Paradoxii

I no longer need scientists to tell me the climate is changing - I can see it for myself.

The roads near me are flooded - again. I’ve been on the planet for almost 50 years, and while I know my memory can play tricks on me, I’m pretty sure the roads never used to flood this often. And last weekend, I was down to a t-shirt when I walked my dog … in February, in the UK.

There’s a whole bunch of paradox in that last paragraph, of course. I’m talking about experiencing the roads flooding - from inside an EV. I’m talking about the heat in February - while walking my dog [she’s great, but also very definitely a ‘luxury item’].

It also speaks to the systems involved … the flooded road is a combination of the climate, under-investment in infrastructure, large corporations not being held accountable … and the individualism of me driving alone in a car to run an errand or two …

I’m not sure that ‘guilt’ is the right response here, as I don’t really have much choice about the system I am currently in. I could choose to step outside of it, and retire to an off-grid cabin in the hills somewhere … while that is sometimes appealing, it’s also a clear sign of my privilege [and doesn’t really help much].

But I do feel responsibility. And so, the way forward - for me - is to acknowledge and embrace the paradox - the multiple paradoxes [paradoxii?!].

And while I do that, I continue to look for other people who want to think about how we might do things differently.

Feel free to get in touch if that sounds like you.