"The industry of worry and fear" seems to be thriving, evident every time you switch on the TV, the radio, or log onto traditional social media platforms. There's always something to be concerned about, whether it's Covid, cholesterol, pneumonia, plastic, sugar, fats, or "misinformation," among other things.
The gravity of the fear and worry industry becomes apparent when you observe the juxtaposition of pharmacies and fast-food joints side by side in every downtown area. The promotion of items like "plastic and unsaturated fats on sale" contributes to the rising rates of obesity and illness globally.
Constant worry, whether about one thing or everything, is not a recent phenomenon. Since the '90s, various invasive methods of reaching the public have fueled concerns about extinct species, climate change, fats, and more.
However, it's essential to acknowledge that over 90% of the species that have ever existed on this planet are long gone. Approximately 25 species are reportedly going extinct every day, and it's not entirely our fault. It's nature's way of evolving, consuming, and digesting whatever thrives on its surface.
The truth is, humanity will likely be long gone before the planet shows any signs of destruction. The Earth, at around 4-5 billion years old, will adapt and learn to coexist with plastic. Our existence as a species spans a mere couple of hundred thousand years, with heavy industry only emerging in the past few centuries.
If anything has the potential to destroy us, it will likely be ourselves, possibly with some assistance from AI. However, we won't be able to destroy the planet. Consider the natural calamities that have occurred over the years, such as earthquakes, tectonic movements, solar flares, ice ages, magnetic storms, and pole shifts. While these events caused destruction, they didn't annihilate the planet.
Leaving plastic bags in the forest or tossing aluminum cans into the oceans is not something I endorse. Everyone can carry their trash until a bin is in sight. Unfortunately, recycling practices in my country mix all trash together in massive dumpsites.
The EU urges us to sort our trash to meet their living standards and "save the planet." We're also cautioned about the CO2 emissions from our cars allegedly destined to "kill the planet." However, with only 0.04% of atmospheric carbon produced by us, CO2 seems to be absorbed and transformed.
Despite the fear industry depicting us as destructive, we're not that harmful. The push for carbon credits and social credit scores under the guise of climate change is a power play. The climate, even if changing, is not solely due to human activity but follows natural cycles over the Earth's 4 billion years.
“There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C,” Al Jaber said in an online event last month, the remarks from which the Guardian reported on December 3, days after the COP28 summit in Dubai began on November 30.
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Nonetheless, the COP28 summit persists, with Hillary Clinton claiming they are tallying deaths caused by climate change. One wonders when she'll count the suspicious suicides surrounding her family.
John Kerry, the special presidential envoy on climate matters, advocates for "100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035" while private jet purchases and usage rise. The ones affording private jets may not align with the goals they promote.
Despite recent eruptions like Mount Marapi in Indonesia, the planet doesn't need us; we need it. The Earth isn't suffering but has its mechanisms for self-cleansing every few thousand years. CO2 and plastic aren't existential threats to the planet.
Our true threat lies in how we treat each other, the divisions among us, our ignorance about our wealth and health, and the legacy we leave for our children. Recent concerns should center around media promotion of LGBT, tainted food, hatred, and "bad money"—not plastic, aluminum, or CO2.
Thanks for your attention,
Adrian
