The Tyranny of Normalization

So I am one of those GenZ who still prefer to read newspaper. Why? Because, at least, I am not being bombarded with senseless information all day long via social media apps. It does not mean that I am anti to these apps; I do use them to stay in touch with local level politics and some meme stuff. However, there was a piece of writing which I had been postponing for almost three weeks. And, today was the day I read it. Though, I wish I had not. It brought tons of pessmisitc thoughts in my head. Here is the the one pragraph which struck me the most:

"According to the US-based Climate and Community Institute, the total greenhouse gas emissions from the first 14 days of the US-Israel war against Iran were more than 5m tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is higher than the total climate pollution of Iceland in 2024. “This figure is also equivalent to the emissions from 1.1m [petrol]-powered cars over a year and represents over $1.3 billion in climate damage,” the think tank notes."

So, just two weeks are enough, for the big bosses, to overrule a million of laymen. Great, isn't it?

It may or may not be 100% perfect estimation, but the severe climate change is a clear indicator. And, I along with billions other is practically facing this issue. The temperature has already surged to 43 Celsisus, and it is 10:50 in the morning. Whatsoever just like the temperature, my mind is fired up as well :)

Illusion of Individuality

For years, the concept of each individual playing its part, and it resulting in betterment has be played. Saving the planet by using electric vehicles, solar panels, anti-polythene products, switching off unnecessary things and the list goes on. But, does it even matter? When a bunch of poeple's decision can result in decades long annihilation. And there is not a single act of accountability.
Moreover, the blame is not only their, though they share the most of it, but still, two out of the abive mentioned countries call themselves democracy lovers. It means that the people over their considered them as their leaders and continue to do so, even after such henious acts (still doing).

In such regards there is a powerful proverb (often attributed to the Native Americans): "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."

The living one have even forgotten the meaning of borrowing. Borrowing does not mean that I can use the product and return it as a waste. The basic core of borrowing is: responsibility. We do say that we care for our children; however, we just pretend to do so. There is unchecked bombing, forests are cut down, rivers are polluted, and the beloved atmosphere, conprising of oxygen, is filled with harmful gases. The ugliest part is that those who will suffer the most from these decisions are the children who had no voice in doing any of these. Therefore, climate change, global warming or name whatever you want to is not just an environmental issue, it is a moral one too.

Altering Human Behavior

A personal story: a month back, I came back to my home, went to the ground to play football and found that it was empty. I texted in a Whatsapp group and almost everyone said they are busy. So, to keep myself active, and in routine, I gathered community's kids and played with them. It was fun to see them struggle though. However, the main reason behind this gathering was not my personal activity, I could had gone to he gym. But, the lack of passion for football or any sports was eating me up. Our city used to had 10+ football clubs, there used to be tournaments. Nowadays, grounds are more likely filled with older generation rather than the joyfull children. Skipping forward, one month after, I am back again and found out that they have stopped playing, all thanks to the extreme heat and parents being extra protective. So, it means that climate change is not only transforming the environment; it is subtly altering human behavior. Although, we rarely notice these changes because they happen slowly, but they accumulate overt time and quietly reshape the way we live.

The Power to Adapt

And then, there is this remarkable ability of human beings to adapt to every situation. Psychologically speaking, adaptation is one of our powerful tool. We can normalize almost anything, all we need is exposure for a specific period. A temperature that would have shocked us a decade ago is now considered as "bearable". News about climate disasters such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, etc, are becoming frequent. In many ways, the danger is no longer catastrophe, rather it is our growing comfort with it.

Rubber-Stamps

The claims of moving in the right direction since Paris Agreement (goes back though), and more recently COP30 are nothing but mere mirage. On paper, these summits produce ambitious targets, well written lies, and hopeful declaration about a sustainable future. Yet, in practice, the gap between speeches and implementations is knwoingly wide. As a result of this non-serious attitude, these global forums risk becoming stages of optimism rather than engines of enforcement, leaving ordinary people to wonder about their efforts.

Ultimately, we are witnessing a chain of interconnected faiures: environmental neglects, political short sightedness, absurd nationalism and all okay narrative feeding into one another. The problem is no longer just rising temperatures or increasing carbon emissions; it is the way humanity has learned to normalize the wrongs. We see the damage, understand its causes, raise a voice and still struggle to change direction because the system operates faster than individual awareness can respond.

Being Delusional

Yet, this does not mean helplessness. There is still hope, because their is no other option. The thing is real change exists but at multiple levels. At the individual level, awareness, for the sake of humanity, must translate into consistent lifestyle choices, not as mere symbolic gestures, but as consistent and disciplined habits. At the community level, collective pressure and education can reshape what societies demand from their leaders.

At the political and global level, genuine accountability, implementation and a shift away from purely profit driven priorities are necessary. The solution, therefore, is not one act or one group, but a hierarchical responsibility where personal values and structural reform move together.

In the end, for the sake of motivation Margret Mead quipped: "Never doubt that a small of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".

Some would say I am dreaming. However, in this contemporary world, this is sheer audacity of the imagination. I would say do not kill the dream. Instead become a part of it.

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Peace 🕊