I came across an article this week, Microplastics in clouds may be contributing to climate change and here’s a snippet: “Airborne microplastics degrade much faster in the upper atmosphere due to strong ultraviolet radiation, which releases greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming.”
And I laughed. Not a joyful laugh, a dark laugh, because of course it is! Every day I hear something ridiculous – a politician announcing a reversal of green policies (Sunak), ignorant political contenders claiming they can solve all of our problems (Trump), 99% of humanity is breathing toxic air – it’s polluted with microplastics or forever chemicals or carbon or whatever, our water is polluted or diminishing at a rapid rate, alfalfa farms in the US are draining aquifers all while growing food for cows in Saudi Arabia, our forests are no longer carbon sinks but instead carbon sources, extinctions, massive coral bleaching events, depletion of our land and natural wonders, soil degradation, and the list goes on.
It’s so ridiculous what we are doing to ourselves, it’s almost unbelievable, unless you have a passion for history (which I do) and know that many times over, humanity has lived in excess of what its environment can provide, resulting in the catastrophic collapse of past civilizations. The only difference this time is it’s not just one civilization that will collapse, but all… so, where are we going to go next, exactly?
So yes, I have entered the realm of dark laughter, because it’s the only way I can stay sane. I have deniers jumping on my social media posts, attacking me for what I share, and I laugh in the same way. I don’t feel any emotions towards them, and I have no animosity either. For whatever reason they believe what they believe, I ain’t changing that, so why get all emotional about it? Plenty of other things to get emotional about, like making sure my boys can chase their dreams!
When it comes to the trolls, botts and deniers, I just think you do you and I’ll do me, because I will never stop working to guarantee my children and all children a chance at some sort of a future. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing after all. I’m a parent and that “job” is supposed to be about giving my kids a step up to a better life than I’ve had. Right now, I feel the chances of that are almost zero, but still I try.
So, when people argue with me about climate change (I don’t argue back), but I’m like OK let’s say that climate change is all bullshit – what shall we do about the accelerated extinctions and the loss of ecosystems?
Or the immense amount of waste in our rivers and oceans?
Or the escalating number of refugees and human slaves – most of which are women and children?
Or the speed at which we are losing healthy topsoil, which means we won’t be able to grow enough food to feed everyone?
Or the extreme heat events which have killed so many and will kill many many more and very soon?
Or the fact that, for every degree of warming, we have 7% more moisture in the atmosphere, which is why we’re seeing more extreme flooding events. It’s New York this weekend, I wonder where it will be next weekend? Maybe where I live. Maybe where you live.
Or the fact that no country – rich or poor – is ready for the extreme weather events hitting their town, city or country?
Or rapid glacial melt?
Or the Arctic and the soon-to-be-experienced blue ocean event?
Or Antarctica with Thwaites seriously concerning scientists?
Or permafrost melt and methane release – aka the methane dragon?
The fact that we are probably confirmed to have hit 1.5C this year, not in 2050 or 2100, but now? Earth’s average 2023 temperature is now likely to reach 1.5 °C of warming
And I could go on and on and on.
We are in trouble my friends, on so many levels, and it is time for every adult on this planet, especially those in the middle class and up (that’s 3.8 billion people+ if you didn’t know) to step up, speak up, reduce our consumption by at least 75%, and we need to regenerate our world everywhere and get back in balance with what our earth can provide. If we don’t do that, well….
Read this for inspiration and a road map: Indigenous women are showing us how to fight for environmental and human rights
I don’t know if it will be enough to succeed, truly, but I know that if we come together and try our hardest, well it might just be enough to slow it down. Of course, we might still face collapse, but at least we’ll collapse together, united, trying our hardest to succeed. That’s a better option than the current dystopian path we’re on, don’t you think?
Until we show a significant level of commitment to changing our path, my dark laughter will continue. The truth is, if I don’t do that, I’ll fall into deep despair, and I don’t want to be there, that would suck. I am also committed to never giving up because my kids deserve all I’ve got. Can you help me in this fight? We need as many as we can on board now.
Anyhoo, onto the reads….
Friend’s content and mine
Mighty Parents – Neerja Singh is a WONDERFUL storyteller and I love how she captures the complexity of parenting and children in this blog. Check it out and make sure you follow Neerja.
Groundbreaking Elephant Rescue: Unchained Elephants’ Historic Effort Saves One-Eyed Bull Elephant huge huge congratulations to Vicki Kiely, Daniel Alvaro Villota and the team at Unchained Elephants for not only rescuing Kanoon (a bull elephant) but for the recognition it is receiving. Brilliant!
Great piece by c.j. Ng, who was also a wonderful guest on The Know Show this week – follow him, especially if you’re interested in B2B sales or China How to See Through Low-Ball Tactics by Your Negotiating Adversary | LinkedIn
34 ขั้นตอนในการเตรียมตัวเพื่อสภาวะอุณหภูมิสูงถึงระดับที่ไม่สามารถอยู่ได้ – The Digital Conversationalist (andreatedwards.com) I am super grateful to Khun Kasanan Suwanmongkol and Khun Bo Choomanee for agreeing to translate the blog “34 actions to prepare for a heat index that hits unliveable territory” into Thai. Please share with your Thai community, so everyone has a chance to get prepared before the hot seasons kicks in, which typically starts in February.
Donation time
If everyone gave #just10percent of their time, talent, money or voice, we’ll change the world. Can you donate? Why not make a regular donation to the World Food Programme. Or donate to the UN Refugee Program, Medicine Sans Frontier, PowerOf, Kiva.org, Red Cross, and so many more, including urgent fundraising and those supporting animals, like the Soi Dog Foundation. A fabulous organisation I support is B1G1 – check it out and set up an account. It’s a time for giving and taking care of each other.
Content to read
And here’s the content I’ve been reading, listening to or watching. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read, listen to or watch them all. It’s time to pay attention to the information that matters.
Planetary emergency
Just how bad is climate change? It’s worse than you think, says Doomsday author | WRAL TechWire
Politicians failing to grasp ‘scientific reality’ of climate: expert (ampproject.org)
Bird flu kills 400 seals, sea lions in Uruguay (phys.org)
(PDF) Climate Disruption Caused by a Decline in Marine Biodiversity and Pollution (researchgate.net)
We Are Witnessing the First Stages of Civilization’s Collapse | The Nation
Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall cut down by ‘vandals’ – BBC News
How to be a hands-on citizen | Psyche Guides inspiring!
An Ecological Civilization is the renaissance we’ve been waiting for | One Earth
Swiss glaciers lose 10% of their volume in two years | Glaciers | The Guardian
After hottest summer ever, beware of climate deniers – and doomers (usatoday.com)
Everyone Daydreams About Collapse. Few Understand It. (okdoomer.io)
It’s Definitive – The Gulf Stream Is Weakening | IFLScience
Florida’s coral reef is in crisis. These crabs can help. – Vox
On the Media: Suing to Save the Planet, and How Climate Activism Got a Bad Rap on Apple Podcasts
Sustainable tourism: This Nordic nation is introducing tourist tax to protect its ‘unspoilt nature’ | Euronews BTW it shouldn’t be a tourist tax, but a tourist cap! We’ve got to slow it all down.
Renowned climate scientist Michael E. Mann on what ‘doomers’ get wrong » Yale Climate Connections
Experimental forecast calls for ‘super’ El Niño by winter – The Washington Post
The Future is Made of Climate Catastrophe (theissue.io)
New Orleans’ drinking water threatened as saltwater intrusion looms – CBS News
Dying forests: New carbon emitters? – Down to Earth (france24.com)
An El Niño winter is coming: What could that mean for the US? | CNN
Antarctica is experiencing rapid plant growth, concerning scientists Earth.com
Climate scientist says climate is resilient to a point, but time is running out (msnbc.com)
Which cities will still be livable in a climate-altered world? (nationalgeographic.com)
One of the most resilient trees on Earth is dying in droves (nationalgeographic.com)
How Medellin is beating the heat with green corridors – BBC Future
How quickly could we phase out fossil fuels? (fastcompany.com)
The Powerful Think Tanks Portraying Climate Protest as Dangerous | On the Media | WNYC Studios
Arctic News: September 2023, highest anomaly on record? (arctic-news.blogspot.com)
Hundreds copy Trudi Warner’s banner in backlash against Solicitor General – Good Law Project
How to Prepare for What’s Coming without Being a Complete Asshole (okdoomer.io)
Chart Shows ‘Disturbing’ Water Levels in Minnesota (newsweek.com)
Opinion: Why we’re seeing so many deadly floods | CNN
Earth’s average 2023 temperature is now likely to reach 1.5 °C of warming (nature.com)
Bill Gates: ‘complete nonsense’ that planting trees can solve climate (fastcompany.com)
Bill Gates Says Planting Trees to Solve Climate Crisis Is ‘Complete Nonsense’ (yahoo.com)
Beer supplies in existential crisis as climate change hits barley | Fortune
Australia’s firefighters face worst season in years (phys.org)
Global politics
What China’s economic problems mean for the world – BBC News
Nagorno-Karabakh state will cease to exist in January, says leader – BBC News
‘I left to stay alive’: Nagorno-Karabakh empties of ethnic Armenians | Euronews
‘There Is No Hope’: Death and Desperation Take Over the World’s Largest Refugee Camp | TIME
Germany steps up border controls with Poland and Czech Republic | Euronews
Syria’s forgotten (prospectmagazine.co.uk)
The Daily: Canada Confronts India Over Alleged Assassination on Apple Podcasts
Canada’s House Speaker apologises for praising Ukrainian who fought for Nazis – BBC News
‘Bursts of anxiety’: Impact of Ukraine war on Russians laid bare in poll | Euronews
Ukraine: The soldiers who can’t leave the front line until the war is over – BBC News
Rosebank oil field given go-ahead by regulators – BBC News
Has Britain lost its climate crown? | Reuters
Only 22% of Britons trust Sunak on climate, finds Guardian poll | Climate crisis | The Guardian
The inside story of the mini-budget disaster – BBC News
Daniel Andrews resigns as premier of Victoria | Daniel Andrews | The Guardian
Dianne Feinstein: ‘Pioneering’ Senator dies aged 90 – BBC News
The End of Trump Inc. – The Atlantic
Travis King in US custody after North Korea expulsion – BBC News
Hutchinson sheds new light on Meadows, burning White House docs (msnbc.com)
FACT SHEET: Enhancing the U.S.-Pacific Islands Partnership | The White House
Bob Menendez steps down as US Senate foreign relations chairman after indictment – BBC News
Business and technology
Apple’s Supply Chain Is on a Collision Course With Climate Change (bloomberg.com)
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says there are 3 Mark Zuckerbergs | Fortune
McKinsey pays out another $230mn to settle opioid cases | Financial Times (ft.com)
Lego ditches oil-free brick in sustainability setback
Osiris-Rex: Nasa confirms return of asteroid Bennu samples – BBC News
Social issues
Natural Antibiotics That Actually Work (medical-news.org)
Calls to shut down right-wing UK news channel engulfed by misogyny scandal | Euronews
A QAnon ‘queen’ and the Canada town that wants her gone – BBC News
Rotterdam shootings: Gunman arrested after killing three people – BBC News
Long Covid Is Real. Now the Evidence Is Piling Up. – Bloomberg
Influencer cries after strangers refuse her offer to pay for their food shop (ladbible.com)
BBC remains tight-lipped about ‘secret’ Panorama (thelondoneconomic.com)
Why massive shoes are the trend of the year – BBC Culture
Russell Brand: Police receive further allegations against comedian – BBC News
POLL: Is Censorship a Partisan Issue? | RealClearPolitics
Woman’s body found in jaws of 13ft Florida alligator identified – BBC News
Passion/humour/history/celebrities
Tupac Shakur: Duane Davis charged with 1996 murder of rapper – BBC News
Electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand | CNN
An unprecedented look inside the Dome of the Rock (nationalgeographic.com)
Viral Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce clip leads to ‘crazy 24 hours’ – BBC News
Jessica Chastain Endorses Tweet Slamming Joe Jonas (usmagazine.com)
Wallabies Crash Out Of The World Cup After Horror Show Against Wales – Network Ten
7 Oldest Creation Myths in the World – Oldest.org
The Roman empire: why men just can’t stop thinking about it | Men | The Guardian
So, what did you read? What jumped out at you? Or share with me what you’re reading? I love that!
Cheers
Andrea
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Environment education
Four environment resources to help you navigate this challenging territory.
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- Finally, more than 100 mini-videos on many topics regarding the multiple crisis’ we face. Feel free to download and use as your own. No credit necessary.
Uncommon Courage: an invitation
Uncommon Courage is an invitation to be your courageous best self every day. It’s also an antidote to the overwhelm, fear, and rage rolling around the world. But it’s more than a book; it’s an invitation to join an inclusive community that wants to better understand humanities challenges – both global and personal – in order to take courageous action and create a better world for everyone. If Covid19 has given us the time and space to reflect, Uncommon Courage gives us the nudge we need to create lasting change.
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