Dear whoever is listening.
Does anyone actually care?
Recently whilst working the delivery at my job I’ve gotten into listening to podcasts on many different subjects like crime and politics. One of those podcasts was ‘The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it’ with climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe. This podcast made me stop in my tracks for many reasons. Beginning her talk Hayhoe believes that we as a species see global warming as a constant now - much like the sun rises and sets every day we see it as a natural part of our lives. She walked me through the data. Did you know that almost 70% of people in the U.S agree that our climate is changing and that change will ultimately have an effect on future generations? However only 60% of those Americans believe that the United States will be effected by global warming and furthermore only 40% of them believe that they personally will be effected by global warming. What’s even more alarming is that Hayhoe discussed the history of global warming. It has been over 150 years since climate scientists discovered that we were adding a layer to the ozone layer. It’s been 50 years since a president of the United States was informed that climate change was going to be a serious threat to the world, and that truthfully those who have contributed the least to the problem are bearing the brunt of the impacts. If this is true then why is the fear of global warming just become news recently? Did they truly believe it wouldn’t be a problem? But the thing that really stuck with me that Hayhoe says is that climate change isn’t an issue that’s rooted in science, we know the science exists, but in political alignment. This idea that climate change is a radical liberal issue. This idea that we know global warming exists but we choose to do nothing about it.
Which leads me to the question, what’s worse? The people who genuinely deny the existence of climate change or those of us who acknowledge it and yet we don’t do anything to reverse its effects? The people who preach that we have to do something and yet they drive massive cars that guzzle petrol and emit more fumes than necessary. The people who share articles and memes on social media but don’t bother with recycling. The celebrities who beg us to help them fight the fight but take their private jet to get places. The companies who donate to the cause but are also the root of the problem. The truth we care enough to preach, and to share on social media and to beg but not enough to actually do something about the issue. So what is the solution? Do we Jane Fonda style protest? Do we start taxing big companies? Do we beg our politicians to do something, anything? Places are flooding, forests are burning, hurricanes are getting stronger and droughts are increasing, all due to global warming. Hayhoe believes that fear doesn’t motivate the human race, that if we are scared we tend to run away rather than slay the dragon. So ultimately scary news stories about bush fires and flash floods don’t actually make us want to fight, but ignore the problem. Her solution is simple. We just need to talk about it. Not preach, not share, not beg. Actually talk about these issues. Two thirds of Americans say they don’t talk about climate change and maybe that’s because it is such a taboo subject. But if we talk. If we come together. If we find shared values. We might just be able to beat this thing.
So here it goes. My name is Grace and I’m from Scotland. My name is Grace and I am 23 years old. My name is Grace and I work in a supermarket. My name is Grace and I love my family. My name is Grace I love my nieces, I want them to have a good life, I want them to live in a world where Australia isn’t burning and Britain isn’t flooding, I want them to be happy and I don’t want them to to have to fight the way my generation has too. My name is Grace and I am asking someone, anyone to care.
About the Creator
Grace Lynch
A film and media student with a love of travel and all things Disney.
Comments (1)
well written.