Politics Plus

Dear Humanity, 

You’ve been getting on My nerves for centuries, but over the last few decades you have really p*ssed Me off. You are destroying this planet’s ecosphere with your greed and arrogance. You seem to regard Earth as your oyster and its natural resources as pearls to plunder. You are driving species into extinction by eliminating their habitats, or hunting them for bragging rights or phony folk remedies.

You are filling the air, water and land with pollution and garbage. The planet is not your trash can. Animals, including members of your own vile species, are dying because of your refuse. But instead of taking responsibility, you whine about your rights.

You do not have the right to trash the environment. You do not have the right to hunt other animals just for fun. You do not have the right to ravish Earth’s crust for minerals or fuel sources. You do not have the right to cover every last square centimeter of land with your buildings and streets. You do not have the right to make other animals suffer for the sake of your culinary or fashion choices.

I see some people are doing something about it. They buy hybrid or electric vehicles, ride rapid transit, walk or bike for short trips, combine errands, carpool, install energy efficient light bulbs and low-flow shower heads, go vegetarian or at least reduce their consumption of meat, etc. Unfortunately, not enough people are doing enough. Big Fossil Fuel has too many politicians in many countries at its beck and call, so necessary progress on environmental progress frequently hits roadblocks.

You could have been getting all of your energy needs from clean renewable sources years, if not decades, ago. You could all enjoy a sustainable lifestyle, be happy with the basics and maybe just a little bit more. Just a little bit. But no, you gotta have your McMansions on one-and-a-quarter hectare lots, your petrol-swilling SUVs, your bottled water, your fast fashion, your shelves loaded with Funko Pop figurines. And you can’t be bothered with carrying reusable straws and cutlery, or separating recyclables from the rest of the trash, or composting unusable foodstuffs. Nor do you check the fridge and pantry before grocery shopping to make sure you’re not buying stuff you don’t need and that will go bad before you can use it. The amount of food that gets wasted every day is appalling and utterly unacceptable. People are dying of hunger while edible food goes in the garbage. Worse, some grocery store workers pour bleach on it to prevent dumpster divers from salvaging it. Really!

Whenever people in the know speak out on My behalf, they get labeled “tree-huggers” or even “Communists.” Funny, Communist regimes have a very poor track record on environmental protection. People who actually care about Earth should be regarded as patriots because, by taking care of the planet, they protect their countries as well.

Many corporate fat cats don’t care about the ecology because they’ll be food for worms before the feces hits the fan. Those jerks – indeed, everybody – should keep in mind the saying that you don’t inherit the Earth from your parents, you borrow it from your children. When you borrow something, you’re supposed to return it in better shape than you received it.

Don’t get Me any angrier. SARS and MIRS were supposed to be shots over the bow, warning you that I can get really nasty. COVID-19 should be not only showing you just who is Large and In Charge, but also warning you how devastating a pandemic can be. The next one could be worse – a LOT worse. The next one could be more contagious and much deadlier. Hear about that rare tropical disease that just got a few cases in the US?

Humanity, you can still redeem yourselves. More and more people need to both preach and practice sustainability. You need to lean on your respective country’s politicians to pass laws that protect the environment and put your nation on the path towards a green lifestyle. You need to contact the CEOs of big companies and encourage them to make their businesses truly sustainable. You need to sign petitions, write post cards, march and protest, and do your part to reduce how much waste you create. It is up to all of you, as groups and as individuals.

Signed,

Mother Nature