summer of 2023. The climate is progressively breaking down. Weather is becoming increasingly dangerous in some areas. I suppose this is the year it all started.

My optimism is low these days.

My heart is broken.

To see what could have been avoided.

There were lives that could have been saved.

Death and destruction.

Wildlife and nature are collapsing.

Ice sheets are melting at an alarming rate.

It was all known a long time ago.

Whether conscious or subconscious, I think everyone today feels or is aware of what is happening to the environment and our world. It's a collective feeling that something is in the air and you can't get away from it, whether you believe it or not.

“Before we invented civilization our ancestors lived mainly in the open out under the sky. Before we devised artificial lights and atmospheric pollution and modern forms of nocturnal entertainment we watched the stars. There were practical calendar reasons of course but there was more to it than that. Even today the most jaded city dweller can be unexpectedly moved upon encountering a clear night sky studded with thousands of twinkling stars. When it happens to me after all these years it still takes my breath away.”  Carl Sagan

I'm not sure where we're headed from here, but the unknown concerns me.

The earth's energy balance is out of control.

The ocean is far too warm.

The land is parched.

Floods are far too powerful.

Storms are intensifying.

People are becoming more extreme.

Politicians are falling short.

The media is deceptive.

The wealthy are unconcerned.

Inflation is far from gone.

The greed grows all the time.

There is no desire to find solutions.

Many people are trapped in order to survive.

Many sections of the world lack access to education.

Is there any way out? To live self-sufficiently and just consume what you require. That is no longer possible in an increasing number of regions around the world. Because, in the end, you'll need to come up with something in order to survive and prosper, and that something will be something that brings you money.

Because money is, in some ways, synonymous with freedom. We ultimately require it in order to exist, live, and achieve what we desire.  So you'll work for the sake of working, and it may not necessarily be what you agree with or stand for. Some do it effortlessly, while others struggle.

I believe it is a multidimensional process rather than a single conflict or problem that is easily resolved. Something we must all address and/or obey collectively.

Whether we want it or not.

“The significance of our lives and our fragile planet is then determined only by our own wisdom and courage. We are the custodians of life's meaning. We long for a Parent to care for us, to forgive us our errors, to save us from our childish mistakes. But knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal.”

Carl Sagan

Whatever happens to us and humanity, one thing is certain, it will not be dull anytime soon. Let us hope for a miracle and that people in authority realise one day that they live in the same society as we do and that if we continue with our current destructive system, there will be none left for their children or grandchildren. And it will all be their fault since they refused to change or act. Leaders exist to rouse the people, to affect us all, and the big corporations and think tanks of today know exactly what they are doing to keep us occupied and busy buying more useless items we don't need or following unsatisfactory or false dreams.

Mass Psychology is real, and what was once known as Propaganda is now known as Public Relations. Social media, in particular, has completely altered the way individuals are reached. As with so many things, it is a two-edged sword. We just have to use it correctly to put the people back in control, rather than a few corporations that want us to click more and more and more for the sake of greed and profit.

The capitalistic system failed a long time ago. Without a doubt I am aware that without it we would not have what we have today. It is outdated and now a dead beast striving to survive and dragging us all into the abyss. As a result, we are witnessing the steady decline and collapse of communities and nature around us. It is simply greed and a stubbornness to abandon an obsolete system. We require a completely new approach to how we live on this planet. Invest heavily in innovative technology without allowing large firms to stifle development.

I am sure there is still room for some optimism, but I believe that too much hope is naïve at some point. Humanity is now at crossroads.

Peace & Love