The world seems chaotic these days – but the chaos is entirely human-made, and gratuitous.
For far too long, unbalanced, unfair, unjust – even cruel – relationships have been tolerated within the human community, and between us humans and the other life forms on the planet – and the planet itself.
Looking deeper, the picture is different.
We’re on the threshold of change, profound, transformative change.
The chaos that seems to operate in the world is a reflection of the fact that, connected by a massive new global communications system, we are examining the world we have modified to suit ourselves, and we are increasingly horrified with what we have done.
For example:
Weapons:
The arms industry is huge – about $2.5 trillion annually, mostly fuelled by macho male bravado. It fuels the nearly 200 armed conflicts around the world, of which Gaza, Ukraine and Yemen are the most prominent. Our gun-crazy U.S. neighbours lead the world in both expenditures and exports (40 per cent of world weapons sales). If a 10 per cent tax on the industry were spent on mitigating planetary heating, it could save $11,200,000,000 in the costs of restoration after natural disasters.
Super yachts:
Six-thousand exist today, all owned by billionaires – quadrupled from 30 years ago. They grossly overuse planetary resources and contaminate the planet with waste. The yachts are used, on average, only 20 per cent of the time. One of the largest, described as a model of “ultra-luxe seafaring,” is owned by one of Walmart founder Sam Walton’s four children, and is actually called “Kaos” (“chaos” in ancient Greek).Selling “Kaos” would generate over 75 million meals for the 2.8 billion people who cannot afford a healthy diet.
Single-use plastic:
In a 1963 editorial for the plastics industry’s magazine, “the future of plastics is in the garbage can” was declared, and the throwaway culture that dominates plastic use was born. Since then, we’ve produced over nine billion tons of plastic, over half of it in the last 25 years. Microplastic particles turn up in every life form on the planet, including babies’ brains, now in association with premature birth, the biggest cause of fetal death worldwide.
Travel:
Once an activity for wealthy adventurers, tourism is now accessible to huge numbers of travellers – over 720 million a year (1,800,000 a day). The total is expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030. Tourism causes 5 per cent of global GHG emissions, 90 per cent from travel alone. And an average golf course, where tourists often visit, uses as much water in a year as 60,000 villagers.
We’ve made acquiring and spending material wealth into a religion, and our neighbours to the south run the main church for that religion. In a world dominated by the notion of “extractivist capitalism,” we worship at the altar of extreme wealth.
One day, all this must change. For there is actually only one meaningful and enduring form of wealth. It is the earned affection, respect and appreciation of others – including our non-human friends – generated by our own kind and thoughtful actions towards them.
Warren Bell is a long-time family physician in Salmon Arm with a consuming interest and involvement in community and global affairs.
