Like everyone, I was horrified to hear about the devastation that was once Lahaina. It reinforces the global reach of the beast that stalks us all—climate change. Every day we hear new details of its menacing advance—bleaching coral, warming oceans, disappearing species, withering forests, while CO2 flows from cars, factories, curing concrete, and burning landscapes. Lately I’ve been struck by the number of dead and dying trees and hedges in my town Kelowna, B.C. Even in Vancouver, which used to be in a rainforest zone, many trees are suffering—particularly cedars, which probably require more water than most.
Despite these undeniable and very visual reminders that we are in serious trouble, so many people carry on as if we weren’t perched on the precipice of the abyss. I wonder why other emergencies like the war and the pandemic resulted in immediate and consequential measures on the part of governments and complied with by the populace, and yet this existential threat is being met with relative apathy. During the Second World War, young men willingly risked and gave their lives, old men grew victory gardens, young women rolled bandages, everyone willingly put up with rationing. The government didn’t hesitate to impose strict measures and the citizens jumped on the bandwagon. Why is the government afraid to take the lead? Where is the bandwagon?
Is the government afraid to ask us to make sacrifices in the interests of a future for our kind? I feel there is so much apprehension and fear that could become energy and action if our leaders would take the initiative and design legislation that would ensure we are on track to meet UN climate goals. If our leaders are sitting in the burning house unperturbed, the majority will assume not much can be done and follow suit. We’ll all burn up together. But if they yell “FIRE!” at the top of their lungs and run for the hoses, directing us to grab the buckets and fight for our lives—we have a better chance.
Please call upon our leaders to lead so we all have a fighting chance. Let’s not be so many apathetic frogs in a pot who didn’t realize the end was near till it was too late. Write a letter to your provincial and/or federal representative, or to federal environment and climate change minister Steven Guilbeault or provincial environment minister George Heyman.
Let’s all jump out of the pot—it’s hot in there!
