Chronicles of Asu: Us v. Them

Moritz, Hughes, Seidita, Miller

What ‘We’re’ doing compared to ‘Them’

Earth's perpetual energy source: the magnetic field.

When we learned from John Tierney that “ideas can have sex with each other”, it seemed to make so much sense to us. As a class, we grasped this notion and pieced together different viewpoints based on what we all continue to think. It is an obvious realization, that people become smarter when they work together- ‘I become smart when I work with you’. But despite the fact that it is obvious, we still do ourselves well to be reminded of it. We think of the sky, and how it is always, completely blue, no matter what, even when clouds are covering it up. Again, an obvious notion, but one that we may need to be reminded of a few times before adopting it as truth. Of course combining classes was going to be extremely enriching for all of us. We have two opportunities when we do this: 1) we get to show off our thoughts and react to thoughts being showed off by people we haven’t heard before and 2) we have a very easy opportunity to create new ideas by hearing from new people. With regards to climate change, it seems pretty clear that our two classes have approached this education in a couple different ways. While Nancy Menning and her students observe how to ‘mourn nature’, we have obtained the education of what exactly is going down. Can we make a case that combining these two kinds of learnings has a negative growth on us? Well, not really, no. But combining the education to mourn nature and the knowledge of what is happening, we have one step of awareness and one step of action. That is a short, sweet and simple approach on our issue. Good. We can only move forward with better, more in depth ideas by combining our educations. It’s obvious, and now we know it.

When it comes to human behavior and its effects on the climate change, from the outside looking in, it appears that we are actually trying to destroy our atmosphere. Innovations have led to new and more efficient ways of doing things, however, they’ve also led to more efficient ways of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. As Phillipe Squarzoni explores in his graphic novel, Climate Changed, enlightenment about our situation hasn’t made much impact on reducing our destructive behavior. In fact, it has sparked ignorance and hypocrisy—even within the author himself. Upon becoming more informed about climate change he attempts to change his behavior by not taking a plane trip (to reduce his own impact on carbon emissions) one year and taking another plane trip the next.  Such behavior merely perpetuates the “ignorance is bliss” mentality of America that devastates our environment on many frontiers as a result of the emissions. Human nature today, in terms of the Earth’s survival, is nothing but destructive. So, in a way our job appears to be to destroy everything in our path, without giving a damn. Similarly indulgent behaviors perpetuate the enormous wealth inequality as upper class citizens strive for more financial advantages leaving the lower socioeconomics classes struggling. We’ve heard about the lasting effects of inequality by listening to the education deficits and negative effects in “The Problem We all Live With.” Effects, which take root in the next generation through their lack of quality education as a result of lower income living. Everything we work for, every new advancement is one step forward. Sadly, when we advance on one avenue we tend to take two steps back on many others. We merely perpetuate human livability of the problems that exist without making an impact on solving anything.

The concept of climate change is the story of the environment that we live in day to day and how it is being altered, essentially negatively. Climate change has the ability to produce a multitude of reactions. That is precisely why the concept is so hard to grasp, as well as so hard to reverse. Some grieve… Some ignore… Some even deny though it is quite evident that climate change is making it’s presence known. A major part as to why we’re not making positive change is because many people don’t even believe that events of climate change even exist. 46% of American teens believe that climate change doesn’t exist, according to News Staff. This is a result of improper strategies to help understand the process of climate change. Information is presented in school textbooks in a very confusing, controversial, and ambiguous fashion. It’s safe to say that our society wants to see the glass half full, even if that means disregarding things that are happening right before our eyes. Typically, we do “not take kindly to… scientists distressing the populace with visions of global destruction.” If the concept of climate change can’t be presented as a true and valid event occurring, as we speak, then how can we expect anyone to take action? As Nancy Menning’s seminar would phrase it, “death of nature” is something that must be mourned. Mourning the “environmental losses” we examine in today’s world is one example of how the concept of climate change is processed in the ‘brain’ of our society. Arguably, once one has mourned the environmental losses that have already taken place, then will we as a society be able to take action to diminish the “environmental challenges” that continue to come our way. The question lies in that, should we even have to mourn the losses of nature and if so, how does one go about doing so? The ability to mourn spirals off the ability to understand that you have lost something. We shield ourselves by being unrealistic, denying, and ignoring. These are the coping mechanisms we use to deal with the damage we’ve done. But, the problem still lies- no action will be taken if we keep it up. Thus, the ambiguity of reactions to the concept of climate change perpetuates the cycle of humans destructive behavior that will murder every last bit of our environment.

As time progresses, changes inevitably occur. Though, what happens when the changes are occurring so rapidly that the sustainability of the planet is in question? Then we 'stop', take a minute to see whats going on, and change directions. As it turns out, the biggest problem of why our climate is undergoing such rapid changes is due to the 'parasites' that inhabit the planet. These are not any ordinary 'parasites'. They take what they want from their host and will do it by any means necessary. Any area that these destructive creatures inhabit, ultimately, is on a path of demolition. As it turns out, it is us, humans, who seem to be the 'parasites'. We can consider ourselves diseases that are being harmful to our host. As a majority, we are a 'cancer' that will one day lead to the inevitable loss of this planet. However, as Jason Box stated, “I don’t think we’re fucked. There is time to build sustainable solutions." A window of opportunity seems to be in front of us. Whether or not we get through the window tells us which direction is best for us to go in.

And of course we aren’t ‘fucked’. Of course we have time. That said, the movement regarding fixing global issues and living up to our standards is in motion, and gaining steam. We have moved forward so quickly, in fact, that we actually have not just a man running for presidency, but a legitimate candidate in Bernie Sanders who is actively speaking of the issues at hand. There was not a man (or woman) like Bernie who ran things the way he is doing in the last election; the ‘let’s talk about this stuff!’ approach. We have a window of opportunity. Even if Bernie does not win, no matter, we still move in the direction. Would it even be worth saying that we won’t make it through this window? No. Of course not. We’re moving in the correct direction, and fast. So the more we combine ideas, share passions and grow together, the faster, in fact, the movement will move. That seems obvious. Now we know it. We move forward, as we do now.