If not you then who? If not now then when

There are many issues that we as human are now facing. Why can't we seem to tackle them?

This week, we are asked to reflect on what is in humans that prevents us from acting in our own interests against the great problems facing humanity. This is an interesting topic. an important topic. One with probably many answers and even more questions. I'm far from an expert, but I'll try to give my two cents on the subject.

Some of our current, major problems lie ahead: the COVID virus and climate change. One short term problem which bothers us every day, another one long term problem which we all do not notice in our daily life.

Is it a lack of long-term thinking?

Climate change is a problem that will affect all of us and it will have a profound effect on us. When it hits will be different for each of us. Many people have already lost their homes, property or loved ones because of this problem, while others have only seen some extreme weather patterns on TV and may have seen a few more storms than before . Some fear that their homes will eventually be underwater (me), others may fear ever-increasing temperatures, while many of us may also fear a lack of food or large amounts of climate refugees.

The thing with climate change is that it is mostly a long-term problem. Yes, it will be a huge problem that we cannot run away from, but it does not happen overnight. This, to me, has always been a reason I thought many people didn't take it seriously yet. For most, this is a problem for humanity in the (mis)distant future, while right here, right now, they might even be struggling to make ends meet. Feeding your family, paying their rent, taking care of a sick loved one.

If I'm focused on meeting my most basic needs today, I can't really think of any theoretical problem. Something like that, by the way just me.

Can't we think of the big picture?

That second part: "Something like that just me" is probably another reason why people might be reluctant to do something. The problem of climate change is so big, so enormous, so complex, where should we even begin? And what does switching to LED lights gain even in the grand scheme of things? How can all I do is make the slightest difference to a worldwide problem?

But what about them?

Which leads to a third reason why some people are reluctant to do something: It just doesn't seem fair when you look at other pollutants. Why should I make changes affecting my daily life that cost most of my savings, when they make such a small difference compared to another coal plant opening in China?

I don't want to change anything!

People are not ready to change. We are creatures of habit. If something or someone is threatening our comfortable lives, filled with comfortable habits, we become defensive. We'll try to put the blame on someone else, so we don't have to change. Change is scary. Change is difficult.

What we fail to realize is that a small change made by millions turns into a big change. What we fail to realize is that the more people set a good example, the more others will follow. We don't think about the long term. big picture. We point fingers at other countries, at big companies, failing to realize that we, as consumers, have all the power. Failed to realize? Maybe just not wanting to realize, because that would mean we need to change.

Is the long term really the issue here?

The reluctance to acknowledge and act on the problems of climate change led me to believe that we cannot think long term and this was the biggest problem. The issues of the COVID virus have changed my mind about it. This is not a long term problem. This is a problem now and a huge problem at that. One that hits us all. Health care is overwhelmed everywhere and because of that, parts of our comfortable lives have been put on lockdown, just to try to avoid the moment where health care will run out and we will see bodies pile up on the streets. We try to work together, yet there are people who refuse to take easy, readily available steps to fight this problem. People refusing to believe in science. People are refusing to take a few, simple steps for the greater good. People point fingers at everyone and everything except themselves. People hide behind harsh words when in reality they are just scared.

Selfish people.

I no longer think that long-term thinking is the biggest issue. I think selfishness is our biggest problem. Selfishness in more ways than one.

Selfishness is such that we don't want to change anything in our comfortable lives until we find a single person, company or country that doesn't do their best to change. Blame elsewhere, point the finger, so that we can stay the same.

Selfishness in such a way that we do not want to do what is good for someone else if we do not see a direct, positive effect for ourselves.

Selfishness in the way a government official would think about how their voters would view their actions, rather than just making the difficult, necessary choices in a crisis.

Selfishness in the way that a company would put the health of its consumers and our planet above the line.

Just as we hide behind traditions, our past, we do not have to face the loss to our fellow beings, sentient beings and our planet.

Mixed with a bit of ignorance

Of course not everyone is selfish. Furthermore, selfishness can come in many forms, not all equally harmful. Even a small amount of selfishness can be beneficial, just as you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But a very large number of people are selfish in such a harmful way that is things to society, to complicate things, to divide us. Seeking freedom without accepting the consequences. Asking for help without giving anything in return.

Which leads me to simpler, more ignorant people. Those who are unable to think big picture can think for the long term. People who are not able to judge the validity of the information they read. People who have fallen into the wrong social media trap of miss-information and don't understand enough to get out of it or even see it for what it is.

Those who simply fall over are selfish, malicious, praying for the high minority. Unknowingly there is a growing category of people who keep us down.

It's not their fault. Not everyone is created equal. But where is the silent majority to try and keep them safe? To get them back on the right track? To protect them from misinformation? To defend them against a selfish minority? To take them to our side?

Or maybe we are all too selfish, too ignorant, too busy with unnecessary distractions that we don't even care? Does anyone even want to protect humanity? Or do we all just want to live our lives and be the generations to come?

If not you, we will not, if not now, how long will we be able to last?

Simply put, I think humans are too flawed to either think ahead, or place the need of the many above the need of the self. Whether that last part is good or bad is up for debate, but I think this is why humanity will eventually die on its own.

Tell us how you feel, foodie!

Sure! I'm glad I don't have kids. I've already wiped out humanity and even though I'm still eco-minded (I just love nature), I don't feel the urge to save my flawed race. I would instead focus on saving innocent animals while we are still barbaric enough to continue abusing them (yeah, I'm looking at you).

I care about nature and the sooner humanity fails, the sooner our earth can recover. I care about animals and the sooner humanity fails, the sooner we stop abusing and killing billions of people (for no good reason. None.).

I know we will take a lot of nature and animals with us in our fall and I mostly feel sad about it.