Idk

It is the early hours of October the 15th, 2023, and a few things are happening around the globe. Australia has just voted against a Constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, and the recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution. The New Zealand people have just elected a conservative national party. A ground assault has been launched by Israeli forces on the people of Gaza, with the aim of “eradicating” Hamas. The Israeli prime minister has issued a vague warning that more is to come. Russia and Ukraine remain at war. Republicans in America campaign on a combined platform of bigotry and climate-denialism. Rishi Sunak pledges to ban trans people from existing throughout the UK.

Whilst this is happening, a baby looks into its mother’s eyes for the first time, and knows peace, before a wail reaches its lips. A pet is curled in the lap of its best friend, knowing that no harm can befall either so long as the other stays true. A knowledge, forever known, but never written down, survives again, in the form of a story told from loved one to loved one. In a brief act of kindness, a soldier will look the other way, as a family scurries by. A lotto card will be drawn with the winning numbers emblazoned on the front. A family will be lifted out of poverty. A child will hold its parents’ hands as it goes to school with books and pens and warm clothes and a full stomach. An animal will look into the eyes of human, and see nothing but kindness. But none of this will mater.

There is nothing good in this world can do against the reckless hate, greed, and apathy, embodied by any of these acts alone. Humanity is sick. We know the cure. But we will not take the medicine.

The planet is heating at unprecedented rates. Climates are changing. Entire ecosystems are destroyed overnight. Entire continents are sinking into the ocean. Entire communities are ravaged by the words of a select few. Entire knowledges disappear, as their last custodians pass or are forced to assimilate. An entire generation will have to decide whether to face eradication alone, or welcome a new generation to bear it with them.

This is the reality of the world. An animal will not understand why the ground that should be solid is now water. An animal will not understand why they are waking so much earlier, and why their stomach feels so much emptier. An animal will not understand why its home has been destroyed. Why its child has died. Why it can’t find food. Why it can’t find water. Why it can’t breathe. An animal will not understand why its companion has abandoned it, hugged it a little tighter, cried on its soft fur, or – unable to bear it – chosen to end its life.

This is the reality of the world.

This is the reality of the world. More and more, young people make the decision that death is better than another day of life. More and more, young people look in the mirror, take a deep breath, smile, and force one more day. More and more, young people abandon pursuits of passion, of knowledge, of excellence, of pride, of love, of joy. More and more, young people are trapped. Each generation born must face the reality that they may be the last.

No generation has had to face the absolute certainty that, in their lifetime, the planet will die.

No generation has had to face the absolute certainty that, in their lifetime, the animals will die.

No generation has had to face the absolute certainty that, in their lifetime, the cultures of the world will die.

No generation has had to face the absolute certainty that, in their lifetime, they will die. And when they die.

No generation will have known, with absolute certainty, that there will be no next generation.

No generation will understand better that, at the end, it meant nothing at all.

This is the reality of the world.

This is the reality of the world. My son will never hold his partners hand in love. My daughter will never make her breakthrough. My child will never graduate university, not high school. My daughter will not make the school team. My son will never play an instrument. My child will not exist. I will not let them be born.