POET’S CORNER: In charge of our fate, we still choose to kill the Earth and ourselves
Looking at how we’re wrecking the only planet we’ve ever had, with no spare Earth waiting for us, it kind of feels like we’re the ones actually “jumping off cliffs”.
Our planet, the only one we know, is being ravaged by the very species that called it home. Sir David Attenborough's words ring true: "In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share Earth." The Earth's inhabitants, from humans to animals and plants, depend on the delicate balance of our shared home.
This fact is not lost on many poets who lament the state of our world. Jay Parini poetically describes the seasonal changes, while Joy Harjo reminds us to remember the sky and the stories of the stars. These poetic voices echo the scientific reality that the Earth is warming, and we are hurtling towards a catastrophic future. The Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming limit is a critical threshold, and soon, the Earth will pass it. The warning signs are clear – we are "jumping off cliffs" that we cannot afford to take.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
