July 2016 was world’s hottest month since records began, says Nasa
What the bloody hell are all the world’s governments doing farting around talking about important – but against this, inconsequential – matters, when this ‘should’ be at the top of their list of priorities?
Trade agreements will mean nothing if our land masses shrink, Brexit will mean nothing if thousands of people are displaced in this country, let alone other nearby European countries.
Yesterday, I read a statement asking why the governments are spending ‘billions’ on space exploration to other planets, when they are spending ‘trillions’ killing our own planet? I’d like an answer to that too and no, I’m not a Luddite with zero interest in science.
May, Merkle, Obama and all the rest of the heads of state should be putting ‘everything’ aside to sort out global energy and travel, how we heat and cool our countries, protecting our water systems and delivering this precious commodity, and animal agriculture and how we feed ourselves – these things are murdering our world by slow strangulation and I don’t see anywhere near enough countries banning fracking, nuclear testing, oil extraction and embracing clean, green ways of doing much of the above.
Occasionally, I absolutely despair and wonder how on earth we are going to carve a route through the next decade without encountering death and displacement on an unprecedented scale, but then I spend time with my tribe, the ones who are actively working to encourage good, green change and putting their foot down by standing up selflessly against idiots in local and countrywide power, who are more keen on lining their pockets and milking the post-orgasmic state they get with self-aggrandisement.
There are many ‘resilient’ souls on Facebook; ones that will come up with solutions to live and feed ourselves, ones who know how to repair and regenerate, ones who know how to cultivate food and build community, ones who reject capitalism on a vulgar scale and give a positive embrace to living with less. They will nurture the new bordered lands and live massively chemically reduced lives (chemical free is virtually impossible because we’re just surrounded by it) and eat seasonally ‘happily and willingly’ because that’s their usual modus operandi.
If you feel under-prepared, read up! Learn stuff, find out more about nature and hedgerow foods for example, learn how to do a few simple things like preserving, cooking, knitting, sewing.
If we’ve had the hottest month on our planet since records began, how long do you think it’s going to take before that record is bashed into submission?
Plant trees, avoid chemical intervention on the land, it’s rendering it unable to sustain crops and screwing the chances of safe drainage come the rains and ‘they will come’… as will floods and contamination of the water supply, which is why we absolutely have to ensure fracking doesn’t get a hold of our country!
I rarely lose my cool when it comes to green issues, partly because I’d rather be one of the people I prefer to surround myself with, the optimistic souls who can make the world a better place. But also because people who put their time and energy into bitching and whingeing about green issues, being disruptive, miserable, discouraging and apathetic are like energy vampires and if you let them sink their teeth into your arse, you’ll know all about it!
Be a positive change-maker, stand up for the clean, green and good, be vocal with doable solutions, encourage others to ‘join the club’, join anti-fracking groups and attend their meetings, have an emergency plan in case your community is whacked by chaos and above all, keep smiling!
Don’t panic; we aren’t all poised on the edge of Armageddon and about to die, but we are undoubtedly about to experience some terrifying global and domestic incidents that are non-terrorist in nature. They are human made and human exacerbated. I’m on the side trying to find human and humanitarian solutions.
What are you doing to make a positive difference? Nothing remarkable in your view? Then pull your socks up and start being remarkable.
To Do:
Find a free study course on something practically useful (suggest: FutureLearn.com).
Join anti-fracking groups worldwide and spread the word amongst your circle (we’d love to welcome you to Frack Free Lyme Regis – you don’t have to live here, you just need to care about it!).
Teach people who don’t know how to do a thing you know, ‘how’ to do that thing (jam making, preserving, organic growing, natural pest control solutions, sewing, mechanical repairing etc).
Read books about resilience (suggest: The Resilience Wheel, Elizabeth J Walker, Food for Free, Richard Mabey).
Move in circles/make friends with people who are contributing massively with good suggestions on how to live sustainably.
Cull the energy vampires on your friends list and find a new green tribe.
Do some volunteering with any of the groups who need help to make this a nicer planet.
Thanks… kettle on people, kettle on…
Tracey West
