News has me feeling hopeless
I've been reading news on a daily basis for years just because I like to stay informed and get multiple perspectives on issues. I've seen all the ups and downs and wars and famines and epidemics and oppression and disasters and it hasn't been easy but I haven't lost hope or anything before.
But with the current massive fires in the Amazon and the serious risk of dieback and the total destruction of the rain forest there in a matter of months or years, I can't help but feel despair. There isn't anything I can do. I don't have faith in the UN or international governments to step in and do anything and I don't know what they could do anyway barring occupying parts of Brazil (which would just be blatantly awful).
So I just don't see any way things are going to get any better. And I feel like I'm just going to spend the next several years/decades/rest of my life watching everything fall apart. And I don't know what to do or how to motivate myself to work or try at anything bc it's all going to hell regardless.
I just don't know what to do and I don't like the idea of just going into denial about what I believe or going emotionally numb to get through each day.
Any ideas anyone...
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Diagnoses: AS, Depression, General & Social Anxiety
I guess I just wasn't made for these times.
- Brian Wilson
Δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς ξυγχωροῦσιν.
Those with power do what their power permits, and the weak can only acquiesce.
- Thucydides
Conservatism discourages thought, discussion, consensus, empathy, and hope.
I have a large flower garden at home that I take care of. I think it also makes the neighbors happy to see all the flowers. I may not be able to do anything about what happens in the Amazon, but I can make it a little better in my neighborhood. And make it better for the hawks and Monarch butterflies migrating through my town.
The world is full of people who seek to gain power by keeping you in a state of fear and despair. In fact, the world is in better shape than it ever has been in human history, and remarkable improvements are occurring everywhere. Global poverty is declining, global wealth is increasing, global health is improving. Some perspective: https://humanprogress.org
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There Are Four Lights!
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,278
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Yeah the situation in the Amazon is not looking good I am quite concerned about it as well. I mean its kind of seeming like the only option is going to be some kind of intervention France and Ireland plan to refuse ratifying a trade deal with them but not sure that will be enough. I mean thats not just a problem for Brazil...the amazon provides something like 20% of the worlds oxygen. So it certainly is an international crisis.
But yeah I find it hard to feel motivated, I try to be positive and then when I can't maintain it I end up wondering why I feel depressed and then its like 'oh yeah, the planet and what humanity has done and is doing to it'. At the same time I need a place to live and I have bills to pay so I have to go to my job.
I have made occasional donations to the sierra club and other conservation organizations, but I have pretty low income so that's not a consistent thing I can do at all. And I'll probably try and go to the climate protest on Sep 20, though I don't really like crowds so I'll see how I am feeling as it gets closer, but I would like to participate.
I made sure to vote in favor of the environment in the last state election, so that can help some locally. I recycle recyclables unless it can be reused intead(don't have room to reuse everything, like I can't keep every jar or usable container something came in) but yeah I try and do what I can to reduce my personal impact.
Even so the over all state of things does seem rather dire, so I know the feeling. I know there are some positive things going on but there is a lot of uncertainty if it will be enough to reverse the current direction.
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Tis the time to melt the Ice.
