Joan Holtzman
— Hi everyone, it’s Henny Penny here, back with the same old message, but for real this time — “THE SKY IS FALLING”! This is not about acorns. It’s about an actual trifecta of crises coming at us right now and into the future until who knows when.
I speak first, of course, of the Climate Crisis — no longer a threat, but a here-and-now phenomenon that has already arrived. This summer alone, all over the world, we’ve witnessed a string of extreme weather events: raging fires, torrential downpours and flash floods, sizzling temperatures. July was the hottest month ever recorded. Even experts are surprised by the intensity and pace of these climate changes. And they predict worse to come.
Then there’s the Health Crisis (who can forget it?), a pandemic more than a year and a half old, with a dangerous new variant spreading globally — and more variants likely to emerge. As I write, we’re seeing a significant upsurge of infections in all too many places, all too many people going unmasked, and unvaccinated kids going back to school. And we can be sure Covid 19 will not be the last pandemic to hit us.
Finally, we have the Epistemic Crisis, wherein society is losing its hold on truth and reality. It has come to pass that large swaths of people worldwide believe outright lies, are complacently misinformed, and, because they don’t know how to think critically, are easy marks for campaigns of disinformation. Not surprisingly, distrust and hatred are rampant; so is political dysfunction and a compromised ability to address the other two crises we’re facing.
Really scary stuff. And I could go on. But I’m not here to rant. I’m here to mobilize the masses, rally the forces, urge action on everyone’s part. Or, if that is too much, at least to engage many, many more people in efforts to prevent the worst from happening.
Can anyone still be in denial? If you are, get over it. The facts are in your face.
Are you paralyzed with despair? Just try. Take one small step. Find a group that’s doing something and let it mobilize you. If you can’t join them actively, donate as much as you can.
Or are you someone with a common excuse: not enough time, too busy, otherwise engaged? Nonsense! How can you not make time to act in your own self-interest and the interest of your progeny. And really, you can do it quite easily by applying a special version of the 10% solution.
Say you spend four to six hours a day on your screens, watching Netflix, playing games, chatting on Facebook or Twitter. How about cutting back a little and devoting 10% of that time to square off against the threats in your life. You might, for example, look at your personal carbon footprint and conscientiously take steps to reduce it. How about contacting your elected officials and advocating for environmental policies that are more sustainable; or for those that address long-term public health concerns? You could join a local climate action group, or a “truth in media” organization. Do you know some folks who are not yet vaccinated or refuse to wear masks? Talk to them. Tell it like it is.
Perhaps you work in a corporate suite, focusing all your time on increasing profits and market share. Maybe you should stop for a minute and think about how global warming and the pandemic can affect your bottom line. As oceans rise, you too will be underwater. As your employees sicken, so will your business. It might make sense to commit your company to reducing its carbon footprint by 10%. And adding 10% to your operating budget to keep your employees healthy.
Or maybe you are a venture capitalist. How about announcing that from now on 10% of the products or services you fund will be directed at reducing fossil fuel consumption or enabling carbon capture, or controlling the spread of misinformation. Hear that, wannabe entrepreneurs?
Are you a poet, musician or artist? Take a moment to consider this bit of news I came across today. “It rained for the first time ever at the Summit in Greenland.” Doesn’t that inspire a poem, a song, or a painting? Can you imagine being similarly inspired by other critical events and deciding to devote 10% of your artistic life to them? I hope so. Art is a powerful way to transmit truth.
Maybe you are a full-time activist, working day and night for #Me Too, #Black Lives Matter or in the LGBTQIA community. That’s great. But you might want to devote 10% of your time to the causes I’ve mentioned. Because unless you spend some time repudiating those who spread disinformation, and working with those who are concerned with the health of the planet and the health of vulnerable people, I fear your goals for social justice will prove elusive .
There are, of course, lots of people who are not too busy, who have demanding, full-time jobs or are enjoying a comfortable retirement, yet somehow find time to abide by sustainable and healthy practices, who write letters, send checks, march in protests and get involved in community activities. We know them — some of them are us. There are just not enough of us. Yet.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and heap praise on those in the vanguard — people who are devoting their careers to understanding and confronting each of our crises.
First, a round of applause for the climatologists, environmental engineers, and alternative energy entrepreneurs who are tackling the climate crisis: You are our guides and guard posts, keeping us up-to-date on the facts and designing the mitigation programs and products we need now and will need in the future. Where would we be without you?
Next, a few words of appreciation to the epidemiologists, virologists and health-care providers working around the clock. You are all essential workers, healing us, helping us understand and deal with covid-19 as it evolves, and preparing for new viruses sure to follow in its wake. Our health, indeed sometimes our lives, depend on you. We need, respect and admire you.
Last, but certainly not least, a bow and tip of the hat to the teachers, journalists and writers who tell the truth about the crises we’re facing — and punch back at those who deny them.
You bring light where others bring darkness. You may, in fact, be the key to getting us through.
All of you are heroes. May you flourish, and live long lives, and inspire young people to follow in your footsteps.
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