Quantum mechanics proposes that ours is only one of an infinite number of parallel worlds, all of which exist in the same space and time as our own. Within the infinite possibilities of this theory is an upside-down version of our world, an opposite one, and yet another where everything is identical except the elephants are purple. Any and every possibility can, and indeed the theory insists, must exist. Apparently, a version of each of us likely exists in all or most of them also, that bit boggles the mind almost as much as it tickles the ego. After-all multiple worlds without multiple versions of us could only indicate the bright minds that build quantum mechanics theories veer off into wacky land at times.
Keeping updated on the emerging data of our climate crises and the actions taken to alleviate its impact, permits a similar idea to bud. Within our own planet, there also exists worlds in parallel, upside-down and opposite worlds. In one the need for immediate and decisive action on the climate crisis is obvious, while another parallel world prefers its citizens just keep calm and carry on. In one world we are invited to take up the yoke of responsibility and the other world prefers we just leave things and let the-as-yet-unborn deal with it all. In one, the doctrines and processes of governments and politics employ cemented static mindsets even as the climate proves a tumultuous cascade of dynamic processes potentially propelling us to who knows what. Parallel but opposite worlds.
Between the extremes is yet another world, the one we common folk commonly inhabit. It is our neighborhood, where we live and work, our town, our city. A place mostly comforting and familiar because over time it has been sculpted and shaped by the actions, motives and cares of local people to fit local needs. This is our sphere of influence and the world we want to preserve.
We care about orangutans, koalas and polar bears, we really do, but the sheer breadth, scale, and complexity of the problems overwhelm. The many eco-urgencies progressively lose impact as they increase in scale and are located far beyond our reach. Most of us have skill and geographical constraints on our ability to positively impact big issues like rising sea levels, melting glaciers and bleaching corrals. We are best placed, and frankly most incentivized, to start where we are and work from the bottom up. Where we can be busy is in saving those things near us that we love, and then enlarging the space of our influence as we go.
Of course, we understand ecosystems are not respecters of town boundaries nor do they care about the depth of our attachment to local amenities like river-walks, and parklands. We know our homes and towns cannot be insulated from the causal network in which everything is bound together. Yet that same causal network allows that we can remain local and still have global influence if we choose our actions wisely.
Transportation of all forms is the cause of about 14% of the human-generated carbon, and incredibly Palm oil production is the cause of about the same amount of carbon going into the sky!
Our use of transport is not always a choice, it is hard to imagine life without some form of transport. However, our use of palm oil is always a choice furthermore it’s easy to imagine life without it, after-all humans thrived until the 1960s with most not knowing palm oil even existed. Not only is palm oil a choice, ultimately and critically, but it’s also our choice.
One important reason we need to actively save that which we love is, the actions of one person always influences the information base of another and on and on the impact grows. Starting one thing will encourage and engage others and collectively we can improve the long-term destiny of our world with our own self-generated cascade of dynamic processes.
Palm oil is an unnecessary and offensive ecological disaster, the production of this one item is causing as much climatic damage as every single motorcycle, car, truck, train, boat, and airplane on earth. Further tropical forests have been and are being burned recklessly and extensively to make way for ever-more palm oil monoculture. The palm oil industry is boasting that our demand for palm oil is set to quadruple, vast and beautiful tropical Peat forests will be burnt to meet that demand, our demand, but only if we allow it. All this mindless destruction is they say just the law of supply and demand in action.
Obviously, we are not consciously demanding millions of acres of tropical forests be burned on our behalf each year – if we could make the rules, we would, in fact, demand the very opposite. But we do inadvertently incentivize and fund the destruction through our purchase of items made with palm oil – and we purchase lots of them.
Palm oil is in so many products it is really quite hard to avoid. Manufacturers love to use palm oil because it is quite versatile and very cheap. But of course, Palm oil actually has, a hidden, but extraordinarily high eco-price, it is costing us the earth.
Palm oil is likely an ingredient in most of your favorite brands. But if we commit to doing this thing, this one hard-ish thing, that will complicate shopping a bit and require persistence on our part – if we switch to palm oil-free products – we, together, will compel a positive and pertinent eco-impact that is equal to shutting down all transportation globally. Without leaving home we collectively can send a crystal-clear message to manufacturers. They respond to dips in their sales and market share with an alacrity and intensity we wish they reserved for measuring and reducing the eco-impact of their ingredients.
We, the people, can create new laws of supply and demand – any company that supplies products containing palm oil will see demand diminish, and their bright cheerful logo can come to symbolize the dark badge of corporate greed. It is only our patronage and goodwill that gives power to brands, and it is our purchases that gift fortune to the companies behind them – they prosper only as they serve our needs and wants. Change those wants and we change a great deal besides.
Watch out for claims of sustainable palm oil. The truth is there is no such thing as sustainable tropical forest destruction. Call BS on that sort of virtue signaling nonsense.
Not buying palm oil products will demonstrate even the biggest global issues are not beyond our reach or influence. As we get strategic about palm oil, corals, glaciers, sea levels and even Borneo’s (oxymoron named) pigmy elephants will directly benefit. Those koalas, polar bears and orangutans we care about will get to breathe easier also, as will we all.
We may have our backs against the climatic wall (so to speak) but neither the scope of the ecological problems, nor our ineffective leaders loitering in their parallel world, should cause us to ignore the problems that we, and possibly only we, can effectively attend. We may not be able to address everything – but believe me, we can address this one big thing.
Historically the extraordinary courage of ordinary people manifests clearest in crises when we are rising to defend neighbors, neighborhoods, and homes – like now. The intensity of stubborn determination and ingenuity we common folk can collectively bring to this fight is one of humanity’s super-powers.
Besides, we have to make our infinite number of parallel selves feel good about us, even that fortunate us living in the world populated by cute purple pygmy elephants.
