Canada Is Burning
(photo by Sippacorn on Pixababy)
This has been the worst summer on record for forest fires in Canada. As of this date, there are 380 active fires burning in British Columbia and over 100 in all of Canada. In Yellowknife NWT, we have just now witnessed the evacuation of the entire capital city of a province. The total area burned in Canada is now approximately fourteen million hectares. For my American readers, that’s thirty-four million acres. It’s difficult to wrap my head around the magnitude of such numbers. (online source: Canadian Interagency Forest Fires Centre Aug.17,2023)
None of these numbers really hit home until we see the emotional images of people and animals being displaced. Much like the recent devastation in Maui, we are shocked and feel helpless from afar, if we are lucky enough to live in an area which is currently safe. Many of us will seek out ways to donate food, clothing, or a few dollars to the rescue relief in order to feel like we are at least doing something to help.
Personally, the current situation brings to mind all sorts of dystopian writing about end of days, as I wonder if life on this planet is sustainable. Certainly, anyone who doubted global warming is real can no longer cling to this viewpoint. My own daughter is now of childbearing age, and I admit that I have expressed my own wish for a grandchild, but am now reconsidering. What will my grandchild’s life be like from a climate-change perspective? Is it even fair to bring a child into this world right now?
I try to stay positive by looking at scientific innovations, such as electric cars, clean energy home heating alternatives, and farmland conservation efforts to solve our global problems. I see my own children living in tiny urban homes, using public transportation, and learning to live with a smaller carbon footprint. They have all grown up with a reduce, re-use, recycle attitude. Many are buying local and growing their own food in community garden plots. But will this be enough?
How do you try to stay positive in trying times? Please subscribe/ share your ideas below.
