Humanity sat like frogs
in a slowly warming pot of water
for so long, while strident voices
on the periphery, trying to warn us,
were silenced or ignored. Or fake news
said climate crisis was a hoax.
(Now they say the government
has a "weather machine".
How crazy can this get?)
Tonight, on the tv screen,
an environmental scientist
explains clearly: because of global warming,
the warming of the ocean and
the burning of fossil fuels, we are reaching
the point where climate events
exceed our ability to adapt, recover
and be resilient.
What is it about humans that we only listen
when it is too late?
When meterologists burst into tears
on-screen, methinks we have waited
far too long.
I have a sense of foreboding, watching the news, as storms ravage the southern US, as right wing crazies cause so much misinformation and distress, as wars escalate across the globe. No solutions in sight. Governments divided, instead of working together for the people, though the Democrats try as hard as they can. No strong action to reduce emissions. Leaders who prefer war to negotiation. Right now, I sit in a peaceful place on the planet. But AT ANY MOMENT, this all could change. Earthquake, tsunami, a leader elected who would love to play nuclear war...........it is a sad night on Planet Earth. And sadder by far for those who fled their homes, sitting in shelters, waiting to see if they have a home - or town - to go back to. How many times will this be repeated before we join together to cool this planet down????? I have now been writing about this for forty years. What we feared back then is happening now. We need to elect leaders who understand the scope of this problem and who will deal with it.
Your image caught my eye as amphibians are in danger. My next novel is about the demise of frogs, salamanders and the like. I'm afraid it is too late, as you say. The polluters have been in denial for forty years and as a society we sat on our thumbs. If they're waking up in Florida and other places to their new reality and drive to action, it may be too late.
ReplyDeleteI despair!
ReplyDelete