This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
Climate change has been a topic of debate for years, with some people believing that it's a real threat while others think it's just a myth. However, with the increasing frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, it's becoming harder to deny the reality of climate change.
According to Elsie Eyakuze, a consultant and blogger, the optimism that people have about the future of the planet is largely due to formal schooling, which teaches us to believe in the inevitability of human progress. However, with the current state of the world, it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain this optimism.
As Eyakuze points out, the doomsday preppers, who were once seen as crazy, are now starting to seem like they might be onto something. Their focus on survival in a post-apocalyptic world is not just about being prepared for the worst, but also about finding inspiration in the resilience of people who are trying to migrate across the world in search of better opportunities.
These migrants are not just fleeing wars, but also climate change, unemployment, and the harsh realities of urban life. They are taking risks to travel illegally, braving dangerous seas and facing water shortages, diseases, and lack of help from those with the power to do so.
Meanwhile, the organic liberals are sending thoughts, prayers, food, and safe passage, but are unable to do much about the politics that leads to these circumstances. As Eyakuze notes, 'it isn't all grim.'
Studies are showing that nature is already adapting to human impact, with cool bacteria and fungi that can digest plastics and other manmade waste. However, as Eyakuze points out, this doesn't mean that nature is doing it to keep humans around.
The line that separated 'us' from 'them' is disappearing on the more extreme sides of both arguments, and it's becoming increasingly confusing on how to approach the issue of climate change. When both sides start claiming that the end is nigh, maybe it's okay to panic.
