On Hope and Despair

As a journalist a big part of my job is interviewing people on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ we seem to keep destroying the natural world, gathering resources through systems of exploitation and domination that benefit a small few at the expense of the many, leading steadily to ecological destruction and the demise of many parts of our human-made infrastructure. Bram Büscher, Tyson Yunkaporta, and Luke Kemp all spelled it out for me as to exactly how this happens.

The short story is extremely powerful individuals and/or corporations (governments) dominate assets, resources, and access to essential life-giving needs and land. They exploit these to line their pockets with profit, no matter how much suffering it causes. And they convince us this is the way it has to be.

And then on the flip side a big part of my job is examining what gives people ‘hope.’ What are the solutions? How can we get ourselves out of this mess? How can we contribute, thrive, or still find joy?

In my conversation with drag artist Pattie Gonia, she explains why this isn’t just possible, but necessary.

But what about systems? What kind of world would it actually look like if we didn’t destroy the planet to benefit a wealthy, privileged few? Indigenous communities across the globe have been doing that for many thousands of years, as National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yüyan has told me on two separate occasions. Reciprocity (not extraction) is a way forward for sustainable management of our finite resources.

So there’s hope, yes. There’s a way. It truly doesn’t have to be like this.

But as one person, the despair can be crushing. I know, I’ve felt it. I’ve lost count of the occasions where I’ve woken up telling myself, ‘just keep showing up.’

A lot of people talk about “believing” something is going to happen. As “if you believe it, it will happen, and if you don’t, it won’t.” I have always found this to be an incredibly counterproductive way to think about anything. As humans we don’t act based on what we simply believe. We act on what we think is possible and what we imagine can happen. What we think we deserve, want, and need for ourselves and each other. Dr. Katherine Wilkinson, in her book Climate Wayfinding, helped me articulate this better for myself.

Believing isn’t bad, and I believe many things. But I know what is possible, and I know humanity deserves better. Each day I work on making that happen, especially on the days where I feel like giving in.

That is how I fight despair.

Mike