What I Wish I’d Known Before the Earth Died
If the Earth was put on trial, it would plead as a trauma victim.
Why would the Earth be put on trial? Well if climate scientists are to be believed, then the Earth is going to get pretty rough with humans in the near future. I’m talking a lot of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and whatever creative means of destruction it can think of. While we have had these things before they are very likely to increase in frequency over the coming years according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. And yet, who caused it to react violently? The same report states that 97% of climate scientists recognise that there is substantial proof that humans have a direct influence on climate change.
So how can the Earth be blamed?
It can’t. It offered us a place to live, food and water to survive, animals to keep us company and we repaid this debt with the abuse of fossil fuels and pollution of the oceans. No reasonable person would have possibly blamed Tina Turner if she had reacted with extreme violence towards her abusive husband at the time Ike. It would be nonsense to do so. Fortunately, she was able to get a divorce from her abuser and rebuild her life and career. And fortunately for us, the Earth hasn’t died, yet if humans are powerful enough to cause climate change then we should be capable enough to save the earth. Except, it appears that with plans to explore Mars it is us humans who are preparing for a divorce with Earth by trying to find other hospitable planets. Is it possible to have given up on saving the Earth because we are so assured that humans couldn’t possibly change their ways?
We’re all guilty of thinking that there’s nothing we can do to affect the powers that be. We cling to almost symbolic actions like recycling a cereal box here and there. Stanislaw said that “every snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty”. In this case, we are the snowflakes and climate change is the avalanche.
So how do we save the Earth?
We start by acknowledging the effects of our actions and the truth of the consequences. The scientists that understand climate change for a living cannot, by themselves, stop climate change. The big fossil fuel companies are unwilling to change because profit is the only motive, not just profit but as much profit as possible for short term benefit never mind the long term costs. And in neo-liberal societies the politicians are almost only focused on national security and the economy. The economy is king and without immense political pressure from an informed public there isn’t likely to be a fast or substantial enough change in our approaches to mitigating climate change, like investing heavily in renewable energy. This takes a collective effort. On an individual, person to person basis there are small changes that can be made, mainly waste less, be energy efficient and make informed choices like buying organic food.
Finally, don’t be quiet about climate change. Tell your friends. The Earth doesn’t deserve to die like this after all it has given. And frankly, neither do most of us or the future generations. Don’t think that saving the planet is an impossible task. “The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are” — John Burroughs. The allure of space and far away planets is enticing but who’s to say we would learn from our mistakes? We have a pretty good home right now. Let’s not abandon it, let’s start taking care of it.
With thanks to Callum JP Marius.
