1.5 is the magical number climate scientists agree was a number to avoid. It wasn’t officially expected to happen until 2040. But I know it would be quicker. Ever since Al Gore attempted to bring up the issue of climate change, there was a very concerted effort by just about everyone to “scale back” the time frame, to make it not so frightening and immanent.
I mean it was so obvious, even to a kid what was happening as I read the scientific studies and articles and books on the matter- it became clear who was in control of the narrative to the main population in our country. Industry did not want people to believe that what they were doing could harm life on this planet. They did not want to admit that it could exist because they liked the money and power having control of oil, gas and coal gave them. They didn’t want people looking for alternatives that would take that control from them. They buried and denied the truth.
They missed a huge opportunity too. They could have started coming up with new ideas and industries that were greener. Tech that didn’t warm the atmosphere. Some tried but were stymied by funding blocks and politicians who were in the pocket of these consumerist giants. While the industries behind our climate collapse got all kinds of tax breaks and funding. They had no reason to want the public to actually know the truth. They themselves knew the truth. They had studies and files (discovered a few years ago) that they willingly falsified information to the public to discredit any concerns with global warming. They knew what was happening and laughed all the way to the bank at our expense. And they still continue to do so, even on the eve of our destruction.
I remember when the timeline was first brought up, that we would start seeing effects. And I remember just as abruptly when a whole bunch of people started claiming that nothing would happen that fast, that we’d not see it for hundreds of years. It wouldn’t be in our life time.
But I looked at the studies. I saw what the scientists were looking at. And I knew the lies that were blaringly obvious if anyone had an inkling of how to read and think. I think the lies are what grabbed me the most and have kept me focused to the point of obsession about it. I’m a stickler for the truth. I don’t mean the silly “conspiracy theory” truths that so many idiots seem to want to believe in without a lick of scientific evidence, that in fact go against the laws of nature and physics simply because they want to feel superior or like they are some kind of amazing rebel to go against the grain of real knowledge. There has got to be some kind of psychological reason there are people who want to believe in crap. Maybe our country really needs a lot more mental health care.
In any case, I am not surprised that we’ve hit the 1.5. I’ve been warning people too, these last few years. It’s coming. I even mentioned to them where they should migrate to (and I know, for a lot of reasons many won’t or can’t but seriously, its a matter of life and death and I’d rather be financially ruined and find a way to a safe-ish place then die but only someone can decide to make the sacrifices needed for themselves and their families). I will get yelled at for being ableist. I’m disabled, very poor, can only work so much because of my physical issues, have no supportive family and found a way to move where I feel I have the best chance of survival. No, it’s not easy or comfortable. And I dealt with crap that will leave scars on my soul to have done so but when you want to survive, when you see what’s coming, and you want to survive, you do what needs to be done. For me, staying where I had been, where the climate was getting so much worse, wasn’t an option. No, I wanted to get up here and make a space for myself, and have time to prepare for what was coming to make my life at least somewhat livable. I will do my best to help those I care about too, because I have gathered a lot of practical skills my entire life knowing that they eventually would be a necessity.
So at this point, I don’t even bother to warn anyone any more. They are hell bent with their excuses that they can’t or won’t or they flat out deny that the climate can collapse. I can only care so much about a population that celebrates willful ignorance. So much so that long before, when I was much more polite and kind about my warnings, I would get hate messages for even mentioning the words “climate change.” Instead, I say nothing as they move to Florida, and other places that are the WORST places to go. They can see how long they can survive wet bulb and gigantic storms and rising waters. Funny how they don’t complain about moving expenses when they think they are heading to paradise. So I say nothing. Let them find out on their own.
Instead, I focus my energy here, preparing. I’m not under any belief that here is safe either. But I might be safe enough to survive long enough to die of old age. And though I chose not to breed, to not bring more suffering into the world, I could leave behind help for the unfortunate younger souls that have to remain after I’m gone. Whether that be in the form of knowledge and skills, a working homestead, I can only hope. One of the tasks I am giving myself this winter and the coming year, is to make sure I document every useful plant, insect, fungi and animal that inhibits this location that I can, within easy walking distance. I will document the soil, the water sources, the weather patterns (as much as I can anyway as the patterns have clearly changed into something even I have been confused by here) . I will do this with old fashioned handwriting, on paper, with pencil. I will find out what grows well here and make sure I save those seeds every season and document how I do so. I don’t trust the internet to be around much if there is war and other disturbances.
I may or may not put some of that knowledge here. Depends. I don’t want to 100% give away exactly where I am. But I want to share how to gather information and how to do these things for yourselves. For those so inclined to do. Knowledge is power. That’s why the billionaires and the right winged wackos want you to be stupid. It’s why they fight against actual education for the masses. Uneducated people are easily manipulated. They are sheep who think they aren’t sheep.
So for those who actually want to care, for those who are actually woke, I will share and exchange and teach and learn from. I really don’t think there is any reason to keep trying to communicate with the ones that are willfully ignorant for one reason or anther.
Climate Wary Homesteader 