I am 72 years old. I have always thought of climate change as a disaster that I would

[Pachamama]

23. After watching the COVID pandemic & events of last year juxtaposed next to climate change events,

...I honestly can say that I believe too many humans do not learn and do not care about the planet and existence of life - including and especially their own or others.

My DU name Pachamama was chosen because of my concern for Mother Earth and climate change and what we are doing (and not doing) to protect and save the planet.

Sadly, after nearly 20 years on DU and seeing what is happening around us, I share your same feelings and great sorrow Atticus. Many things we could and should have done that could have helped were not done and we have reached a critical point where events are happening at faster rates and setting off reactions that can’t be stopped. Just wait till the jet streams and the effects on the Atlantic currents take effect. It was 115 degrees in Portland and Seattle this week - this doesn’t happen without reason and more of this is coming. I remember the blood red skies last year in the San Francisco Bay Area following the fires. Right now we are in a drought and I seriously fear for the fire season coming sooner and worse than the last 5 years.

I was taught by the indigenous people I spent time with decades ago that Pachamama will survive - just in a different form. This is about human survival and the existence of life as we know it. And like I said in my first paragraph, after watching humans for the last 18 months regarding COVID, I think that a large minority of people, through reckless, careless, arrogant and dangerous behavior will put us all in danger and have made me question our survival and the future. And if we can’t come together for battling a virus in a global pandemic, how will we convince humans to care for the planet that sustains us?