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Metaphor of our Times

20/8/2019

 
Issue 4, Semester 2, 2019

ALEXANDER BUCK
​
While our roofs are on fire,
and Siberia is burnt down;
While our basements are flooding
and the ice caps melt down,
'
We numb ourselves on the couch,
Naively being brainwashed,
Only interested in GoT, or AFL.
As firefighters are ‘discussing’,
No one is spared.
And God is dead. 

Picture
Image credit: Washington Post https://wapo.st/2KYSzGM
Climate damage is real. As real as the risk of an aeroplane not reaching its destination if 99% of aerospace engineers agree that it has a critical defect; as real as markets collapsing when 99% of stocks lose all their value.

If it is an aerospace engineer warning you, you won’t take that plane. If it is economists warning you, you will take your savings out of the bank before they disappear into the aether.

On the other hand, if it is only 99% of environmental and climate scientists agreeing, then ‘nah, it’s just a puff made by those “greenies”, sponsored by Al Gore, to enrich themselves,’ not considering the fact that scientists constitute one of the lowest paid professions, who just do their job following a passion, in the pursuit of truth, while following a rigorous method of investigation.

One million species are threatened by extinction, and ours is the million-and-oneth — because we are not above nature, we are part of it. Our evolution into Homo deus is yet to come.

To quote António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, ‘no one, in any country, can avoid the impacts of climate change... Each and every one of us has a responsibility — and an opportunity — to step up and take climate action, starting today, wherever you are.’

You – you! Law student – cannot look the other way.

Climate litigation is sparking all around the world — to date, over one thousand climate change claims have been logged according to the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. Per Professor Jacqueline Peel, as a result of climate litigation 2.0, ‘it’s clear that the business community and those who advise the business community, such as commercial lawyers, are beginning to take climate change litigation more seriously.’

Also, don’t forget that every time you use a single-use coffee cup a fish dies (and I have a heart attack) — get yourself a bloody mug to keep at uni!

Every time you use a plastic bag, a dolphin gets entangled in it — get yourself a goddamn reusable bag! Or, even better, grab a box from the store and use that as your container — it works wonderfully. Then you can simply bin it (in the recycling). Et voilà.

Whenever you eat a beef burger, it’s like having nine baths, driving your car twenty-five kilometres and eating seven kilograms of soy. Did you know that the world’s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people — more than the current global human population? (
The Global Benefits of Eating Less Meat, Mark Gold and Jonathon Porritt)

Just please be considerate about our tomorrow as well. Let’s do our best to preserve Nature’s beauty.

More to come.

Alexander is a First Year JD Student.
Lily
20/8/2019 10:48:50 pm

I love the intention behind this article but can’t help but be cynical- “Alexander is a First Year JD Student.“
I hope Alexander holds onto the faith when the option of clerkships with Allens, Ashurst, MinterEllison, and Baker McKenzie comes a knockin.

Nietzsche_69
21/8/2019 01:20:02 pm

climate change killed epstein

Walls
21/8/2019 01:23:39 pm

TLDR: man yells at group of people who agree with him

still can't think of a funny name
21/8/2019 01:38:02 pm

you expressed it better than me

can't think of a funny name
21/8/2019 01:30:32 pm

Appreciate the passion as always! I don't think many people reading this article would be climate change-deniers (at least I sincerely hope not). The issue is more entrenched than simply that people blindly prefer to care about GoT or AFL (or even, God forbid, other equally important social issues such as immigration or homelessness). Modern society is generally alienated from nature and studies on temporal discounting show that it is difficult for humans to value long-term benefits as much as short-term. No one likes to feel that they are being patronised and there are more inclusive ways to get people re-thinking decisions and changing habits than screaming HEY YOU, STUPID LAW STUDENT WHO CARES MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN ENDANGERED MARSUPIALS. I would go so far as to say everyone cares about the environment but it's hard not to feel apathetic and powerless when your country votes in the Liberals, and you feel that one disposable coffee cup pales in comparison to the Adani Coal Mine. Anyway essay over thanks for reading lol

Roger
22/8/2019 01:47:48 pm

Thanks Alex, very informative article :)

What is your plan to solve climate change?


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