Glimmers of hope

Much of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World has become a scarily similar reality since he wrote it in 1932. Draconian punishments for protests, AI, mind-numbing reality TV, mindless social media, addiction to the phone perpetually attached to the hand, short attention spans and instant gratification…

And is this the wounded world nightmare from which you cannot awake?  

Countries invading each other and bombing citizens, dozens of bloody, ongoing and equally inhumane smaller wars, Trump and his unpredictable, dangerous world where black is white if he says so, the growth in numbers and boldness of right wing extremists, the destruction of Nature and its inhabitants as forests are felled everywhere and the ocean floor is scraped of all life, the triumph anew of profit over planet and people… ?

Everyone I know has been oppressed by a sense of hopelessness, of foreboding for the future.

BUT the weight feels like it has now been lifted just enough to allow a glimmer of hope to creep in. For the worst did not happen – Trumpism-espousing Dutton and his right-wing leaning regressive Coalition did not win the federal election. 

It is uncertain if Labor will quietly grow the courage to act on our future’s behalf. Or not in time. But we now have some hope that, given the confidence of another term, poked along by The Greens and cross-benchers, they might.

Our country and our world needs prioritised action. There is always a sensible, sustainable option, even if it increases the cost of doing business, but that option needs to be framed positively when ‘sold’ to the public. Unlike the ‘Carbon Tax’.

Labor could reap praise for protecting an endangered endemic species like the Maugean Skate, instead of simply backing foreign-owned salmon farming companies in Macquarie Harbour, not even imposing stricter conditions. Why not insist that this business must be done without environmental cost, even if more expensive operationally, perhaps onshore as other countries demand … or not at all? 

Labor is supporting a transition to renewables, but still approving coal and gas expansions,  fuelling global warming at alarming rates. They must know this is ludicrously contradictory, so why not acknowledge this in policy and tell the mining industry to make other business plans, that fossil fuels cannot continue, for the sake of the planet and the future of all people? 

Many were disappointed that Labor did not do more to genuinely act on climate change, and are ashamed that they face our drowning Pacific neighbours as if Labor cannot do anything about it.

And salmon farms, logging, coal or gas, put the mantra of ‘jobs’ into perspective. These are not the only jobs. As The Greens say, ‘No jobs on a dead planet’. 

We are still stuck with National Party MPs in Cowper and Lyne, despite the rise of Independents. But I take heart that all those non-National supporters did not believe the lying smear campaigns against Independents and Greens, the glib promises of instant solutions to difficult issues in our society and economy. We are not yet Trumpland-Down-Under.

‘Oh, brave new world that has such people in it,’ said Miranda in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Huxley’s hero, John Savage, quoted it with ironic horror as he saw the identical masses of genetically-produced people. 

After volunteering in an intense but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to get Independent Caz Heise elected, I can quote it in truth, knowing so many good people were willing to work hard for months, being selfless and kind, devoting time, energy and money, for the sake of their community. 

Hope now at least flickers in my heart.

About ‘Inklings’ 

‘Inklings’ is a community newsletter. It aims to increase awareness of social, cultural and environmental issues, and to promote communication amongst local communities. All work is done by volunteers. 500 copies are printed four times a year and distributed to local outlets. If you would like to receive it by email, send your request to inklings2019@gmail.com