Right now, early in the third decade of the 21st century, there is an existential threat to continuing life here on earth. The excesses of the industrial revolution, fueled by unbridled capitalism, have done so much damage in the form of climate disruption and pollution and other forms of environmental degradation, that we and the rest of life on this blue green orb are in danger.
But the rulers (capitalists) have not gotten their snouts deep enough into the pail yet. So, at a time when we should be using every available resource, including financial capital and the global brain trust to fix this if we can, we are instead running towards the cliff as fast as we can. For they are insatiable.
Now, add another layer. We who would fight have only so much bandwidth. If we are trying to keep school children from being shot, fighting against tax scams, railing against international crisis, and a thousand other issues that keep popping up, all while trying to feed our families and keep a roof over our heads in an era when all but the very rich are in a precarious position, it becomes almost impossible to focus on the real underlying problems.
So big oil, big pharma, big insurance, and all the other transnationals continue the looting of our global commons without much real interference.
The opportunity cost of dealing with each dumpster fire is lack of time or energy to deal with these malefactors of great wealth or the damage they have wrought upon our Earth and her peoples. And this is by design. So far, we have been outplayed at every turn.
The solutions are daunting. A growing number of people are doing what they can by living a more simple life, based on the principles of permaculture. But it would take billions of people like us to reach the critical mass we need. and there are giant industries dedicated to making sure that never happens. Still, we persist.
Most people are not even aware of the problem, though that is changing as the climate disruption ratchets up.
Most won't do anything unless it is easy, and the solutions to this mess will not be easy.
In the end, I rely on the spirit. Magic works in mysterious ways. I pray a lot--for our living ecosystem, for a return to sanity, and for humanity.
Thanks for making these points, Annabel. I mentioned in my most recent post, the idea that as a species and as a country we are losing our sanity.
Essential thoughts. Thank you.