Climate Anxiety
by Ruth Rosenhek, 15-May-2008

The news is alarming and constant. Every day, we hear about glaciers melting, massive cyclonic events, earthquakes and rising temperatures.

The growth of greenhouse gas emissions shows no signs of abating and Australia is exasperatingly slow off the mark to develop and implement far reaching low emission technologies.

While some remain numb to this news – “not my problem.” – for many there is a growing awareness about the gross discrepancy between our current lifestyles and the sustainable communities of the future.

Those with their eyes and ears open may feel anxious about what’s in store for us in the coming years. We may fear for future generations, what sort of life will be in store for our children.

Grant Blashki, senior research fellow in the University of Melbourne's Primary Care Research Unit, has warned that global warming is making many people anxious and that the dangers of climate change add to the burdens already felt by many people and distressed farmers.
These anxious feelings -- as well as despair, sadness and fear -- can be paralysing. However, rather than pushing the feelings aside, they can be invited to be a part of and to inspire action.

In Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age, deep ecologist Joanna Macy explains the taboo that exists in most modern day society against feelings of anger, grief, fear and despair, especially when these feelings are about what is happening on a global scale, both socially and ecologically. The so called ‘negative feelings’ – fear of nuclear war, grief over the extinction of species, rage at a government that wages war on innocent people -- are not socially acceptable.

If we express these darker feelings at a social gathering, our friends might offer us a quick fix drink, a pat on the back or a referral to a costly therapist. It is no wonder that so many find themselves on the latest anti-depressants beholden to the pharmaceutical trade for a solution to feelings that have been treated as if they are the problem when actually the problem is that we are trashing the very planet we live on and depend on.

Joanna Macy explains that in fact feelings of fear, anger and grief are the valid and healthy reactions to the times that we live in. Much as a mother becomes distressed if her child is unwell, it is natural to have strong reactions when our own lives are at stake. In fact, without these alarming feelings, our fundamental instinct to survive can be repressed as well. And without this instinct being kindled, we are unlikely to make the creative and intelligent choices that need to be made now for a sustainable future.

It was not through cognitive thinking that each of our ancestors survived; it was not with strategic planning and flow charts that our foremothers and forefathers successfully and continuously passed on the flame of life until it reaches us here today -- where we must cradle it with great care.

Feelings embody a large part of our intelligence. Repressed, we are zapped of vital energy and unable to engage. Affirmed, given some room to be expressed and witnessed, these very same feelings can bring forth intelligence, creative and clear thinking.

If we allow ourselves to feel our despair and to express it to each other, we will find that we feel newly inspired with fresh visions.

And indeed, we do have the means to make large shifts as communities and as a civilisation. Some examples are the building of amphibious vehicles within 90 days from the time the US entered the second world war; the concerted effort towards population decline worldwide; and Gandhi’s inspiring Salt March in 1930 which inspired Indians to stand up for their independence.

The challenge is to hold this potential, this seed of possibility alongside the possibility that even if we do our best, we have already set into motion trends that will have devastating effects across the planet.

Climate Change draws us back to the Earth. There’s no looking away. The survival of our children and their children and generations henceforth is at stake. Like children who take in a deep breath, make a wish and then blow out all the candles, let us inhale deeply, put forth our intentions to live harmoniously on this planet and then let us make the necessary steps towards a future that future generations will be proud to inherit.

“...all in all I'd say this year in flight together has been fun.
What say we make one more circle around the sun.”
(Peter Mayer, One More Circle)