Doomed and depressed

One of the biggest problems standing in the way of drastic change to prevent climate change is the depression that comes with the increased knowledge and research on the severity of the problem. Around the world people are already seeing and feeling the effects of climate change. The reality that is facing our species (humans) and all other living organisms on the planet is dreary. And yet one of the worst things we can do is become apathetic or downtrodden in the face of our growing problem. 


I was in the newsroom one morning during parents weekend and a student’s father came in to talk to us. He wanted us to create an environmental column in the newspaper (which I have been dreaming about for at least a year), but he started off by saying “your generation is going to be the last humans here.” (not quite an exact quote, it was early and I didn’t want to be weird and write it down…) As much as my friends and I joke that I am a debbie downer, even this was too much for me (not to mention the scientific inaccuracies, unless he really believes in 2012 as the end of the world). 

So what do we do when it looks like the world is falling apart at the seams and we will be one of the many to go? Instead of giving in to apathy or doomsday predictions we need to ignite our passion and our drive that is so unique to humans and start making changes. Although we need large, drastic changes, we also need individuals to make small, lasting changes as well. We have the tools, we just need to start getting everyone to use them.