We awoke to deep chill. Nori wanted the door open and we wanted to be warm. Our compromise was for her to go out on the screen porch with the door shut. She did not stay out long.
Today is another dry, cool day. We are told the weekend will be warm, and if the wind picks up so will the fire danger. While we have had rain, other areas have not, and we hear of many wells running low or dry. These conditions are now less anomalous than we would hope, as much of North America is experiencing rapid drying due to steeply rising temperatures.
We are still in the early stages of leaf change and each day there is more colour in the foliage. Mostly the changes are subtle. Sadly, browning trees and leaf drop are common, and we won’t know the true harm done by the drought until next spring, or the spring following.
This week I have been inundated by news articles about the existential threats imposed by climate change, AI, resource shortages, ecosystem collapse, and greed in general. At times I find myself suddenly feeling immense dread and fear.
I’ve been thinking about this inundation of threat. Yes, all of these issues are real and deeply concerning. Still, I wonder why is my news feed overflowing now? It seems to me that since the current administration took office the sheer volume of doom scrolling across my screens has increased exponentially.
This flood of threat comes from a wide range and variety of sources, many credible. Even threads reportedly positive usually have threat and doom running beneath them; often enough they are pushing obviously scam studies, and there are lots of them!
Given the alliance between the administration and big tech, could it be that this sudden upsurge is a concerted attempt to dishearten and immobilize us? Now, as most of you know, I am not given to conspiracy theorizing. Heaven knows there is plenty of well documented evil to occupy my thinking. Yet, the coincidence is difficult to ignore.
The reality is that most of the issues being hyped concern things we have little to no control over. They are problems that require large scale thought and cooperation to address. I imagine we could tackle them if there were adequate leadership and good will; maybe, the really concerning truth is that both seem lacking.
I find myself trying to find balance between the need to know and the imperative to keep hope and good will afloat in my daily life. I need to be able to do the small things that are in my control. So I make visual and sound art, write, try to build a yard filled with microhabitats for insects and others, support family, friends, and students, and place my primary relationships at the center of my life.
Each of these things is a form of resistance. More importantly, each is a way of affirming life. What do you do that gives you space to persevere? That gives you hope, peace, and/joy?
Please share your thoughts and join the conversation!