I’ve decided that “it” is inevitable and has momentum like a motor car rolling downhill. Climate collapse – death of water bodies, coasts, forests, humans, animals, insects, etc. – is happening now! And humans holding meetings and legislating carbon reduction targets is just theater arising from collective shame. We blew it.
It is conceivable (non-zero possibility) that letting it blow is the wisdom action. I could list possible outcomes of that – we get scared straight and prepare, we escape to the stars, we (most life on Earth) just die out – but pondering those outcomes misses the point. We live on a planet in one galaxy that has billions of stars. Doesn’t seem too much stretch to conclude, “big deal if we die”. 🤷
A dying Earth might be “right” and proper in the evolution of this Universe. The big picture of consequence is too large, distant and complex for us to have an accurate understanding of the universal impact.
But hey climate action feels good! Working and changing our behavior in order to preserve this magical Eden. It is a way of expressing our gratitude and love of our Mother Earth and compassion for all the living beings human and otherwise who are threatened by climate collapse. Right?
But isn’t it insane hypocrisy to take a bus downtown to participate in a march for Climate Action… or a plane to Brazil for COP30? Our complicity is all pervasive. Just my jeans and tshirt are a carbon footprint embarrassment. True there are big bad players like BP, Shell and Exxon but… we are them. The enemy is us. We buy a gallon of gas (or a tshirt) and the system goes round and round.
Animals use (and are) energy. The answer to climate collapse is clean and renewable. So get your solar panels and move to the wooded hills and turn your car into a chicken coop. But get ready for wild fires. And masses of desperate new refugee neighbors increasing yearly.
God we want to look hopeful. We want to be seen as cheerful, industrious and positive. A “going concern”. You want to look at your children and feel that you are working to protect their future.
What if a dying Earth prevents the death of 2 other Milky Way planets? Would that convince you?
“Nope. I’m all about me and mine right now and in the future.”
Again the bias. Even in a hypothetical.
The bodhisattva vows to eschew enlightenment while one sentient being yet suffers. Even if that being is a mass murderer? Yes! Because the bodshisattva can’t split hairs and abide in dualistic thinking. All phenomena is interdependent. The light, the mirror, the dust, the reflection, the eye. It’s called compounded phenomena for a reason.
So, do nothing. You don’t know what you’re doing. But do something.
