Collapse is discussed in many ways these days – economic, societal, environmental, etc. It can feel overwhelming for sure, however, it’s a conversation we must have and a reality we need to recognize, because when we face up to our shared risks, we can get prepared. So that day is here, collapse has arrived. How so, you may ask?
The area of the Philippines hit by Typhoon Kalmaegi is Cebu – the same area hit by earthquakes at the end of September. Right now, we are waiting for landfall of another typhoon, this time a potential Super Typhoon called Fung-wong. While it will land more north than Cebu, the size is so enormous, the whole country is expected to be impacted.
What’s coming: Philippines warns of deadly storm surges as massive Typhoon Fung-wong nears super typhoon strength – CNA.
Considering what has already happened, the Philippines is in crisis. Its emergency services are stretched thin, the military is on the ground already helping with recovery, medical infrastructure has been flattened, the electricity grid is down, communications too, and with heat in the region much higher than it should be at this time of year, deaths from heat stroke could follow, as well as exposure to water borne diseases. The list goes on.
The Philippines can (and will) pull itself together and start the process to recovery, but with more storms expected (we’re at 21 with Fung-wong, it’s usually 20/season and the season isn’t over yet), the intensity of storms will only get stronger and dump more water, not only destroying homes and taking lives, but decimating its agriculture and making any industry that requires insurance unfeasible (e.g. tourism), so this is the beginning of the Philippines collapse.
I’m saying this very matter-of-factly, but there is deep emotion in my words. I have many friends and people I love in the Philippines, so this is heartbreaking to write, however, it is not unexpected based on the trajectory we are on. It is all going to get worse, even if we did everything right, but we aren’t doing anything to confront the risks we face. We are tinkering around the edges.
Another country facing collapse is Vietnam, which was also hammered by Typhoon Kalmaegi. It also recently suffered devastation, with ‘unprecedented’ floods impacting a huge part of the country, including important tourist areas (Hue, Danang, Hoi An), and of course, agriculture was washed away, homes and lives lost, infrastructure ripped down, and on it goes. It’s really hot there too. Collapse has started.
Neighbouring countries – Laos, Cambodia and Thailand – face the aftermath of the typhoon, with floods and landslides expected. This is happening after weeks of intense rainfall and floods in these countries, which means the dams are full, the ground is wet, etc.., so we can expect to see more devastation in these countries too.
And of course, there is Jamaica and we are still discovering the impact of Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful hurricane to ever hit this part of the world. We also heard some good news that Jamaica had taken out a Catastrophe Bond, valued at US$150 million. However, Hurricane Melissa left $8 billion in damage, so who will cover that cost?
Not to forget, important industries, like tourism, can it come back? The big tourist chains won’t be able to re-build, because the cost of insurance will be too high to make it feasible, so think of the impact just on that sector? The ‘breadbasket’ of the country was in the path of destruction too, so who will help the farmers get back on their feet? And how will the Jamaicans – who’ve lost everything, including jobs – be able to pay more for essentials, such as food, as inflation will now be out of control?
Read: After Melissa, Jamaica’s climate resilience plan faces a test | Grist
I know it’s not pretty, but this is the world we are in, and as the scientists are saying, a warmer world is a more dangerous world, with Category 6 the new hurricane normal. The costs of climate disasters are also increasing – The first half of 2025 was the costliest six months of weather disasters on record.
We talked about this a lot on The Sh*t Show yesterday, and I’d really encourage everyone to listen in. Having Richard Busellato and Dr David Ko as co-hosts provides a unique opportunity to learn from an economic perspective. I’m not an economist – as anyone who knows me appreciates – but one thing I do know: to understand the planetary crisis, we must have an appreciation of how the world’s economy works, or we’re really missing a HUGE piece of the story.
Some other important reads from the week
- The Monarch butterflies are in trouble, for a number of reasons – Avocados and monarch butterflies are on a collision course | National Geographic
- The global economy is facing calamity, one of the signs – Monthly job cuts hit a 22-year high in October
- A trillion dollar paycheck? Just bloody no! – Let Them Eat AI-Generated Cake
- I ain’t got any faith left in the Cop process, but what else have we got? How thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then kept drilling | Fossil fuels | The Guardian
- We’ve got to come to terms with the risks we face, and the people driving it – White Man Jump Scare: Evola’s Theology of Cope
- With a new Frankenstein movie coming out, one of the places that inspired the original story is gone due to climate change – ‘The most desolate place in the world’: The sea of ice that inspired Frankenstein
- Will we ever know the truth? – DOJ Admits to Republicans That Epstein Files Are Even Worse for Trump | The New Republic
- Hundreds of thousands dead – murderers – The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands | The New Yorker
- It sure is sir! – Missing 1.5C climate target is a moral failure, UN chief tells Cop30 summit | Cop30 | The Guardian
- The fracture was always coming, grab your popcorn, but don’t underestimate the damage they’ll keep doing in the meantime – How Nick Fuentes ignited a civil war within the Republican Party- and DC’s most prominent conservative think tank | CNN Politics
- What’s a little fraud when profits are concerned? Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show | Reuters
- Another member of the Nerd Reich, pay close attention – Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off for Silicon Valley. — ProPublica
- Dangerous man! He has far too much power and our governments keep giving him more – How the world’s richest man is boosting the British right | UK News | Sky News
- Let’s hope something good comes out of this – Here are the 5 issues to watch at COP30 in Brazil | Grist
- This story was circulating on social media before it hit the mainstream media. A horrible, freaky situation. Very sad for the family and the school community they are part of – Attacked by Swarm of Wasps, American Father and Son Die in Laos – The New York Times
There’s plenty more on the World News page. It’s presented without opinion, and provides an opportunity to get a sense of what’s going on around the world, covering the major news happening, with some light stuff in the mix, because we can’t be serious all the time, right?
And humour is important right now. Very very important, even dark humour, which I’m a fan of using. Enjoy the weekend.
Visual storytelling
When I look at images like this, it reminds me of being in supermarkets in Phuket over the holiday season – we were constantly dodging newly injected Botox and other enhancements.
Apparently the appropriate grieving attire for women over the years. Chortle.
Erica Kirk is getting a lot of attention now, I wonder why?
Does this do your head in too?
Claimed as picture of the year, I agree! So I don’t break copyright laws, I captured it with Gov Newsom’s commentary.
My content and my friends
It was a delight to have Heidi Oxley-Whitnell join us on the show this week, to discuss leading community engagement programs and their impact through schools. I’ve personally seen this lady at work and she is world-class! My boys were lucky to have this experience.
If you missed the show, here is the interview with Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki, who has lived and travelled in a solar-powered bus since November 2020, and he’s embarking on an 11-year Energy Swaraj Yatra across India until 2030. He has pledged not to return home during this entire period. A total inspiration and worth hearing his story.
A quote from the interview – one of many – with tips on what we can all agree to do!
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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