Draft script:
According to a headline at CNN Business, “The people paid to spot risks see high chance of ‘global catastrophe’ within 10 years.” Here’s the lede: “Humanity faces a perilous future, marked by an explosion of disinformation turbocharged by artificial intelligence and the devastating effects of climate change.”
As pointed out in the article at CNN Business: “The gloomy outlook comes from an annual survey by the World Economic Forum … of people paid to identify and manage global risks.” In fact, the World Economic Forum report, published 10 January 2024, indicates that nearly two-thirds of survey respondents expect an “elevated chance of global catastrophes” within the next decade. About 30% of respondents expect an “elevated chance of global catastrophes” within the next two years. The survey is based on responses from nearly 1,500 people paid to identify and manage global risks.
Yes, you are hearing me correctly. CNN, a major corporate media outlet, is citing the results of a renowned survey that indicates that global catastrophes—plural—lie in our near future. Although the results of the survey do not define a global catastrophe, they do define global risk: an event that would “negatively impact a significant proportion of global gross domestic product, population or natural resources.”
You probably noticed that first place on that list of three items is “global gross domestic product.” In this society, it’s all about the money.
Second place on that list of three items is held by population. Although no clarity is provided, I’m pretty sure the report is referencing the human population. After all, most humans are typically unconcerned about non-human species. Few humans acknowledge that our bodies are comprised of many species, or that our ability to access the air we breathe, clean water, and healthy food depend completely on non-human species.
Third place on that list of three items is held by natural resources. Because natural resources are a source of money when exploited by humans, it is a small wonder natural resources are high on the list of priorities. In other words, the 1,490 people surveyed by the World Economic Forum value money, the continued growth of the human population, and the natural resources that serve as a source of money.
The order of these priorities is not surprising, of course. I suspect most people have the same priorities as the people “paid to spot risks.” Most of us value money, the ability to increase the number of humans on Earth—with no negative consequences—and the continued ability to exploit the planet to (1) make money and (2) increase the number of humans on Earth, with no negative consequences.
Given these priorities, is it any wonder we face global catastrophes in the near term? Of course not. Oh, and by the way, global catastrophes have already arrived. It’s quite simple and easy to predict catastrophes as they occur. You need not look far to see evidence of fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, floods, shrinking sea ice, melting snowpacks and glaciers, increased volcanism and earthquakes, rising sea level, and a Mass Extinction Event. Each of these results from abrupt, irreversible climate change. As I have reported frequently in this space, governments of the world agree that we are in the midst of the most rapid change in the environment in planetary history. As I have reported frequently in this space, governments of the world agree that climate change is irreversible. A few people even understand and are willing to discuss the aerosol masking effect, the outcome of imploding nuclear facilities imploding, and the importance of an ice-free Arctic Ocean. Unfortunately, virtually none of these few people are willing to share this important information.
Few people want to bring bad news. Even fewer people want to receive bad news. Just as we deny our own, individual deaths, we also deny the extinction of our species. Just as denying our deaths is unhelpful, denying our impending extinction serves no positive purpose. The continued denial of evidence prevents us from living fully, with intention. The continued denial of evidence prevents us from acknowledging and communicating the reality we face.
Imagine if you could talk about reality every day, with no negative consequences. Imagine your ability to accept your death, and even to talk openly about it. Imagine not being disowned by friends and family for speaking about evidence. Oh, and imagine this: your friends and family never owned you, anyway.
By any measure, human lives are short. Marcus Aurelius offers advice regarding our short lives in his Meditations. Three lines come to mind: (1) “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” Were he writing today, I’m pretty sure Aurelius would include all humans, not merely men. (2) “Live each day as though it were your last, without turmoil, without listlessness and without pretense.” (3) “Never forget that it takes very little to live a fulfilled and happy life.”
I recognize that some days are better than others. I suspect most of us have had terrible experiences. We, the people, will never be monetarily wealthy. We will never enjoy the privileges of the rich. On the other hand, it is within us, at least most of us, to pursue the “fulfilled and happy life” to which Aurelius refers. Occasionally we might even capture this life, if only for a few moments.
It becomes increasingly easy to express gratitude when we recognize the odds against even being here on this most beautiful of planets. Seize the day. Seize the moment. Amor fati. These are orders, from yourself to yourself.
The Great Barrier Reef looks like it has been "Carpet Bombed."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/may/01/great-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching-crisis?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3qoLX_LrVkLDGTVbHJbpFtcSJxsP-Nd16uC-nqDbg9fsdfzU1tesFxVAs_aem_AcjNrpTA1T535ejZHhLiWAi2WnWw4uThQqEFb4O9bahqggoPxJ8aZn6b5BF7_pRhnw34U5DrAuZOTDWRfsAnz3M9
As we circle the drain of collapse, the corporate media pretend to cover the Poly-Crices we face or in reality don't face but only ever give us the edited highlights.
Collapse isn't an event it's a process!
Added to my blog post titled: Collapse: The Only Realistic Scenario
https://kevinhester.live/2019/09/05/collapse-the-only-realistic-scenario/