The
shifting sands of time, like an eternally changing desert landscape,
seem caught in an endless loop of humanity's own making. All over
this humble planet human beings are questioning what it means to
inhabit a small rock especially as our existence to date has had such
a huge impact upon it's well-being. Identity is a complex phenomenon
akin to the many skins of a bitter onion at times yet simple in its
outward appearance that may actually be better likened to the tip of
the disappearing icebergs? As sea levels rise and whole civilisations
consider their fate others intend to carry on with their
business-as-usual approach to life; actually increasing the damage
imposed upon our planet. The planet is actually beginning to become
so uninhabitable - wildfires, storms, earthquakes, etc. - that those
who have previously benefited from that business-as-usual approach
are now beginning to contemplate life beyond our own rock by gazing
to distant worlds which they may in turn, no doubt, decimate (given
time) driven my profit and the loss of natural resources. So, what is
it that actually drives such seemingly innate, carefree plundering of
the natural world given that human beings do tend to (mostly) wish
their genes to survive and, furthermore, propagate rather than embark
upon behaviours more reminiscent of suicidal tendencies? Do we humans
really possess a 'kill switch'? That is, somewhere, deep in our
psyche are we cognisant of the stark fact that time is now drawing to
a close for our species and that we should have one good old hell of
a party before the whole shebang goes up in flames? Certainly,
society has become so complex that previous structures to 'control'
it (party political democratic mechanisms in particular) seem
strangely out of kilter with that complexity. As democracies,
together with nation states, struggle with their very own identities
is a new reality staring back at humanity pointing a finger of blame
at the central tenets of the human experiment? Whilst it is true that
throughout history all civilisations have ebbed and flowed there now
seems to be an overarching consensus that this current version of
life upon planet Earth has finally reached a crescendo. There may not
be the chance for an encore too given these very existential dilemmas
our human actions have predicated? And so, those shifting sands of
time may actually be seeping through the hourglass of our beings
heading in one direction this time around; a direction aided by time
itself that could ultimately help this planet and any remaining
species take a well earned rest to recharge any batteries able to be
salvaged. Dr Dim wishes you a Merry Christmas and a thoughtful New
Year. Please make the most of any 'down time' to slow down for a
minute, take stock and just simply enjoy the planet. We may be the
last generations to do so with any degree of comfort. PEACE. DD.