Karma-geddon

I would hope to think that by now that even the most trenchant of climate-change deniers might just be having the teensiest of second thoughts about the absurdity of their position vis-à-vis the blindingly obvious evidence that surrounds them in contradiction of their head in the sand stupidity. Were it not for for the climate-induced tragedies that occur with geometrically increasing frequency, it might seem reasonable to them to pass it all off as merely part and parcel of the normal cycle of meteorological flux. But it ain't so, folks. We have ceased merely to be looking at the loaded gun pointed at us: we are staring simultaneously down both barrels pressed against our eyeballs with both triggers about to be released. The awful events in Nepal are just the latest evocation of a planet in rebellion against its inhabitants: along with wildfires, flash-floods can be directly attributed to the long-term actions of industrialised mankind. Yes these events do happen naturally and often - weather is chaotic - but statistically? Its the rate of increase of anomalous weather events that is the real cause for concern, not just natural, periodic fluctuations. But what do the only people with any real - financial - clout to impact on the situation do in the face of all of this? Why, turn up the aircon and build vanity projects to make themselves yet more money, and in the same breath begin polluting beyond Earth's bounds, as if they hadn't fucked up enough stuff down here already.

People are starving, their houses are being burned down or swept away by catastrophic floods; or ripped apart by earthquakes and typhoons. Their crops are failing due to either drought or flood. People across the world are suffering because of untrammelled capitalist growth, and what do the über-capitalists do? Look the other way, taking governments with them in their wake, just to feed their egos and their bank accounts. Meanwhile, charities try and extract pennies out of pensioners for this cause or that, saying just two pounds a month buys a child's smile or a donkey's safety. The rich have proportionately more moral responsibility to society than any of us because of the wealth they have accumulated from it; they have reaped the greatest rewards from being part of it, not despite the fact. Why is it that so few of them give anything significant back to the world that made them so wealthy? It's not too much to ask, and if merely asking's not good enough, then demands on their riches should be being made: if you're a part of this world, you also have a moral duty to it and to everyone else you share it with. We are edging ever faster toward the Black Flowers era: the Anthropocene is being closed down by us, its very creators...