Living on the Edge

The Human Psyche and the Precipice of Environmental Catastrophe

Feb 26, 2024

This image was created using OpenAI’s DALL-E, based on a prompt designed by Alejandro Betancourt.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” — Robert Swan

Imagine you’re watching a movie, “The Abyss,” where this town in Sweden sits on top of a mine that’s about to collapse. Pretty intense, right?

Everyone in the town knows this disaster is waiting to happen, but life continues. People go to work, kids play in the streets, and families have dinner as if tomorrow’s a guarantee. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck and wondering, “Why isn’t anyone moving out of the way?”

Let’s switch scenes to something closer to home — Mexico City. This bustling metropolis, home to millions, is staring down the barrel of a water crisis. Experts are sounding the alarm bells, saying the city’s water supply is running on fumes, with maybe 140 days left before taps run dry. You’d think this would be enough for people to act, right? Emergency meetings, plans being rolled out, people in a bit of a panic? Nope. Life in Mexico City is rolling along business as usual. Parties are happening, markets are bustling, and it’s business as usual. It’s as if the whole city’s decided to hope for the best, or even weirder, some people don’t think it’s a real problem.

So, here’s the million-dollar question: Why do we, as people or societies, tend to freeze up when faced with a massive problem? Is it because we’re wired to hope for the best, or is it something else? Is it easier to pretend everything’s OK rather than confront the issue head-on?

“The Abyss” and Mexico City’s water crisis are two sides of the same coin, showing us this human tendency to carry on, even when danger is knocking at our door.

We’re all characters in our movie, ignoring the ominous music that signals something bad’s about to happen. But unlike a film, we can’t wait for the hero to save the day. So, what gives? Why do we keep dancing on the edge of a cliff, hoping we won’t fall off?

Let’s dive into this more and figure out how to start turning the music off and dealing with our problems before they deal with us.

The Psychology of Denial and Inertia

Let’s dive into the mind games we play when disaster looms on the horizon. Ever wonder why we act like deer in headlights instead of superheroes when things get tough? It’s the tricks our brains play on us.

First up, there’s this thing called “denial.” It’s when you know you’ve got a big project due, but instead, you binge-watch your favorite show. Your brain says, “If I don’t acknowledge it, maybe it’ll disappear.” It doesn’t! Apply that to big, scary problems like climate change or a city running out of water. It’s easier to pretend it’s not happening than to face the music.

Then there’s “inertia,” the cousin of denial. It’s when we know a problem but are stuck in our ways. Changing habits is hard. It’s knowing you should eat healthier but still reaching for those chips. Inertia keeps us doing the same old thing, even when we know we shouldn’t.

Here comes “normalcy bias.” This brain trick makes us believe that since nothing bad has happened yet, nothing bad will happen in the future. It’s like living in a house slowly sinking but hosting dinner parties because it hasn’t collapsed yet. Normalcy bias makes us underestimate the urgency of threats because life seems pretty normal. And we want it to stay that way!

History’s littered with examples of this. Take the Titanic. Everyone thought it was unsinkable until, well, it sank. Or Pompeii, where folks were chilling with their volcanoes until Mount Vesuvius decided it was time. These are not just tragic tales from the past; they’re lessons screaming at us: “Wake up! Change course before it’s too late!”

Our brains, while excellent, can sometimes be our worst enemies. They can trick us into thinking everything’s OK or that change is too hard. But history also shows us that change is possible when we snap out of our denial and inertia. It’s recognizing the signs, shaking off the normalcy bias, and saying, “Not today, brain. We’ve got work to do.” Let’s not be characters in a cautionary tale. Let’s be the ones who saw the warning signs and did something about it.

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” — Mahatma Gandhi

The Abyss We Live In: Mexico City’s Water Crisis

Picture this: a city buzzing with life, street vendors selling tacos, and music everywhere, but beneath all that energy, there’s a ticking time bomb. The city’s water supply is running scarily low. Experts are yelling from the rooftops that we’re down to the wire with 140 days of water left. It’s like being told your phone’s at 1% battery while waiting for an important call. Except, there’s no charger in sight.

Now, you’d expect some serious action. Government meetings, news alerts, and even water-saving campaigns are going viral. But here’s the kicker: a lot of shrugging is going on. It’s not that nothing’s happening, but it’s like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. Sure, some news and officials are talking about it, but there’s no sense of urgency that you’d expect with a crisis of this size.

It’s not all doom and gloom. Some real-life heroes in this story are trying to do something about it. It’s a mixed bag. On one hand, you’ve got many people acting like it’s business as usual; on the other, you’ve got these pockets of hope and action. Seeing how different people react when faced with a crisis is fascinating. Some dig their heads in the sand, while others roll up their sleeves and get to work.

What we’re seeing in Mexico City is a real-life drama unfolding. It’s a story about what happens when a problem too big to ignore gets ignored for too long. But it can also be a story about resilience, people coming together to make a difference. It’s about facing the abyss, not with fear but with determination and hope. As we navigate this crisis, let’s not just watch the story unfold. Let’s be part of the solution, each in our way.

The Power of Hope and Action

Alright, let’s flip the tune and talk about hope. Not the “sit back and wish for the best” kind of hope, but the kind that gets you off your couch and into action making changes. There’s a big difference between passive hope and active hope.

Passive hope is waiting for a winning lottery ticket to fly into your lap — it feels nice to dream about, but it won’t get you far.

Active hope is when you buy the ticket, start a side hustle, save money, and plan to win. It’s about engagement and action.

Now, when it comes to tackling big, scary problems and crises, active hope is the superhero we need. It’s the belief that, despite the odds, we can make a difference. And where does a lot of this action start? Right in our homes and communities. There’s something magical about people coming together, rolling up their sleeves, and saying, “Let’s do this.” Community involvement and grassroots movements are the heart and soul of all significant change. They’re where ideas flow, plans are made, and action is taken.

Take the story of the clean-up of the Hudson River in the United States. It was more of a floating garbage can than a river back then. But then people in the community said, “Enough is enough.” They banded together, forming groups like the Clearwater organization, and started cleaning up, advocating for change, and pushing for laws to protect the river. Fast forward, and the Hudson is much cleaner, proving that when people come together, they can turn the tide.

Or consider the global movement to ban single-use plastics. It started with individuals and small groups refusing straws, bringing their bags to the grocery store, and spreading the word. Now, entire countries are banning plastic bags and straws. That’s the power of collective action and societal will in action.

These examples show us that change is possible, and it’s happening! It starts with active hope — the belief that we can make a difference. Then, it grows with community involvement, where everyone chips in, shares ideas, and supports each other. And finally, it blossoms into real, tangible change that can turn environmental nightmares into success stories.

Let’s not underestimate the power of hope and action. Together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

“If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us.” — David Suzuki

From Awareness to Action: What Can Be Done?

We’ve discussed the problem, the psychology behind our inaction, and the power of hope combined with action. Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the “how.”

How do we move from being aware of environmental crises, like our water heartaches, to doing something about it? It’s taking practical steps, leveraging education, technology, and policy, and, most importantly, understanding our role in the big picture.

First, on the individual level, we can do many things daily to make a difference. It’s simple stuff, but the impact is enormous when millions of us do it. Think about water conservation: fixing leaks in your home, installing water-efficient fixtures, using rain barrels to collect water for your garden, and turning off the tap while brushing your teeth. These actions might seem small, but they add up.

Communities can take it further by organizing clean-up drives, setting up water-saving initiatives, and supporting local sustainable businesses. Imagine a neighborhood garden where everyone chips in and uses collected rainwater to grow veggies. Not only does it conserve water, but it also brings people together and creates a little green oasis in the city.

Education is the key that unlocks all this. It’s not about learning facts in a classroom; it’s about understanding the connection between our actions and their impact on the planet. Schools, community centers, and online platforms can all be hubs of learning and discussion about sustainability. Knowledge empowers people to make informed decisions and inspires them to act.

Technology and innovation are also game-changers. From intelligent irrigation systems that reduce water use in agriculture to apps that track your water consumption, technology offers solutions that were unimaginable a few years ago. Supporting and investing in these innovations can speed up our journey towards sustainability.

Policy plays a crucial role, too. It’s creating a framework that encourages sustainable practices and discourages wasteful ones. This means supporting laws and regulations that protect natural resources, incentivize green energy, and ensure that companies and individuals are held accountable for their environmental impact.

Finally, personal responsibility and action. It’s easy to think that our efforts don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but that’s not true. Every sustainable choice we make, every time we decide to act in favor of the planet, we’re contributing to a larger movement. It’s about being conscious of our impact and making choices that align with the world we want to live in and leave for future generations.

Awareness is only the first step. The real magic happens when we move from knowing to doing. It’s about each of us, in our way, making choices that add up to a big difference. Let’s not wait for someone else to fix the problems. Let’s be part of the solution, starting now!

“Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse.” — Desmond Tutu

Let’s bring it all home. We started with a tale from “The Abyss,” a fictional story that mirrors Mexico City’s water crisis. Both stories throw us into the deep end of how humans tend to respond (or not) to looming disasters. It’s a stark reminder that acknowledging the problem is step one, but it’s nowhere near enough. We’ve got to confront these crises head-on, with eyes wide open.

The good news? We’re not just a bunch of sitting ducks. History has shown us that when we come together, amazing things happen. From the brink of environmental disasters to the edge of societal collapse, our collective action, fueled by awareness and a refusal to stay stuck in denial, turns the tide. It’s about shaking off that inertia and diving into the realm of action — because, trust me, there’s plenty we can do.

So, what’s it going to be? Will we stand by and watch the abyss widen, or will we be the change that pulls us back from the edge? The choice is ours, and the time to act is now. Let’s not wait for the next crisis to hit us in the face. Let’s be proactive, engaged, and committed to making a difference, one step at a time.

I want to hear from you. What’s your take on all this? Have you got stories of change, big or small, that you’ve been a part of? Or maybe you’re sitting there thinking about your first step. Either way, drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Let’s get the conversation rolling.

Beyond Two Cents