By Stephen Le Quesne
HOW do you write an opinion piece when you have no opinion on your mind? This is what I have been grappling with for the past few weeks, so much so that I put a social-media call out for ideas and thoughts (for which I am very grateful for the replies).
I think I may just be mentally exhausted. We are bombarded with so much news and information and it is hard to take and absorb when much of the information sets light to what you believe in and strive for.
Let’s begin with the biggest global news story. Donald Trump’s re-election as president has wide-ranging negative consequences and ramifications, especially for the natural world, but also for inclusivity, equality, acceptance of others and women’s rights. What I am struggling to grapple with is how his blatant lies reel people in. The majority of what he says is complete and utter… rubbish.
I may dedicate an entire column on Trump in the future, but I am not as devastated about his re-election as I was when he first came to power. Why? It’s because this time it was no real surprise. He won and he won convincingly, winning all the so-called swing states as well as the “popular vote”. This was the first time a Republican has won the popular vote since George W Bush in 2000. I am still processing his win, and the why, and I need more time to read and do the research to be able to properly delve into this.
It now seems obvious that his messaging and focus on the economy and immigration was a vote winner. The Democrats were also all over the place and the fact that Donald Trump has shown countless times his characteristics of sexism, misogyny and racism, as well as being a convicted felon (with 34 counts). We also must not forget that he has joked about sexually assaulting women. But these traits did not matter enough for people to not vote for him. “Enough” being the key word here.
However, voting in the US was not as black and white as it seemed, as at the state level some voters voted for more liberal candidates, such as left-wing senators, and yet on a national level voted for Trump. Also, during election day some American states enshrined abortion rights into their constitution. In fact, seven out of ten states voted to protect this essential right when it was put to ballot during the US presidential election. There are small positive lights amid the darkness.
I do not know how else to say this, but the climate is unravelling as we speak. I have held back a little when talking about climate change, climate breakdown and the consequences we will need to face in the future. When I think about why I have gone around the edges it is because I do not want to scare people, be too negative or demoralise anyone who is reading this.
The news is not positive. Current policies put the temperature rise on track for 2.7°C, whereas world leaders have promised 1.5°C. “Minimal progress” is being made, according to the Climate Tracker project. The Cop29 summit is currently under way in Azerbaijan, but progress is slow. Oil companies such as Shell are going back on their “green” pledges at the same time as floods devastate Spain and drought consumes Southern Africa. Southern Africa is in its worst drought in at least a century. Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have declared national disasters.
Humanity has shown it can and will come together in moments of great need, to put the lives of others before our own, but safeguarding the planet and its intricate systems seem to have no sway when it comes up against the accumulation of money and wealth. How ridiculous is that last sentence? We really should all be peacefully protesting at the doors of all the oil companies and big polluters. They are sacrificing our future for profit.
Finally, I did receive my voting form in the post this week and I did look at it in puzzlement for a good minute or so. This is the most uninterested I have been when being asked to register to vote. I do not see current government focusing on any of the priorities that I care about. Honestly, I do not know what this present government is trying to do or what its aims are. I was incredibly excited about who we originally elected, but this is not the government I voted for, which is probably why I am less engaged.
What I am realising is that the big issues that need to be addressed are perhaps too big for governments alone and are also changing too quickly for democracy to adapt to. Perhaps we need a new type of democracy? Citizen assemblies maybe?
Moving forward. I am tempted to throw my opinion piece out to you, the JEP reader. What would you like me to explore and have an opinion on? What interests you and what do you feel is often ignored? Let me know via email – stephen@wildernessschooljsy.com – and I will see what I can do.
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Stephen Le Quesne is a naturalist, conservationist, forest school leader and nature connection advocate.
