Therapists are starting to see an uptick in patients concerned about climate change. There are few remedies either the patients or the therapists can imagine to address the problem. Recycle more efficiently?
It’s never too late to become a better citizen of the planet. But it may be too late in the larger sense. Each of us can feel anxious or depressed as we contemplate the steady stream of evidence that we are doomed to endure a cycle of warming temperatures that will render most if not all of the planet uninhabitable, and indeed it would be weird if we didn’t.
But feeling increased anxiety or grief isn’t going to change anything unless it translates into the collective will as human beings to do something about it.
In our democratic society that translates into boring stuff like forging political alliances that can implement policy changes that mitigate global warming; and also funding scientific research into potential technologies that may help future populations adapt to the environment or alter it (or our bodies) in ways not yet understood.
If this all sounds like science fiction, there are SciFi writers who are already well ahead of this curve, but I won’t get into their work now.
The point here is just like the technological options to deflect some future asteroid from colliding with earth, we already have the capacity to imagine solutions to climate disasters, which may or may not prove to be successful when the time comes.
But in order to do that, and to retreat to the mundane, we cannot continue to devolve into petty partisan fights like the Republicans and Democrats have managed to do with Biden’s climate initiatives.
Biden started out with an ambitious agenda, rooted in science and perfectly reasonable from a non-partisan perspective. But it required our elected officials to agree on some version of a package that ultimately became mired in political posturing that failed to reach consensus.
So where is the popular outrage? Non-existent. Are we so beaten down by the pandemic, Trump’s lies, and personal matters that we cannot come together on this one vital issue — the issue of survival?
If so, thus is sad concluding chapter of human evolution, which of course will never be read by future generations.
We’ll be extinct.
TODAY’s HEADLINES (37):
‘Taking the Voters Out of the Equation’: How the Parties Are Killing Competition — The number of competitive House districts is dropping, as both Republicans and Democrats use redistricting to draw themselves into safe seats. (NYT)
The World Is Sliding Toward Authoritarianism. So Are the Olympics. (Politico)
Heading into 2024, the Republican National Committee has no obligation to support the former president, but that doesn’t mean they’re taking their chance to explore new territory. GOP officials are already devoting considerable energy to undercut any potential Trump rivals while embracing his politicized rhetoric, even though they are required in bylaws to remain neutral. “If President Trump decides he’s running, absolutely the RNC needs to back him, 100%,” said Michele Fiore, an RNC committee member who has represented Nevada since 2018. “We can change the bylaws.” [AP]
Overhaul of Electoral Count Act ‘Absolutely’ Will Pass, Manchin Says — Senators working to overhaul the law said recent revelations about former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election made their work even more crucial. (NYT)
French President Emmanuel Macron flies to Moscow in a risky diplomatic move, seeking commitments from Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial down tensions with Ukraine, where Western leaders fear the Kremlin plans an invasion. (Reuters)
In Ukraine’s capital, residents grapple with the threat of war (WP)
US intel indicates Russian officers have had doubts about full scale Ukraine invasion (CNN)
Macron opens talks with Putin in Moscow to ease tension over Ukraine (Financial Times)
Daniele Ek, the CEO of Spotify, apologized to his staff in an email amid the firestorm over podcast star Joe Rogan’s use of racist slurs on his show. Ek strongly condemned “racially insensitive language,” but said he doesn’t believe “silencing Joe is the answer.” Rogan himself pulled down more than 70 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” after a video compilation of the host using the slur multiple times was circulated on social media. Rogan apologized, but racism adds to pressure on Spotify over Rogan's misinformation about COVID-19. [HuffPost]
As the protest against the Canadian government's health measures and vaccine mandates entered an eleventh day, police have threatened to clamp down after facing criticism for lack of action that has crippled the national capital. (Reuters)
Across Asia, spike in virus cases follows Lunar New Year (AP)
England’s oldest pub, possibly 1,229 years old, shuts doors due to coronavirus hardships (WP)
California’s coronavirus death toll has topped 80,000, with another 3,000 deaths projected by the end of the month. (Associated Press)
The future of the pandemic is looking clearer as we learn more about infection (NPR)
Shionogi may apply for COVID-19 drug approval soon (NHK)
Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room — Ten years ago, psychologists proposed that a wide range of people would suffer anxiety and grief over climate. Skepticism about that idea is gone. (NYT)
Ex-Israeli, Palestinian negotiators propose confederation (AP)
Israel inquiry to look into alleged police use of Pegasus spyware (Guardian)
Afghanistan’s Health Care System Is Collapsing Under Stress — Hospitals and clinics are struggling to hold up amid a cash shortage and a vast surge of malnutrition and disease. By one estimate, 90 percent may close in the next few months. (NYT)
UN experts: North Korea stealing millions in cyber attacks (AP)
Kids are flocking to Facebook’s ‘metaverse.’ Experts worry predators will follow. (WP)
Chimps Seen Performing First Aid on Selves, Each Other (WSJ)
‘Giant obstacle course’: call to reroute major shipping lanes to protect blue whales (Guardian)
Rogue black hole spotted on its own for the first time (Space.com)
A brain circuit tied to emotion may lead to better treatments for Parkinson's disease (NPR)
RSS3 aims to be the decentralized information processor of Web3 (Cointelegraph)
The minimum wage in Los Angeles will rise to $16.04 from $15 on July 1. (City News Service)
Let Your Kids Be Bad at Things — When parenting becomes about perfectionism, you’re missing the point. (Atlantic)
Why so many fast-food chains started here — A&W, McDonald’s, IHOP, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, In N Out, Baskin-Robbins and Panda Express are among 50. (Cal Today)
Canada, far-right capital of the world (Politico)
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost Poke Fun at Their Marriage in Hilarious Super Bowl Ad for Alexa (People)
Man Tries To Regain Sense Of Control In Chaotic Universe By Learning To Juggle (The Onion)
LYRICS FOR A DYING PLANET
“The Thrill Is Gone”
B.B. King
Songwriters: Lew Brown / Ray Henderson
The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone, baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong, baby
And you'll be sorry someday
The thrill is gone
It's gone away from me
The thrill is gone, baby
The thrill is gone away from me
Although, I'll still live on
But so lonely I'll be
The thrill is gone
It's gone away for good
All the thrill is gone
Baby, it's gone away for good
Someday I know I'll be open-armed baby
Just like I know, I know I should
You know, I'm free, free now, baby
I'm free from your spell
Oh, free, free, free now, baby
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's all over
All that I can do is wish you well
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