Choose Your Apocalypse [Terms & Conditions Apply]

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The world is arguably, and some of us would assert demonstrably, in the most perilous state that it has been since mankind evolved. Hyperbole? I really don't think so: climate change is now accelerating at a pace predicted by climatologists just a few years ago; a rate of change so fast that extreme weather events normally restricted to Africa and the Indian subcontinent are now commonplace across northern Europe. This year has seen catastrophic wildfires taking hold across Spain, Italy, Greece, France and the UK. Drought has been declared similarly widely across the continent, making fighting these fires increasingly difficult. Is there any significant rainfall in the offing for us? Not as far as the meteorologists can foresee: we're looking at similar conditions for the next month or so at least. On the international politics front, how many wars are being waged at present and for what reasons? The Middle East, Ukraine, what next? And what will the antagonists party to and instrumental of these conflicts do when the dust settles? Probably nuke each other: the elephant in this particular room.

What's the knock-on from all this willy-waving and self-interest - climate denial included? Uncontrolled migrations of peoples simply displaced from their homes by either a hostile climatic environment, or hostile politics and violent conflict. Populations are on the move, either way, and they ain't going to stop moving because normal human instinct is to seek shelter from harm, of which there is plenty. And what is the rest of the world's political and moral response to this fundamental issue? Put up walls. Isolationism and nationalism have increased with similar rapidity to climate change; and what do the wealthiest nations on the planet do? Go 'la, la, la: nothing to see here...' and deny that there is any problem aside from 'bad actors' and the 'others' who are not them. If nothing changes and very soon, indeed, pitchforks and machetes will be the currency of this new Jerusalem. Add to this febrile mix an new attitude to the possible use of nuclear weapons, and you've got Armageddon waiting in the wings. Apocalypse looks like the above: no zombies, no buildings, no animals or plants; no people: nothing...

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