The Glass Is Empty
Back in my college days, I was a glass-half-full guy. I believed anything was possible, given enough time and ingenuity—both of which I believed humankind had in abundance. Silly me.
Gradually over the years, that half-full glass has become half-empty. I was not seeing what I'd imagined I would: humans busily following the Gene Roddenberry dream. It's not that I lost all hope, but it was sure fading fast.
Now? All hope is gone. The numbers are not indicating any chance of fixing the shit we've gotten ourselves into; indeed, they're pointing in the opposite direction.
2023 was not off to a good start, especially after a report published about the world's glaciers. You see, it turns out these massive rivers of ice serve as excellent visual thermometers with which to measure global warming, and the latest reports show glacial melting rates are exceeding virtually every expectation. In other words, things are way worse than anyone had predicted. Now environmental scientists will require new models to account for the accelerated melting rates.
How is this metric possible? New satellites have been launched that measure glaciers with extraordinary precision. Early results have shown that, even if we successfully adopted the most aggressive emissions standards right now, worldwide, we cannot avoid the strong possibility that over half of our glaciers will completely disappear by 2100.
That's not the worst of it; the consequence of losing all of that ice is rising sea levels. Right now, new models suggest that the rise in the next century could be as much as half a foot or more. Doesn't sound like much? Just ask any of the millions of coastal dwellers just how catastrophic that much rise can be.
An equally catastrophic effect is the loss of a tremendous amount of freshwater. We're already critically low on that shrinking vital resource, despite living on a planet that's two-thirds water. Yes, it's true: water, water, everywhere, and far fewer drops to drink every day. Look at our southwestern rivers: they're at historic lows and continuing to shrink, with no signs of a turnaround.
But hey, it's unlikely anyone reading this will live to see the worst of it, and for the vast majority of people, if they don't see something, it's not real. However, given humanity's track record, especially with respect to breaking records, we will almost certainly continue to surpass expectations... in ways that are definitely not good.
Greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing; people are still pounding out more babies per hour than ever before; waste is still accumulating at a monumental rate; the loss of rainforest is measured in acres per minute. It's an absolutely indisputable fact that the Earth is heating up, the ice is melting, and the oceans are rising. And yet, the stupidest people on the planet continue to hold sway over everyone else. What the actual fuck?
This is our frightening reality. Way to go, humanity. Way to prove your incompetence, indifference, maliciousness, and all around unworthiness to exist on this or any other habitable planet. Listen, people, this is the only home you'll ever have. And you're shitting all over it. And just to add the biggest insult to the gravest injury, you're showing exactly no sign of stopping, even in the face of the worst possible news.
Even environmentalists are not without guilt. They publish a few articles. Put up a few posters. Stage a few marches. And go home thinking they've done their job. No! They should have been (emphasis on past tense) literally crushing the balls of anyone who refused to listen—big corporations, corrupt governments, and especially fucking deniers. And if that sounds too violent, just wait until what happens when the end of days approaches. Also, watch carefully as the deniers blame everyone else.
Bottom line, it's too late. It's too late to save the planet. And it is sure as fuck not worth trying to save humanity. So, you may as well just keep doing what you're all doing (or not doing) now, because it no longer matters what anyone does. Case in point, I have no illusions that my rants could possibly serve to change anything; they're merely a way for me to vent about the most vile, evil things ever to exist in the known universe: humans. I deeply regret having to admit I'm one of them.
Half full? Nope. Half empty? Nope. The glass is fucking totally empty. And there's no time left to try and refill it; you denying morons are breaking the glass and slitting your own throats on the pieces. My predicted fatal heart attack can't come soon enough.