Welcome back to the 20s!
An entire country is literally on fire, but don't worry; we're taking care of it by starting a third world war. These days, it seems people are either blatantly ignoring the climate crisis, or they've chosen to accept their fate.
You can no longer go on the internet without being flooded with news about the bushfires in Australia. It's been reported that more than 8.4 million hectares of land have burned. This has lead to the loss of many homes and even a few lives.
Australia's wildlife is also suffering. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. However, this isn't the only problem we're facing going into the new decade.
After the US killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful military leader, there has been tension between the two countries. Iran even launched a missile attack at US bases in Iraq. Many fear this may escalate into a third world war.
Social media is now home to memes and jokes about the possibility of a draft here in the United States. Many fear they're going to have to participate in a war they don't support. Personally, I'm of the opinion that we can't have a war if there's no planet left for us to have it on.
Our planet is already beginning to suffer, and as a result, we're going to end up suffering from it if something isn't done. War will only add to the damage done to our climate, and possibly make it irreversible.
The decision to kill Qasem Soleimani has done everything except make the US safer. If anything, it has dug us into a deeper hole by covering up the already neglected climate crisis and setting us up for the possibility of yet another world war.
As upsetting as all this news has been, I still refuse to stay quiet. I encourage my fellow Americans to raise their voices as well, and when the time comes, to go out and vote for change. I also ask that everyone keeps Australia in their thoughts and prayers.
To anyone looking to help out more with the bushfires, there are plenty of different organizations you can donate to, such as the Australian Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Wildlife Victoria.
