There are only a few swigs of June remaining but the dregs of it- taste brackish. Things feel like they are ending rather than a new season about to begin. Summer once promised respite and renewal with the chance to enjoy spare idle moments. Not anymore because too many, too often and too terrible are all the crises we've met since the before times stopped in 2019. Personal, political or existential they overwhelmed us bit by bit.
I agree with your analysis and as a one-time journalist who covered environmental issues: "Predictably, television news during this extreme heat event has lots of B roll of people in public pools and splash pads as if this was a heatwave in the 1970s rather than a catastrophic weather event brought upon by unregulated industrialisation that only profited the few. Too many boomers, despite all facts to the contrary, still say "It was ever thus, hot summers and cold winters.""
By coincidence, The Guardian today had an excellent book review you might want to check out: "‘What if there just is no solution?’ How we are all in denial about the climate crisis"...
"...One impetus for writing Future of Denial, he says, was watching the UK Labour party’s 2019 manifesto and US Democrat Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign proposals “get rejected largely by people who probably thought of themselves as science believers even though both of them were proposing the most ambitious climate plans” these countries had ever seen. This frustration shapes the book, which includes a chapter called What Does the Liberal Want?, that is sharply critical of liberalism and ends with the damning line: ”They have no plan … nothing is fine.”"
My death day will be next Wednesday June 26th. I live in HUD supported housing. Meaning the government pays for it. Nowadays, that means about $1000.00 usd for one bedroom. The VOA (Volunteers of America) also promised to pay my electricity bills through another agency, Brazos Valley (about $175.00 but that's another matter). Now BV, as of March 31st has lost funding. I'm two months behind and can't pay. I spent the last of my money at the grocery not knowing my power would be cut.
I'm like you John. I suffer from congestive heart failure, which limits my life to another three years max, arithymia (irregular heart rate) neuropathy and on.
I can't live without the air conditioning provided by my central a/c unit. I just won't sweat, I'll die. My power companies response to my plea..."Oh well." In addition to that, without electricity, my landlord has the right to eviction. So yeah, I know where you are coming from. The Republicans have killed me.
I agree with your analysis and as a one-time journalist who covered environmental issues: "Predictably, television news during this extreme heat event has lots of B roll of people in public pools and splash pads as if this was a heatwave in the 1970s rather than a catastrophic weather event brought upon by unregulated industrialisation that only profited the few. Too many boomers, despite all facts to the contrary, still say "It was ever thus, hot summers and cold winters.""
By coincidence, The Guardian today had an excellent book review you might want to check out: "‘What if there just is no solution?’ How we are all in denial about the climate crisis"...
"...One impetus for writing Future of Denial, he says, was watching the UK Labour party’s 2019 manifesto and US Democrat Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign proposals “get rejected largely by people who probably thought of themselves as science believers even though both of them were proposing the most ambitious climate plans” these countries had ever seen. This frustration shapes the book, which includes a chapter called What Does the Liberal Want?, that is sharply critical of liberalism and ends with the damning line: ”They have no plan … nothing is fine.”"
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/20/what-if-there-just-is-no-solution-how-we-are-all-in-denial-about-the-climate-crisis
I just ordered a copy from my local bookseller.
Cheers and I will check it out
My death day will be next Wednesday June 26th. I live in HUD supported housing. Meaning the government pays for it. Nowadays, that means about $1000.00 usd for one bedroom. The VOA (Volunteers of America) also promised to pay my electricity bills through another agency, Brazos Valley (about $175.00 but that's another matter). Now BV, as of March 31st has lost funding. I'm two months behind and can't pay. I spent the last of my money at the grocery not knowing my power would be cut.
I'm like you John. I suffer from congestive heart failure, which limits my life to another three years max, arithymia (irregular heart rate) neuropathy and on.
I can't live without the air conditioning provided by my central a/c unit. I just won't sweat, I'll die. My power companies response to my plea..."Oh well." In addition to that, without electricity, my landlord has the right to eviction. So yeah, I know where you are coming from. The Republicans have killed me.
I enjoyed reading your posts. Thank you.
I don't know what to say but solidarity. Take care, John