In perspective, here are a few humble questions and messages for those who want ‘their’ climate back.
“Exactly what climate do you want back”? The ice ages, temperate ages, or perhaps the transition ages? Would you prefer to have the Sahara covered in rainforest again while central Europe is an arid land?
We have adapted to climatic and geological changes since we were ‘one-cellers’, and we are still here. Are you telling us that we should stop adapting and rather try and halt the processes of nature and evolution, which we are part of?
Presently, the human species, almost religiously cultivates pressing, high speed changes to art, technology, fashion trends and even of partners/spouses. Hardly a day goes by without changes or updates to the internet, banking, insurance policies or legislation. Opinions and personal interests, tastes and preferences from the political to nutrition, medicine, art, sport etc. keep changing like the weather. Yet ironically, you want the climate to stagnate?
Evolution and life itself are the product of change and adaptation. Quite simply, if it wasn’t for geological and climatic changes, life on earth would not exist, in fact we wouldn’t even have made it to be one-cellers.
Clearly, we have a pollution problem and much needs to be done. Let’s not ignore the fact that much has already been done and much work is in progress. Every time I travel, I am surprised by the enormous presence of private and commercial wind and solar farms, wherever I go. Let’s not ignore the fact that the electrification of cars, ships and even aircraft is well in progress, so is the clean-up and recycling of waste. Tree farms are a fast-growing business. Those facts are largely drowned out by the screams of ignorant, doomsday prophetical campaigners who instigate ill-informed young people to sacrifice some of their education, in support of their campaigns. A lack of education happens to be causing most of the world’s problems, which proceed from world views based on ignorance, half-truths, myths and lies. Only the whole truth counts, and facts don’t lie. Half-truths, myths and lies facilitate a perceived hopelessness leading to social and mental illness. One can be forgiven for ‘not knowing’ but ‘not wanting to know’ is deliberate and in-excusable.
I remember a prediction by renowned scientists in the 1970’s that carbon emissions coupled with the depletion of the ozone layer will lead to the extermination of all life on earth by the year 2000. I don’t know what happened to the ozone hole, it seems to have lost it’s appeal. The carbon apocalypse however, has been brought forward and postponed countless of times, making it hard to keep track. Now, some are demanding zero emissions by 2050, which is long after most of the predicted climate apocalypses. In desperation, I will again have to ask an intellectual to ‘please explain’, because common sense just cannot grasp this concept.
To promote a world view or a cause by means of provocation of fear and panic mongering, facilitates poor mental health in society. Chronic anger is a symptom of weakness, a bad consultant, and certainly not a peacemaker; ‘Blah blah Greta’ take note, ‘cheer up and chill out’.
To campaign for a just cause which you actually understand, is a passionate mission not a lifestyle or a career. I highly respect genuine campaigners who, besides addressing the problem and making themselves heard in a civilised manner and on their own informed initiative, also actively participate in ‘hands-on’ activities such as clean-up or tree planting projects, during their ‘free time’. To put it boldly, instead of angrily demonising and branding anyone who disagrees with you, calling them sceptics and deniers, “pick up a shovel and become part of the solution”.
P.S. “No-one ‘owns’ the climate”.
Seeing and Living the Picture
Life is a picture, static or in motion.
Cultivate the thought, visualise, persevere with patience and everything will fall into place! It’s called ‘effortless creativity’. Einstein said: “Creativity is intelligence having fun”.
The mind’s picture is malleable. It fades, distorts, then clarifies again, and sometimes it temporarily vanishes. But rest assured it is there, lying dormant and it will return and keep evolving into the masterpiece which is your life. It has its flaws like everything else in existence. Life’s picture is painted on the canvas of intuition, in the colours of fact, dream and reality, logic, common sense and reason. Occasionally it blurs; that’s a time to switch off, have a break and open an empty page. Allow yourself time to unwind, re-charge your batteries and clear your mind; then emerge, filled with energy, insight, and good judgement to separate the picture of truth from that of falseness. Beware, don’t become seduced by the picture of pure, often drug induced fantasy. Don’t be fooled by the fake picture of imposters and autocratic people in the workplace and other group environments.
The ability to clearly perceive the picture of the moment and to recognise its value in absence of technical detail or external guidance, is set in relaxed vigilance, engrained in intuition. Intuition forms effortlessly through mindful practise, commonly known as ‘experience’.
Thirty years of experience has enabled me to take a Taekwondo class without any preparation. I just turn up, ‘read the class’, and intuition takes care of the training program. It may seem that coordinating a complex mix of male and female members aged 6 to 63 and of 13 different ranks, not knowing who all is going to attend until starting time, allow for late comers, would pose quite a challenge; not so, when you ‘see the picture’ and let your mind flow in the river of intuition. The same applies to self defence. In self defence, it is crucial to autonomously see the picture of the matrix. You have no time to prepare, and the picture keeps changing spontaneously, letting your intuition drive the response.
My thoughts and experiences evolve effortlessly into pictures that mutate into the blogs I write and post on this website.
We see our own personal picture evolve as we age, and eventually we mature to apply the final touches.
Some pictures fail to evolve. Just watch or read the news. No matter how horrible, tragic, or appalling it may be, it is only a remastered painting or play of history, enhanced through modern technology. The scruffy bearded Taliban or ISIS for example, are nothing more than a contemporary version of savages, the likes of the platted haired Vikings or the clean-shaven Nazis. The script and the play are the same, only the venue, props, costumes, and the actors have changed. The picture of their psychopathic maniac warlords who cast threats and commit atrocities is riddled with cracks and decay, resembling the crumbling statues of previous tyrants.
We see diplomats and other ‘experts’ engage in accelerated nation building where there is no chance of success, due to significant differences in mentality, tradition and belief systems. “They just don’t see the picture”. You cannot change water into wine instantly unless you invite Jesus to your wedding. “Sorry pal”, even this miracle would be of no use in Afghanistan. They don’t drink alcohol there, they smoke dope!