Our Last Shot: Failed
For a moment in time, it felt like we had a chance
This should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention over the past couple years. My faint flicker of hope was extinguished long ago. However, I wrote this today because I've recently observed an "environmental ally" join the dark side.
Early in the Covid-19 pandemic when everything stopped we had a moment to reflect.
Sensitive to our vulnerabilities, there was a new openness to create a better, different world. We discovered how productive we could be working from home. We huddled with those that matter most. And there was a renewed resolve to make the world a better place. (This was before the conspiracy theories.)
Corporations vowed to do better, and among promises of a more just society were commitments to drastically cut carbon emissions.
It turns out we were - once again - manipulated. Remember the emotional TV ads?
Put aside feasibility and impact - for a moment in time, it felt like we had a chance to change. As it turns out, companies and governments created comforting messaging to exploit society's fear and desperation.
Why was I so stupid to think anything would change? Perhaps because the growth of ESG products jumped, new roles and teams were created within companies to serve social and environmental causes, and governments committed to ambitious environmental targets. Right or wrong, things were happening.
Throughout my life, any time I've put my cynicism on pause I've been disappointed. I was not alone. Many believed the pandemic humbled civilization into submission, and we would finally get our act together.
Over time, the pandemic faded from view
Stores reopened, revenues recovered and business as usual resumed. Eventually, workers were called back into the office as executives failed to reimagine a better way of working and governments bent over for commercial real estate companies.
The surge in corporate environmentalism dissolved as attention turned back to what really mattered to executives - money and power. Not that executives are solely to blame. We all looked the other way as life resumed. Turns out we're all addicted to the same things.
Roles originally dedicated to ESG were diluted into risk management positions, with any possible positive impact taking a back seat. ESG roles were never about change - they existed to protect companies.
While some had good intentions, the rising tide of environmentalism during the pandemic was nothing but a publicity stunt.
Today, most of the progress and commitments made during the pandemic have been abandoned. This is true for governments, corporations, institutional investors and even individuals.
Many of my friends who developed an interest in ESG issues during the pandemic are once again full-frontal capitalist boot lockers, although they'd try to convince you otherwise. They're back to their normal ways. Rabid consumerism and overseas vacations.
Corporations and governments have walked back their pledges. Institutional investors have cozied up with the enemy instead of forcing them to change.
Still, some are still trying to hold institutions to account. The following was a full page ad taken out in the Globe and Mail:
If we were to ever have a shot at changing the world, that was it. Come and gone in a flash, suppressed by addictions that we never overcame.
You already know this.
Maybe it was naïve of me to have an ounce of hope that the pandemic would be a catalyst for change. I'm a cynic and realist, but this time I thought "just maybe".
Once again, the world disappoints. People disappoint.
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Thanks,
Sarah
I feel the same. It was the window where it was possible. Australia had just been on fire. Canada followed. It felt like the pandemic could be an opportunity. And then ... it wasn't.
COVID accomplished exactly what it was supposed to do.
Fauci who created it, was put in charge of controlling it. The reason for the research was never given other than "gain of function" whatever that means. It was conducted in a laboratory in China our adversary which gave plausible deniability for the release. It was mismanaged from the start. Vaccines were manufactured without any testing protocols whatsoever and mandated for all using an untested novel method due to the emergency situation. Fauci who instigated the world pandemic is considered a hero for killing millions and was not even investigated. Rather bizarre in my opinion.
If you consider COVID to be a bioweapon test it becomes less bizarre and more realistic.
It also -
Put millions out of work.
Extended home mortgages.
Isolated people unnecessarily.
Gained further control over the population by restricting travel by vaccination status.
Had a devastating effect on the economy.
Enriched the pharma companies tremendously.
Gathered realtime physical data for the military in a world wide scenario.
It increased the surveillance society capacity and capabilities.
Increased poverty and homelessness.
Increased anxiety and depression.
Increased the national debt.
I'm sure you can add to the list.
It was another 9-11 and 2008 financial "collapse" rolled into one.
Of course it's silly to think any of this is possible let alone real. Our government is here to protect and serve us. It must be so. That's what they keep telling us.
Don't feel bad Sarah. We lost our chances 40 or so years ago. The problem is over population. I expect another "pandemic" in the near future.
Being a realist these days automatically makes one cynical.