I’m really good at being objective when it comes to the news. I can face the horrors daily and it doesn’t have an impact, but sometimes my hearts breaks wide open at what is happening. This week was one of those weeks. From Bill Gates comments on climate change (Trump won another “war”!!), to the scientific reports coming out, to the idiocy of global politics and more. It’s easy to lose all hope, and I know a lot of people are in a permanent hopeless state these days, but I refuse to bow down to that. I can’t. I have to keep fighting.
However, what really got me down this week was Hurricane Melissa. Early reports said it would make landfall in Jamaica last Saturday, but as we know, it didn’t hit until Tuesday. The fact it moved so slowly meant it took up more water, gained more energy, and became the monster that destroyed the beautiful Island-nation of Jamaica, as well as further devastating impacts on Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti and more.
The build up to this event was horrifying (can you imagine being in its path?) and we’re only really starting to grasp how bad it was. However, more than that, I’m even more worried for the future of Jamaica, especially after Richard Busellato said on The Sh*t Show yesterday that the financial implications mean it’s over for Jamaica. That blew me away.
Here’s some footage of the carnage, and the people impacted in Jamaica.
BTW for those denying what is happening before our eyes, here’s a visualization of growth for category four and five hurricanes since 1980.
This is just the beginning of storms of this scale, though of course, storms and hurricanes aren’t our only risk. If you’re ready to understand more, listen to climate systems scientists – the ones who bring the whole story together – which is why I’m including this recent discussion, both sobering and important. The near-term threat we face is complex weather systems will start combining, to become even more powerful and destructive, but it won’t be a new normal, because it will keep getting worse. Essentially, there is no new normal, just chaos ahead. Worth a listen.
Back to Jamaica and all the Caribbean nations impacted, I just want to send all the love I have to the people. I can’t do anything else, other than try and wake the world up to what we need to do to give ourselves a chance at a future, and I ask everyone to please start paying attention. The time to do something is now, otherwise chaos is all we will have ahead.
The content we discussed on The Sh*t Show
We talked about a lot of stuff on the show this week, so sharing some of it here if you’re interested in digging further.
The economic implications for Jamaica:
- Hurricane Melissa threatens to erase decades of economic gains – Jamaica Observer – conservative
- Hurricane Melissa aftermath: Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti facing economic losses, more hardship – costs have gone up considerably in this article, essentially double or triple Jamaica’s GDP
- Economic impact of Melissa could reach 30–250% of Jamaica’s GDP: BMS – Reinsurance News – and then there’s this. If a storm like this hit the US, it would have severe implications on the insurance sector, which would mean severe impacts for the global economy. But 30-250% impact?! Wow.
Pre Cop30, we’re going to see a lot of reports and articles coming out, here’s a few highlights from this week (another reason I’ve been down).
- ‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head | Climate crisis | The Guardian
- Rising heat kills one person a minute worldwide, major report reveals | Climate crisis | The Guardian
- Annual heat-related deaths surge to 546 000 in the last decade due to climate change — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink | BioScience | Oxford Academic
- “State of the climate” 2025: Earth’s vital signs worsen, science shows options for livable future — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- A person from the richest 0.1% produces more carbon pollution in a day than someone in the bottom 50% produces all year | Oxfam International
If you’re interested in the planetary crisis, this is where I’m collecting research, articles and opinions on the nine planetary boundaries and overshoot.
Here’s Bill Gate’s note – A new approach for the world’s climate strategy | Bill Gates and some coverage about it. I wish the research above got as much attention, but of course it doesn’t
- You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- The world is better off for Bill Gates, the climate debate may not be
- Bill Gates Says Climate Change Isn’t So Bad After All
- Billionaire Bill Gates calls for climate strategy pivot ahead of COP30 | Reuters
Moron!
Nvidia is now valued at $5 trillion!! Maybe they can support Jamaica, Cuba and all other’s impacted? While they’re at it, consider feeding people in the US who have lost their SNAP benefits? – Nvidia hits $5 trillion valuation as AI boom powers meteoric rise | Reuters.
Then again, here’s a deep look at the much-discussed AI bubble – AI Is the Bubble to Burst Them All | WIRED.
Oh and another beauty for the week, nuclear testing to resume – we’re such a stupid species – Trump says nuclear weapons testing to resume in US after more than 30 years.
Anyhoo, that’s enough for now. A grim week and unfortunately, I can’t see it getting any better, but hopefully I can put my objective hat back on to keep looking this stuff in the eye every day. Then I am able to share what’s most important and hopefully, contribute with the global team trying to wake the world up to the multiple crisis’ we face, as well as what we need to do about it.
Enjoy the weekend. There’s plenty more to read and catch up on in the world news section, which is updated daily.
Visual storytelling
Chortle!
Pete Buttigieg is a great egg!
Chortle (although innocent people being murdered is NOT funny!)
Gavin Newsom is awesome
Joy Division creates division
You may have missed this if you’re not in Australia, but the Prime Minister wore a Joy Division t-shirt this week – a British rock band from the 70s. It’s gotten a lot of coverage based on an accusation of antisemitism, which the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum said is incorrect. A very clear example of the stupidity of our politics today. My favorite headline of the story: No Joy, only Division: It’s just the stupidest stupid we’ve yet seen – News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
Miller, ugh! Revolting human.
My content and my friends
I think we all really enjoyed listening to Tom Badham-Thornhill share his stories after a decade managing refugee camps in Iraq, Bangladesh, Yemen and Lebanon. Incredible work and impact. Really valued gaining more understanding of how it works, as well as how it can work better.
We had Joseph Masembe on the show a couple of weeks ago, talking about the work he is doing in Uganda and across East Africa with children. A definite planet hero. Here’s just his interview if you don’t want to watch the whole show.
Dig into the news
As always, there’s plenty more to read, listen to or watch, so do click through to the reads at the image below, and a reminder, this platform has articles going back weeks, so have a scan and read/watch/listen to whatever jumps out at you.
Let me know what caught your attention? Or share with me what has your attention now? There’s a lot going on, which means none of us can cover everything. Besides, it’s always great to get feedback so I know I’m delivering something of value.
Cheers
Andrea
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