The other day in between a usual conversation about climate change, I happened to get this comment  ‘you must love this planet so much’ and I didn’t know how to take it, is this funny or scary or wait should I just leave it as mere stupidity because how do I even start to state the very obvious fact that this planet is our home and being concerned about it is not another passion or just a matter of interest.  

Very often I come across people who are well aware of all the issues related to climate change and its adversities but yet turn a blind eye towards it. Which means lack of awareness is not always the villain but rather inaction is or further more inability to actually understand the problem .

Again, it is easy to be overwhelmed by everything happening around us, it is easy to feel that our actions are insignificant. And sometimes not paying attention to it or just ignoring the whole situation might seem a better option. Trust me when I say this because I have spent many sleepless nights thinking over and over why I’m not doing anything to save my dying planet? Where do I even start ?.

But I know one thing for sure, shying away from these problems is not going to do any good. 

To my carefree friend reading this, to that uncle who isn’t even ready to accept that it’s his concern too , to everyone who somehow believe climate change is not gonna affect us because we are in ‘gods own country’ and there’s plenty of greenery around us (especially to my fellow residents of Kerala) . Let this be an eye opener. 

In this very ‘Gods own country’ that we take pride to be a part of, floods and landslides have become an annual affair. Each year I see people holding onto slogans like ‘This too shall pass ‘ ‘we shall overcome this’ , yes all that’s nice and good but what we are failing to acknowledge is the bigger picture.

We cannot go on doing this, just falling in and out from one calamity to another, spending the rest of the year trying to fix the damages it left behind. Overcoming is not enough. Understanding the root cause and finding solutions is what we need! 

Let the numbers speak

If you still think I’m bluffing , let’s just take the example of 2018 Kerala floods ; Property damage – ₹ 400 billion , death toll : 683. And remember this was not just one time it’s happening again and again. Many Climate experts and Researchers have come up with scientific reasons explaining the circumstances which led to these floods and it’s very evident how climate change is one of the main triggers. 

I’m not trying to scare you off by lecturing about the miserable condition our state / country/ planet is in nor am I trying to blame our government’s inefficiency in dealing the same ( which are inarguably true) , for that’s not my intention here.

If you are someone who has thought about this or hasn’t yet if you are someone who knows enough or yet to learn more. Whoever you are, I just want you to know that our opinions matter, our actions matter. Because we still stand a chance and together we stand stronger.

You are just on time !

And this is just the perfect time to show your support. Well, what’s more cooler than a bunch of people from all over the world uniting for a cause despite all the differences. On September 25th, 2020, thousands of climate strikes will take place across the globe to demand urgent action to tackle the climate crisis. 

So come let’s fall in love with this planet again.

(The views expressed in the article are the author’s own. Let Me Breathe neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)