In these uncertain times, we are all seized by concerns about Corvid-19. The prospect of death invariably focuses the mind, especially in the short-term.
Facilitated by fossil-fuel propaganda and an often uncritical media, it is unfortunately easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, one that we have been warned about for a long time - climate change. The following letter, from the print edition of the Sunday Star, strives to achieve a perspective all would be wise to adopt:
Don’t let deniers frame way we talk about climate crisis
Toronto Star 15 Mar 2020
Unconscionable dithering on climate action and on Indigenous rights has caused immense and wholly needless pain, conflict and disruption for Canadians in recent weeks.
It’s 2020; scientists say we absolutely must transition to safe energy as quickly as humanly possible, just to give humanity a decent chance at a future (not to guarantee a livable future, which is already out of reach).
Despite this, multiple levels of government, and three different self-styled progressive parties, are prepared to trample the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), to force through yet another pipeline on behalf of brazen and unrepentant fossil fuel profiteers. All in the middle of a climate crisis. Worse yet, in a flailing attempt to shore up their transparently myopic stance, fossil interests, and their allies in politics and the media, are blasting out vicious invective to confuse and divide Canadians, with a wilful and criminal disregard for any resulting violence. We need look no further than recent propaganda from fossil fuel companies and their allies, including endorsements of sexual violence against teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, and acts of brutal physical violence against earth protectors.
Moreover, this petro-cabal has gleefully spread outright fabrications to vilify Indigenous protectors and their allies, such as claims of “paid protestors” and epithets like “thug.”
The fossil industry pours huge amounts of cash and effort into convincing the public that “energy” means only fossil fuels, that “jobs” must be fossil fuel jobs, that safe alternatives do not exist, and that regular folks acting out of concern for their children and the planet are funded by foreign interests, hell-bent on destroying all that is good in the world.
We do not need to argue that this is a grossly irresponsible invitation to violence; we can point to several examples where earth protectors, merely repeating science and/or defending UNDRIP, have been threatened, intimidated and attacked by people who have been made angry and confused by fossil propaganda, specifically designed to make us angry, confused and divided.
It’s time that the industry, politicians and the media renounce this dangerous disinformation.
The future of all life on earth depends on it.
Patrick Yancey, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
In times of grave emergency everyone has to answer the call. Governments, civilians, military personnel - everyone. That includes the corporate sector. They must shoulder their share of the effort. Yesterday it was reported that the Louis Vuitton conglomerate was rejigging its fragrance factories to start churning out hand sanitizer that would be distributed throughout France free of charge. A selfless act of altruism. An expression of patriotism.
ReplyDeleteI wondered what this pandemic might prompt the larger corporate sector in this same vein. Surely with the massive wealth the neoliberal order delivered to their treasuries it would be fitting that they should respond in kind. Our banks, for example, have, for many years, logged astonishing profits, one record year after the next. How might they play a suitable role? Should they suspend interest charges on mortgages and consumer debts? Why not? Many people are facing unemployment, if only for a matter of weeks, perhaps a couple of months. Don't they deserve a break from their banks as they figure out how to keep their kids clothed and fed?
Then there's the real hellspawn of neoliberal globalism, the transnational corporations. They do not see themselves as having national allegiance. They are above that, moving enterprise and money wherever it suits them at any given moment. That reduces us to something perhaps a bit more significant than carrion. How are we to extract some suitable tribute from them? Do we ban them from our markets? Why not?
All excellent points, Mound. Perhaps a reckoning is on the horizon.
Delete.. this is a great sociological 'leveling'.. a seismic 10 event. It flattens me and others.. it flattens midle class as well as lower class into one big flat class.. a socioeconomic flame out or forest fire ? Status Quo goes gonzo.. Amazing.. all driven by an invisible virus
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take much to knock us off our equilibrium anymore, Sal.
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