As I sit here with my back out, and temps in the 90’s, I am frustrated that humans have not been better stewards of the earth. We have created a climate catastrophe! Frustrated but not surprised, we humans have been brutal over the centuries. If this earthly experiment shows us anything, it is that the one thing that could not be controlled, has ultimately brought us to both our highest peaks of achievement and our lowest lows: humanity itself. We are a flawed species and managed to create a disaster course for the world as we know it.
The climate is changing, slowly at first but now things happen quickly and dramatically. We currently have record temperatures throughout the world, there are catastrophic floods and fires, severe droughts and famine, both bird and bug, and fish and animal species are disappearing at an alarming rate. We have pandemics. The glaciers are melting. Our natural resources are tainted with chemicals and trash. The corals are bleaching. Our earth is warping!
Why I Care?
Table of Contents
As a traveler what brings me joy is seeing and experiencing the world around me, learning about history, cultures, places and foods that are completely novel, seeing the beauty of oceans, mountains, cities and villages that exist on this earth, meeting people, a rainbow coalition of humanity, with their different viewpoints, religions, customs and upbringing. Selfishly I want to be able to continue to explore the wonderful world that we live. Also selfishly I would like it if my children could see and enjoy the beauty of our planet in the future.
I remember being taught the “Golden Rule” by my mother which states that you ‘do onto others as you would have them do unto you.’ We definitely are not treating this earth how we would want to be treated. If we all lived by this rule how different our planet would be. Is it too late?
Status Quo Has Got to Go
Even thought the detrimental and horrific affects of our policies and procedures are unmistakable, there is a quiet strategy in keeping the status quo. This will not suffice. It is reprehensible that individuals, corporations and countries continue to over consume, over produce, pollute, waste, poison without any responsibility or care. How long will they continue to ignore us and more importantly ignore the symptoms of a very sick planet?
What is the status quo? Fossil fuel production and usage, deforestation, industrialized fishing, industrialized farming, poison and chemical usage, over consumerism, fast fashion production, plastic production and let us not forget corrupt politicians holding on to power for personal gain.
Scientists have been sounding the climate alarm for decades. We have not heeded the importance. So as John Kerry is negotiating with China and there have been 28! COP meetings around the world, I cannot help think that we are being strung along so these companies and countries can make their bank accounts and pockets a bit more full. They keep putting us off and have not faced ANY consequences. Our politicians are complicit in stalling and stringing us along. I am over it.
There is Good News
It is hard to believe but some people and countries are making a difference. Even though we have a long way to go, there is a bit of progress being made. Check out this link for some good news around the world regarding the climate. Some things I am excited about:
- Sri Lanka developed a fungus to eat polyethelyne plastics
- Montana court came down on the side of children and ruled they have a ‘right’ to a healthy environment
- New Zealand became first country to ban single use plastic bags in grocery stores
- The EU has produced enough electricity from solar to cover 57% of its needs
- England also banning some single use plastics
- Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon decreased by 66%
- Solar and wind power produced half of Portugals needs
- Apple will use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2024
- Equadorians rejected an oil drilling project in Yasuni National Park
All of these developments are much needed but what can and should we do in our everyday lives to help the planet? Here are some easy things we can do…
Jump On It
- We should not buy any single use plastics – especially water bottles. Instead use a water delivery service or buy a filtering system or container. Here are a few to consider:
- Take the bus, ride a bike or carpool once a week. Try it, you may like it
- Cut back on eating meat – treat meat as a once a week delicacy
- Cut back on fast food – buy locally produced food
- Stop buying stuff – reuse, upcycle, repair, thrift. Do we really need all this crap?
- Do not buy a new car every year – switch to every 5 years
- We see you rich people – please stop with your gross consumption of our resources. Stop building multiple mega mansions, stop being wasteful and buying more than you need. Stop flying that G600 all over by yourself because you can. Be kind to the planet.
Extreme Circumstances Need Extreme Solutions
When Covid first hit us and the world went on lockdown the most amazing thing happened to our world, the quality of our water and air improved dramatically. Smoggy cities like Beijing, Paris, New Delhi and Los Angeles became clear and skylines suddenly appeared as the pollution disippated. Oceans, beaches and waterways cleared up and the water became crystal clear. There was no more noise pollution and animals came out and seemed to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Wait! We have a way to immediately reverse some affects of climate change and possibly cool down the planet and give it some breathing room? Why aren’t we doing some sort of lockdown or ‘timeout’ if you will? Will it cost money? Will we lose productivity? Will it throw us into recession? Can people afford it? We do not really know the answers to those questions but we do know that if we do not do anything our future is bleak with more people, animals and nature irreparably damaged – forever. We cannot afford to continue talking and having global meetings and deciding that we will lower emissions in 10 years. We must do something NOW!!
As I see it, we need to have a forced shutdown of at least the two largest economies and polluters, the US and China. If India and Europe get on board fabulous. This may look like a 4 day work week, a three week work month or possibly a monthly shut down. During the shutdown corporations and governments that have made trillions of dollars raping our planet, using up resources that belong to all of us and allowing trash and byproducts to litter the earth need to devise a clean up plan, pay for the damage already done and pay the salaries of their employees while the timeout occurs. The corporations need to come up with plans to revamp or phase out but cannot be allowed to cause damage anymore.
A New Paradigm
The days of growth need to end to make room for a new economic paradigm: ‘degrowth’. A corporate lifespan perhaps. A philosophy that less is more. A realization that you can’t take it with you and maybe it’s time to cut back. Maybe dividing up resources per person, district, state, country so we know what we are allowed to use. Regulate those who have gotten incredibly wealthy and use up more than their fair share. Monitor polluters and make them clean up.
We need the ability to make decisions now that will ensure a healthy future. Maybe we cannot grow food that uses up our ground water like potatoes and almonds. Maybe we do not allow single use plastic production. Maybe gas guzzling SUV’s have to be fazed out. Maybe poisons are no longer allowed in our air, water and food. Maybe we can faze out industrial agriculture and fishing and meat and dairy production. Maybe developers need to stop developing and unnecessary construction needs to stop. Fast fashion has to go. As consumers we need to begin curtailing our spending habits and our unending appetite for anything and everything. We should value experiences over spending. We need to help our neighbors and create living spaces that are earth friendly. Maybe we need community gardens and more green spaces and trees. Maybe we outlaw lawn. Maybe we are allowed to have three children max.
These ideas may sound radical to some of you, but these things will become reality anyway if we do not act now. Maybe we have smart regulations (not a bad word!) in place so corporations cannot continue to pollute and have to start to pay for damage already done. Maybe we can turn the burn around!
Do you think you can begin implementing any new habits or sacrificing any part of your current way of life? Let me know in the comments.