This is not a happy, feel-good post full of hope or possible answers. Here, we will take a peak into the coming dark age we are all facing. It is not just global warming we are facing. There's more trouble ahead, a lot more. We know about human caused climate change already. There are at least three more threats we need to add to the list. Our dying oceans. The insect die off. The current mass extinction event.
The oceans face several big problems; acidification, warming that leads to current changes, over fishing and pollution. A more acidic ocean means more dying coral and shell based sea life which affects food chains the world over. Yes, it is related to a warming earth. The ocean currents are changing as well, they are slowing. This will change weather patterns, location of fish populations and sea level rise. And then you can add overfishing and pollution. We know about the huge problem of plastic waste but let's not forget oil seepage, farm chemical runoff, industrial waste and even noise pollution. Sound travels far underwater and plays havoc with animals that use sonar. Oh, and let's give a special shout-out to those fun looking cruise ships! But wait, there's more!
The insects are dying off. We kind of need them. They pollinate plants, enrich the soil and are the basis of countless food chains. It's difficult ti imagine a world without bugs or a very few dominant species who cannot replicate the roles diverse insect populations now play. There are a number of human-made causes for this. Farm fertilizers, industrial chemicals, pollution and ongoing habitat destruction all play roles in declining bug populations. We easily forget sitting in from the elements comfortably in our homes, we are still a part on a much larger natural system on which we completely depend. Without pollinating insects, the food chain on which we depend disappears. Good luck with that! Oh, and one more thing (for this post anyway).
We are in a mass extinction event. It is not a natural cycle. It is us. We are rapidly destroying the natural world with overpopulation, habitat destruction, pollution, human caused climate change and my favorite- overconsumption. Our lives of privilege, security and ease hide the real dangers right in front of us. Few have ever been to a place where they are not the highest on the food chain. We separate ourselves from the natural world. Our idea of a food chain is a drive thru, the grocery store and now even the internet. Completely cut off from nature in our homes, work places and cars rapidly shrinking biodiversity seems far away from our day to day lives. The impacts are here and now depending on where you live in the world. Trapped in our twin illusions of limitless growth and continuous progress, we cannot see the rapidly approaching cliffs ahead. So...?
I love our mythological, space exploring future as much as anyone. Hell, I even write science-fiction! It could happen but understand the future we get may be very, very different from the one we want. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Once capitalism recognizes the depth of danger, it will be far too late. With all the well known dangers above, the best we get are international conferences full of half measures and lots of blah, blah, blah. In other words, the people running this shit show haven't even began to see the slow motion armageddon unfolding in real time, much less starting to do anything of substance about it.
I don't mean to screw up your day, just help create awareness of the massive challenges ahead. It is too easy for us here in the USA to see those being affected by climate change and these three unfolding disasters today as a problem far removed from our pay check to pay check existence and daily routines. Any hope of solving these problems depends on open and honest understanding and moving well beyond the blame game. Keep your humanity moving forward friends... There will be no easy / pain free fixes.
No comments:
Post a Comment