As we're sitting in front of our computers, using too much electricity with all the lights on in addition to the computer (which runs day and night) - the leaders of this world are gathered in one of my Scandinavian neighbouring countries, Denmark, to discuss a new climate deal. Do I think it will turn out amazing, no; I certainly don't. Do I think that's bad? Yeah, I do. We still have a chance to make amends, to fix what we've broken. Tests prove the ice is melting from the poles and glaciers all over the world faster than anyone could predict, and just last year, we got 20 millions new climate refugees in the world who are refugees because climatic changes have forced them to leave their homes behind.
So why don't we do something? Because, sadly, monetary interests are more important than common human interests, yes; evidently so important that they trumph even the human existence. Because we might kill ourselves this way, if we don't get off this ride before it is too late, there will be no way back, and we will have caused our own demise - in the end. And what do you think they'll say, those last humans standing on a planet which is ruined after our wars, pollution, hunger and the natural disasters we caused? Do you think they'll say that "Well, I certainly understand them, after all; they COULD make more money on selling oil than environmental fuel"? Because I rather doubt that. Instead, I think they'll think "WHY didn't they do something? Why didn't they think of us?" And if there is an afterlife, and if it's where we all meet after we're gone - we won't have an answer for them. All we can say at that moment is "we weren't thinking". Because evidently, we aren't thinking. We're doing the opposite of what the world needs because it might give us a few extra dollars in our pockets, or because it's more comfortable letting things remain the way they are.
My inner marxist is creeping out into the light here. Because, for me, at least; there's no way this issue can be understood without an economical perspective to it. We have to take the system into account. The system is capitalism. No matter how much it has failed, how many crises we've seen just the last decade, we still keep believing in it. Even when the head of the American central bank has admitted that the system he's believed in all his life is flawed, we still keep going in the same direction. Because it's a fact that the money control the people, instead of the people controlling the money. History shows we've started world wars to protect our colonial interests or our own country's power, because power gives money. We're making bombs and mines we know are intended for children because we'll make money of them, we ruin people's lives dealing drugs because it gives us personal gain, and we cut down as many trees as possible in the world so we can sell them and at the same time make room for more companies, more factories, more homes. What makes capitalism go around is expansion, and for some weird reason, a lot of people (the same people who calls it "naive" to believe in humanity, peace, or a greener future) are naive enough to believe that eternal expansion is possible. But the world won't grow, won't magically clone instelf so we can continue expanding - this can't continue forever. We might just aswell stop it now, do what's right instead of what it gives us. Ask not what the world can do for you, but what you can do for the world...
I've never understood why people do anything for personal gain, and that might explain why I can't understand these world leaders who forsake the future of this entire planet because of completely irrelevant factors such as economical gain or keeping good relations with another country. But what I think when I see them, trying to pretend like they care while all they can wrap their cynical heads around is how to make a deal that gives them what they want but makes it SEEM like they're doing the right thing, is - WHY can't they just say "Screw this, I'm doing what's right, I'm doing what makes me able to sleep at night!" I don't believe they're all psychopaths, that they're evil - which means, something in them must protest LOUDLY when they speak up for doing nothing. Something good, human and rational. In any case, WE'LL protest, to show them what they need to do if they want humanity to survive on this beautiful planet.
