Yesterday I put up a post entitled Apocalyptic Scenes, which featured a video clip of severe storms in the U.S. The Mound of Sound, currently on hiatus from his blog, The Disaffected Lib, left a comment about the relative dearth of bloggers covering issues such as climate change. The Mound, if you have read him, has consistently provided exemplary and comprehensive coverage of what undoubtedly is the greatest threat to our species' long-term survival.
Here is what I wrote in response:
One of the many things I miss about your blog posts, Mound, is your comprehensive coverage of climate change. I do try to keep up with the topic by subscribing to Google alerts, something you suggested to me some time ago. I suspect, however, one of the reasons for the less than stellar coverage of climate change in the Canadian blogosphere is twofold and related:
Much coverage is given to the Harper regime, a topic I must confess a certain obsession with. I think because an election is coming next year, much energy is being devoted to exposing his cabal's myriad crimes and hypocrisies because we hold the very real hope of regime change. We thirst for something positive in the relative short-term, even though I am fully aware that either a Trudeau or Mulcair government would offer little or no substantive policy change.
Concomitantly, climate change, although the most pressing threat we face as a species, is such a large problem that resists mitigation. The fact is that successful amelioration would require unprecedented co-operation on a global scale, co-operation that seems highly unlikely given both our natural antipathy to ceding authority to other bodies and regulators and our endless capacity for denial and cognitive dissonance. Add to that the failure of our 'leaders' to inspire in people the willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to avoid catastrophe.
Ousting the Harper regime in the next election, by comparison, seems like child's play, and a much more realistic goal.
I'm at a place where I question the feasibility of avoiding catastrophe at all, so, in part, I'm more interested in how we'll manage inevitable large-scale suffering and destruction. I don't write often, and only a fraction of my posts are about climate change because, while it's all going for a shit, and nothing's more pressing than this crisis, I'm also still living my life. I mean, I try to breathe through the occasional panic attacks when I think of it all, and I then I go to work as if everything's normal. And so I also write about teaching and movies and parenting. We're trapped in this dual life of awareness of the existential threat to us while celebrating birthday parties.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways it's no different than any other generation in that we all have to come to terms with our own death - it's just this time there's no leave-behinds. We can't die knowing we'll have left behind lovely children, or some books, or a painting or two. If we don't change things, and I don't see that happening, then there will be nobody left to remember us after we're gone.
Tra la la.
I read your post on The Sixth Extinction, Marie, and I appreciate the sentiments you are expressing. I feel a deep pessimism and anger as well, especially over the collusion between governments and the plutocracy that are overseeing our doom. I am especially distressed that my kids and succeeding generations will bear the greatest brunt of our collective failures.
DeleteI just finished reading Chrystia Freeland's book, Plutocrats, which provides useful insight not only into how they achieved their great wealth, but also the group mentality that suggests those with the most influence on policy see themselves as quite able to withstand pretty much everything we non-masters and mistresses of the universe will be engulfed with.
Indeed, there is little basis for optimism.
That book's on my list. I just can't imagine how the very very wealthy imagine they'll survive a mass extinction. Money can keep them comfortable for the short-term, but no amount of money can help their children manage what's likely to come their way.
DeleteI agree, Marie. They are living in a world of total delusion.
DeleteIf people want real action on climate change they will have to promote the centrist "big government" economic system we used in the post-war era. The small-government, anti-tax, free-market model we've used over the past 30 years is designed to cripple government and render it ineffective to handle the big challenges.
ReplyDeleteCompare centrist post-war government to today. After WW2 we had 100% debt/GDP (85% today.) But did we cutting spending? No. We spent big on infrastructure and social programs to create jobs and wealth.
And it worked. We paid down debt -- with phenomenal GDP growth -- to 17% debt/GDP by 1973.
In order to go green, we need to spend big on green technology, mass transit and broadband internet (wired and wireless, which will reduce need for travel.) We also need to pay for it with progressive taxation, which means reversing the myriad of failed tax cuts for the rich over the past 3 decades. This can only be done with centrist economics.
So the real battlefield is economics. If we don't show up for the fight, we lose by default. In the end, civilization will be destroyed by free-market economics. The centrist Keynesian system is the only thing that can save it.
"In the end, civilization will be destroyed by free-market economics."
DeleteThe other thing that will do us in, Ron, is our apparent apathy as a species. Unless we demonstrate very forcefully for action, we are, in my view, doomed.
I think to demonstrate forcefully we need organization. Right now the people are scattered.
DeleteTo maximize organization, all the unions, NGOs and activists need to join forces in a single organization which could be called, The Movement. This is a super-NGO whose purpose is to represent human issues and make the many voices one powerful voice.
The way it would work is through direct democracy over the social media. People would vote for which top issues are to be fought for. People elect spokespersons (not leaders) who represent the democratic agenda.
The Movement would exists at a municipal, state, federal and international level. It would pressure elected representatives, affect elections and lobby governments to counter the corrupt power of corporate influence.
Unions, activists and NGOs would keep their own causes, just come together to support super-causes.
Enough people care to cause change. This is a kind of change that could avalanche and overcome the corrupt agenda of the free-market plutocrats who are destroying the world in the first place.
Sorry for the late publication of your comment, Ron. i seem to be having problems with my email. Regarding your idea, I would say that it is viable as long as the various organizations are able to put aside their own egos and agendas, but that is a big IF, Look, for example, at the inability of the NDP and Liberals to cooperate in the next election to get rid of Harper. Each seems to want to protect and advance his respective fiefdom instead of putting the people's well being first.
DeleteLorne, I miss Mound's blog for the same reasons. I did a post today on fires in winter in California (which is unusual) and melting of glaciers on the North Pole. Future does not look promising. It is important that countries around the world get together and do something about it. Unfortunately that looks highly unlikely as you indicated.
ReplyDeleteI like the cartoon you posted. It sums up the current situation.
And yes there is quite a bit of attention devoted to Harper. One overwhelming reason is his attack on the democracy. I hope you're right that he will be kicked out come 2015 elections.
I have taken a page or two from your ideas lately, LD. I find the NBC coverage of weather intensity fairly good for videos.
DeleteIn terms of Harper, in my view his ouster in 2015 is our best hope for some progressive results, finally!
The MOS was a POS and PB is much better without him. He thinks he's the only real progressive, and thought PB belonged to him, writing a million posts a day, and driving other bloggers off the page. If you're interested in the environment DeSmogBlog is better than anything that dirty old man did. You seem to hate younger blogs and support only old ones.
ReplyDeleteYou were a teacher? HA HA HA HA HA
Anon, you seem to have mistaken the Mound's passions and interests for some kind of extended exercise in self-indulgence. I think most bloggers would disagree with your assessment here.
Delete