![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
In Defense of 2020
Jan. 1st, 2021 02:25 pmLots of people seem to be blaming 2020 for all the bad things that have happened this year. I recall them likewise cursing 2019. It is, of course, absurd to blame a year for our misfortunes. Will things magically get better in 2021? No. The pandemic will continue. People will continue to do foolish things that put themselves and the rest of us in danger. And on top of that, the situation with the climate, which is driving many of these problems, will worsen. In fact, I've seen articles that say that 2020 will probably end up being a high point, not something to be cursed, since everything will only get worse from here.
When we think about it, it is pretty clear that it isn't 2020 that is to blame for our problems but humans in general. We saw it throughout 2020. People refused to wear masks. People refused to stop gathering in large groups. The US government, corrupt and self-serving, could not get their shit together. Is this going to change? Most likely not. Yes, Biden will be in office in the US, so there will be some chance, but my experience has been that politicians rarely deliver on their talk, and Biden's talk isn't all that radical anyway. Of course, Democrats have pledged that while they voted for someone who was lackluster, they are going to be very aggressive about pushing for change that needs to happen. That could actually happen. However, it seems unlikely. As the pandemic wears on, we are more and more weary, more and more in need of a break from the train wreck of politics.
Obviously, this all sounds really bleak. However, I wonder if part of the problem we are facing now is that we are trying to blame other forces rather than accepting the truth: there are a lot of humans, and the way we are living right now is destroying our world. Perhaps if our expectations were more realistic (that there are hard times coming), we might be able to face these challenges a little more productively. Taiwan was prepared for a serious virus to come from China, since it had before, and that preparation allowed them to deal with it. Singapore is preparing for sea level rise. What do we need to do - as individuals, as countries, and as a species that currently has no where to live besides one planet - so that we can get through this challenge? (We have less than a decade to do this, by the way.)
The argument that this problem is one that young people need to solve is bullshit. We have known the solutions for decades: stop consuming so much damn stuff. 2020 was a lesson that older people can't just ignore climate change because they won't be here for it. The problems of climate change - fires, drought, birds dropping dead by the tens of thousands, pandemic - are here right now. Every single one of us needs to step up. Just like in the pandemic, you aren't wearing a mask just for yourself. You are wearing it to protect everyone. Likewise, we all need to stop blaming others and look at our own consumption (while trying to get others - and our government - to do the same).
From now on, I will be giving $50/month to Eden Projects, (https://edenprojects.org/) a reforestation non-profit that seems to be one of the best for planting trees. Why trees? Because decreasing emissions isn't enough, and all our pie in the sky plans for super high tech solutions are untested and not available right now. Here are some articles that link to studies:
* https://earthinnovation.org/2019/05/reforestation-can-help-reverse-the-climate-and-extinction-crises/
* https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/07/05/yes-can-reforest-massive-scale-no-substitute-slashing-emissions/
* https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2927/examining-the-viability-of-planting-trees-to-help-mitigate-climate-change/
* https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/04/reforestation-is-seen-key-to-climate-progress/
In addition, we will buy carbon offsets for all our traveling. We already live in a small apartment, have no car, have no kids, buy a minimum amount of stuff, upgrade computers and phones only when necessary....
As much as I am looking forward to going outside without a mask and being able to gather with friends again, that may not happen for a while. I'm going to start thinking about how to prepare for more bad times ahead, because this isn't going to end with 2020, and it isn't the year's fault. It is humanity's fault, and 2020 was just the beginning.
When we think about it, it is pretty clear that it isn't 2020 that is to blame for our problems but humans in general. We saw it throughout 2020. People refused to wear masks. People refused to stop gathering in large groups. The US government, corrupt and self-serving, could not get their shit together. Is this going to change? Most likely not. Yes, Biden will be in office in the US, so there will be some chance, but my experience has been that politicians rarely deliver on their talk, and Biden's talk isn't all that radical anyway. Of course, Democrats have pledged that while they voted for someone who was lackluster, they are going to be very aggressive about pushing for change that needs to happen. That could actually happen. However, it seems unlikely. As the pandemic wears on, we are more and more weary, more and more in need of a break from the train wreck of politics.
Obviously, this all sounds really bleak. However, I wonder if part of the problem we are facing now is that we are trying to blame other forces rather than accepting the truth: there are a lot of humans, and the way we are living right now is destroying our world. Perhaps if our expectations were more realistic (that there are hard times coming), we might be able to face these challenges a little more productively. Taiwan was prepared for a serious virus to come from China, since it had before, and that preparation allowed them to deal with it. Singapore is preparing for sea level rise. What do we need to do - as individuals, as countries, and as a species that currently has no where to live besides one planet - so that we can get through this challenge? (We have less than a decade to do this, by the way.)
The argument that this problem is one that young people need to solve is bullshit. We have known the solutions for decades: stop consuming so much damn stuff. 2020 was a lesson that older people can't just ignore climate change because they won't be here for it. The problems of climate change - fires, drought, birds dropping dead by the tens of thousands, pandemic - are here right now. Every single one of us needs to step up. Just like in the pandemic, you aren't wearing a mask just for yourself. You are wearing it to protect everyone. Likewise, we all need to stop blaming others and look at our own consumption (while trying to get others - and our government - to do the same).
From now on, I will be giving $50/month to Eden Projects, (https://edenprojects.org/) a reforestation non-profit that seems to be one of the best for planting trees. Why trees? Because decreasing emissions isn't enough, and all our pie in the sky plans for super high tech solutions are untested and not available right now. Here are some articles that link to studies:
* https://earthinnovation.org/2019/05/reforestation-can-help-reverse-the-climate-and-extinction-crises/
* https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/07/05/yes-can-reforest-massive-scale-no-substitute-slashing-emissions/
* https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2927/examining-the-viability-of-planting-trees-to-help-mitigate-climate-change/
* https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/04/reforestation-is-seen-key-to-climate-progress/
In addition, we will buy carbon offsets for all our traveling. We already live in a small apartment, have no car, have no kids, buy a minimum amount of stuff, upgrade computers and phones only when necessary....
As much as I am looking forward to going outside without a mask and being able to gather with friends again, that may not happen for a while. I'm going to start thinking about how to prepare for more bad times ahead, because this isn't going to end with 2020, and it isn't the year's fault. It is humanity's fault, and 2020 was just the beginning.
