It is a normal expectation from humans that their behaviour and actions will be driven by actual needs. Any persistent divergence must be perceived as irrational behavior. This would be truer still in the context of any person or group of persons confronted with life-threatening problems. They face stark choices. Any divergence from what needs to be done in their case would be characterized as not just irrational behavior, but more appropriately as suicidal behavior.
The story of recent times is that our world has been moving towards suicidal behaviour. Year after year, decade after decade in recent times, human actions and priorities have diverged widely from what needs to be done to resolve the survival and existential crisis which threatens humanity and all other forms of life on our planet due to human-made factors. This crisis has arisen due to a combination of factors of which the two most important and obvious ones may be highlighted here.
Firstly, about a dozen serious and inter-related environmental problems have combined to threaten the basic lifenurturing conditions of our planet. Most of these problems have been worsening despite the fact these often tend to be associated with tipping points beyond which they can spiral out of control. Secondly, highly destructive weapons have been accumulating with the capacity to destroy our (once) beautiful but fragile and vulnerable world many times over. AI weapons have added to serious concerns. Serious risks are also posed by possibilities of space wars.
Some countries with huge stocks of destructive weapons are known for their high levels of hostility against each other. Some of these hostilities have been increasing while safeguards in terms of arms-control treaties have been decreasing. Experts have pointed to the very serious risks related to even accidental use of such weapons, accidents related to them, or misunderstandings in times of brinkmanship. At the same time, research on even more dangerous weapons is continuing. Accidents associated with such research can also prove extremely destructive, as some warnings and reports have already stated.
If actual deed is to match real need, humanity and its leaders would leave aside everything else to devote themselves to significantly reducing and finally eliminating such serious threats. However, the reality is that despite adequate realization, humanity and its leaders have been deeply involved in a much narrower framework of planning and actions that increase, and not decrease, the vast gulf between need and deed. This is suicidal. What humanity truly needs today is a world without wars but instead we have endless wars and the number of conflicts is increasing to record levels.
For anyone willing to see reason and who values the safety of present and future generations, new paradigms based on peace and protection of the environment, within a framework of justice and democracy, are needed by humanity today. Our children and grandchildren, growing up in a much more dangerous and highrisk world, will not forgive us if we fail in our most basic duties for safety and protection.
A big question is whether at least some of those in leadership roles can provide guidance for a programme of actions that can be called a significant and credible response to the real needs today of humanity (and other forms of life). How humanity and its leaders respond to this question will make the difference between creating a safe future for our children and leaving behind a legacy of unacceptably high risks. Those who lead the world and those who shape public opinion and discourse have a life-saving responsibility on their shoulders.
A significant beginning can be made by declaring the decade of 2026-36 as the Decade for Saving Earth, with overarching protective policies receiving the highest priority. This decade should also see the biggest ever mobilization of all forces of peace and protection of the environment, working within a framework of justice and democracy, as well as growing unity among them. A special effort should be made to involve youth and women, and their organizations in this effort. Schools and colleges must see a range of very creative and beautiful activities linked to peace and protection of the environment. Secular as well as spiritual organizations must be involved and encouraged to work together for the cause of peace, disarmament and protection of the environment.
(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Saving Earth for Children and A Day in 2071)