...WHEN LIFE NEARLY DIED

It has now been established beyond any doubt that for the first time in the history of mankind, human activity is responsible for the global endangerment of the environment. The questions of how this has come to be have been widely discussed, and are essential in forming strategies for action, but the answers to the question of fundamental causation I feel have not been fully clarified .

The answers have understandably been overshadowed by the immediate necessity for educating the actions of the populace, for example individual responsibility towards the environment. Which is necessary. But it is also necessary that we look seriously at the ideals that formed our previous actions , the actions that resulted in this situation.

To say that each individual is responsible for the combined problem we face is correct. Still the question must be asked ; what forms and influences our behaviour as regards  consumption in the material world ?
Having existed for 200 000 years as homo sapiens why only in the past 60 or so years have people, and particularly importantly, ‘westernised’ people caused such a catastrophe?

When we look at the development and ascendancy of capitalist consumerism we can see a direct parallel with the increasing damage caused to our environment. It is the ideals of this form of capitalism that is properly responsible for irresponsibly jeopardising the existence and quality of life on the earth. These private organisations have acted separately from society but exploitatively and at its great expense, solely for the exclusive and vast benefit of their members. And this system has allowed it to happen, and is now dominated by those with financial, but not ethical power.

Government although imperfect, was the forum in which the rights and prospects of ALL people were addressed. It has seeded power to corporations who are prejudiced in favour of a small but extremely wealthy minority, whose agenda is entirely selfish in nature. This is the fundamental cause of environmental catastrophe (and of course recent wars), the existence of a the corporate agenda , a powerful force of irresponsibility that has achieved the creation of a reckless consumer society through mass media and destructive exploitative mass manufacture for the goal of  absolute power. The world is shaped in this form when power and authority belong to those who have no competence or aptitude for such position and have no wish to be responsible but merely wish to hold that position for it’s own sake.
Why is there in this age still an ethical imperative that allows those with material wealth to be granted superiority and influence over those with less material wealth?

It is time for a thorough  re-evaluation of values, we cannot afford (in a more meaning full sense) to be without the benefit of certain people in our society such as health workers and teachers and it is another symptom of corporate influence that these positions are undervalued, whilst the ability to accumulate and exploit large amounts of capital grants one high position.

If we are serious about tackling climate change and also if we wish to live in a fair world with a minimum of suffering, we have to address the true cause, the immature manifestation of the base drives of the human psyche, the large problem that has become lodged in the midst of our true natures. Capitalism may stay but must be heavily amended This SHOULD be the main objective of our generation. That someone should gain reward for their efforts is not in question, but in the finite world of currency there simply is no right for such segregated unbridled abundance of profit, as this necessarily comes at the expense of many other’s well being.

A global cap on profits would be a start, with a stitching up of loopholes. As the present setup threatens our future existence, we must with haste go about making changes and demanding the right to determine our own existence and status as being equal to that of all humans regardless of wealth.

The link between consumer capitalism and environmental destruction has of course been made but the truth is that it is the fundamental CAUSE of environmental destruction, it has worked through us of all, whether we have known it or not, and has, even in the face of indisputable scientific evidence attempted to prolong and even increase activities which the profiteers were aware would cause catastrophe.

The US president only 3 years ago stated that his country (the highest polluting nation) would not differ in its consideration of the environment, because ‘it is not certain whether or not human activity is to blame for global warming’ which is the propaganda of the guilty, actually saying he was prepared to gamble and if it turned out bad, it would turn out really bad. We can’t afford to be at the mercy of such dangerous, careless and corporately prejudiced views.

No other generation has encountered such a time as this, It is an amazing victory of propaganda that this seems for some to be just a subject, when it is in fact an object that requires immediate movement by all of us.