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Even if the future looks dark, “hopeless optimism” is [.txt]

Translated from Korean Read in Korean

As summer passed, more people began to feel the impact of the "climate disaster" term rather than "climate crisis." Heatwaves approaching 40 degrees Celsius resulted in increased mortality rates, and stress from the heat led to heightened aggression among individuals. Concern about the future intensified as well. People find themselves helpless as they question what they can do and whether there is a future for humanity in a world that is getting hotter.

Dutch author Tommy Vingh, who wrote the book "Hopeless Optimism," also acknowledged in his latest work "Hopeless Optimism" that he never considered the concept of hope. After reading hundreds of climate analyses and the extensive scientific documents in the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report on climate change, he stated that the concept of hope did not come to his mind.

Despite being a thin book, it critically examines humanity's impact on the environment, from individuals who have fueled the greenhouse effect through technology, to tech elites who have turned societies into ruins, to those who ignore inconvenient truths and cling to comfortable illusions, and to those who seize power based on fossil fuels and ignite wars.

The climate crisis is shown to be more than just a temperature issue, but intertwined with the technological, capitalistic, and power systems that humanity has created. Vingh encourages not to deceive oneself with hope or despair, but to remind us that whatever we can do for the environment, even if immediate rewards are not visible, we must take immediate action.

Instead, he urges us to "hope by acting," encouraging actions such as planting trees and disconnecting from harmful technology systems. He argues that even small, specific actions can build immunity against disappointment and serve as a driving force to overturn this destructive system.

Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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