“Everything is connected. If you think you can do damage in private, you’re wrong”

Sir David Attenborough is a British icon; an environmental enthusiast; our hope for the future. In conversation with television and radio presenter Liz Bonnin, Attenborough exposed humanity’s predatory nature and the devastating impact our mere existence has on our planet. “Everything is connected,” said David, and “if you think you can do damage in private, you’re wrong.”

Our planet is dying – period. The human race has evolved and conquered and is now plunging its spear through the heart of our precious Earth. Through the evolution of humanity, we have become disconnected from our very mother who has nurtured us since the dawn of time; the mother who has provided us with food, shelter, and water. Despite receiving ‘education’ on the very basics of nature and its needs for survival, we remain disconnected from the planet. We relax in modern housing, living our lives through animated screens, all whilst the very soil we stand on begins to rot and wither away. And for what?

“A new attitude is needed”

“Storytelling is the basis of effective communication”

Our world is full of stories. From the bustling streets of New Delhi to the barren lands of Western Australia. Every microorganism, every fibre; they all have stories. Our experiences, our lives, they all contribute to the creation of this bottomless pool of emotions, weaving their way through each and every narrative. Each and every story, great or small, therefore becomes transformative. We as a human race can create a meaningful change. But the question is, do we want to?

“We have to work together if we are to survive”

The health and sustenance of our planet needs to be supported in each and every corner of the globe – none of this ‘your issues aren’t my issues’ and ‘my issues aren’t your issues’ bullshit. That doesn’t work here. We are all part of the same ecosystem and unless we start working together, our planet will fail us; it will die.

Our rainforests are crucial to the preservation and protection of our planet. These expansive lands that house hundreds of species of trees, plants, and wildlife constitute the very foundations of life upon this earth. Rainforests digest carbon dioxide and release oxygen on a mass scale, sustaining the very life that walks, swims in, or crawls this planet. Destroying the world’s rainforests through logging and agriculture however, creates a natural imbalance – hello, climate change. Despite its global impact, concerned natives indigenous to these lands are yet to succeed in branding this as such. The problem with climate change is that it speaks to us on an individual, community, or national level, but it doesn’t speak to us on a global level. And this is problematic.

“We need a revolution in attitudes to the world“

Central America, Africa, and Southern Asia all boast the magic and mystery of the world’s rainforests. But can you see the problem here? America, Africa, and Asia – these are three continents. Three continents whose tropical rainforests only comprise 6% of the world’s total landmass. People can’t relate to this – or rather, they don’t want to. Unless such mass scale trauma and destruction is happening on your doorstep, most of us don’t blink an inch – we don’t flutter an eyelid. And this here is the problem. Our attitude is the problem.

“The only thing that is preventing this from happening is selfishness”

This year is crucial for change – real change. In November 2021, the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26) will be held in Glasgow, UK – this is our time to shine. This has become more than a problem between me and you: this has become a problem between countries, between politicians. It is now a matter of diplomacy.

It is time that we began to share our national interest for the interests of internationals – in short, we need to stop being naïve and selfish and own up to our own bloodied hands. But then the difficulty lies amongst politicians – how do they approach their electorate? The electorate that generally avoids the struggles faced by third world countries devastated by the climate crisis. So many people are unreceptive to new ideas and changes that must be made if we want to preserve our planet.

“I just hope it won’t be too late”

Young people are the future – there’s no denying it. We are going to change the world. For better or for worse, that is yet to be decided, but we are protagonists of change. Curriculum-based climate change education is not enough; it has never been enough. Children are not taught about how our individual actions affect our planet on a global scale; they are taught to pity those who are directly affected and hope it doesn’t happen to us. How compassionate… not.

But it isn’t too late – not yet.

Costa Rica is a perfect example of a country actively determined to reverse the impact of climate change and preserve our planet. Politicians and leaders realised what changes were needed and made them happen. With an outdated and quite frankly weak army, army budget was transferred over towards efforts to maintain conservation. And it worked. It actually worked. Who would’ve thought?

“Everything is connected. If you think you can do damage in private, you’re wrong“

We are all connected. Every human, every animal, every plant, every organism – all connected, bound by this invisible cord given to us by mother nature herself. We need to understand how the world works. Everything in the world is interconnecting and if you don’t see that the only person you are fooling is yourself. That plastic straw you used last week? You guessed it, it’s now in the Indian ocean, rotting inside the stomach of a frightened turtle.

“Don’t waste things,” reinforced Attenborough, “just don’t waste.” Paper, plastic, food, lights, space, time. It all counts, and what we waste we lose, and what we lose is gained by our planet.

Are we “doomed”?

It is difficult to remain hopeful in times of despair. Why do you think so many experience at least one existential crisis in their lifetime? With the ice caps melting and temperatures rising, it is difficult to maintain hope. It is difficult to look at what used to be paradise and is now a skeleton of its former self, spiralling into a pit of death and despair. But we have no alternative.

David Attenborough says that “if you really believe the truth in what you are saying” then all we can do is hope. We cannot think about the chances of survival, we can only hope. Hope is the only thing driving us forwards, the only thing that can instigate action, and with this action will come change.

Madeleine Raine

@RaineMadeleine

Featured image courtesy of Matthew Meijer via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.

First image featured is courtesy of Vlad Hilitanu via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.

Second image featured is courtesy of Sebastian Pena Lambarri via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.

Third image featured is courtesy of Stephen Pedersen via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.

Fourth image featured is courtesy of Naja Bertolt Jensen via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.