When Nature bats an Eyelash

Is Guy McPherson a hero or a villain? I believe he is neither. He is an unapologetic truth teller. You can like or dislike what he has to say but I simply can not think of a living historical figure who has faced such aggressive censorship. Pressured into resignation by the University of Arizona despite considerable social avantages as a teniure, his story reflects the general consensus that there are such things as truths that are too inconvenient to be spoken aloud. In a recent interview McPherson went on the record stating that humanity has but 10 years of existence left on this planet. In his view nothing can be done that will change this outcome.

What we call culture is in fact extremely masturbatory. This is why most will miss the premise of the interview which is that humanity is a virtual blip in the geological timescale. We are at a junction where climate disruption is so well on its way that the change in mass of earths icy bodies, also known as glaciers, is destabilizing the tectonic plates, increasing earthquakes and volcanic activity. I find it interesting that in the interview, McPherson states that you can strive for an eco-friendly lifestyle if it enriches your life but not to change the gloomy outcome of this planet.

This is the paradox of personal experience one faces if they embrace this theory. It has never been less relevant yet it is more relevant than ever. Say I chose to believe that we have 10 years left as a species what would I change?

• I would care even less what people think about me
• I would not worry so much about my retirement
• I would look at my theories about the afterlife more closely
• I would think justice is a thing given our penchant for speciesism
• I would keep going the same way in many respects
• I would want to inspire people to spend our last days in peace

According to McPherson, conditions which would drastically inhibit the proliferation of plant life is going to be the nail in our coffin. I think that as we stand, the chemical composition of the atmosphere is negatively affecting plant life. I can see it clear as day as soon as I go outside and I live in Vancouver which boasts exceptionally clean air by today’s standards. In that respect this prediction makes sense. However, I don’t think anyone really knows how much time we have left. You could say that Nature bats last or you could say that when it bats a lash, expect tremendous backlash.

I leave you with a video I made with my mother a few years ago about the current state of our trees.

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