Alexander Matthews

Avoiding Extinction Alexander Matthews

There is a tendency to wait until something becomes so problematic that it can no longer be ignored and then to 'fire-fight' it. This reflects an attitude that the status quo must be maintained and any problems solved within the existing framework. The effect of delay can be catastrophic, as in the cases of global heating and biodiversity loss, and addressing such problems in this way can simply displace, proliferate, and substitute other problems, sometimes with the so-called 'cure' also having toxic effects that only later come to light, such is the urgency of a 'quick-fix'. While technology can have a role to play, it is not sufficient the authors argue, and does not address the roots of the problem. In this short work, some of the core issues that need to be addressed are identified, such as limits to growth and redistribution of wealth and power, what it is to be human, and to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, social justice, the role of the media, including social media, and the effects of scientism and the increasing domination of technological thinking. The climate emergency cannot be separated out from the dysfunctional nature of current dominant ideologies and economic models, and the situation needs to be seen as a whole, with the different factors being recognised as interdependent, requiring a holistic approach.