The Fear We Create

 

Probably each of us can recall a time when as a child we believed with utter certainty that there was a monster hiding close by our bed.  We were so afraid we couldn't close our eyes, and every shadow in the darkness and creak of the house was attended to with adrenaline fuelled vigilance.  Finally we would be unable to take another moment of our own terror and we would work up the vast amount of courage required to call out for our mother or father to come to us, a huge risk because we knew we would have to reveal our position to the unseen enemy.  Those moments until our parent arrived felt endless and only when they finally came into our room and turned on the light did we realise we had been holding our breath.

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The Real Fear Story...Apathy

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

Gandhi

The other day, while discussing how to make climate change issues more engaging for Paradigm's Bend's readers, a brilliant friend of mine sadly pointed out that the trouble with climate change isn't whether it is happening or not, it is that everyone is tired of being bludgeoned to death with fear stories wherever they turn.  Over an extended period of time desensitisation occurs and not too long after, apathy follows.  In a recent email exchange with an American collaborator, I learned that in the US while 30% accept climate change as a real issue, 30% do not accept climate change or see it as a hoax and another 30% don't even care.  The other 10% must have been too apathetic to even answer the climate change survey.  Forget about climate change deniers, it is apathy that is the real enemy of climate change.

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