The United States in a period of natural devastation from hurricane Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida and Maria coming from Puerto Rico. The villainous fires scorching Oregon and Washington but the United States is not the only place where natural disasters are striking. India is drowning under monsoon rains and Mexico has had 8.2 and 7.1 magnitude earthquakes within weeks of each other.
We could all assume that the world is ending in fire and melted ice. So much death and destruction is ravaging different parts of the earth all at the same time, which in part is due to climate change being expedited by humanity.
These things lead us to wonder if the future of our planet is certain. In Albert Lea it’s hard to imagine these kinds of things happening to us, it’s hard to identify with the people of Texas or Mexico because not only are we geographically insulated, but because people are now used to such terrible things. We are desensitized to these disasters because we consider them to be our new normal. It is frightening how far away we are from recognizing this. Even our staff didn’t realize how many weather related events had actually occurred just within the last few months.
Upon realization there is much uncertainty filling our thoughts and overwhelming to be so powerless to be able to do nothing to help these people and prevent any further calamities, especially in Albert Lea. However, there are things we can all do to help. Educate yourself on what’s happening in the world, pay attention to how you are treating the earth. Elect politicians who believe in climate change and want to do something about it before it’s too late and figure out that climate change is real, science is based on facts not fake news.
Locally you can send money, donate aid packages, volunteer your time if you have any to clean up the wreckage anywhere that needs help through the Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity.
With all this fear, there is hope for a better world. We hope to see the goodness of people and change that they will bring because in the end we are all here together, living through all these trials.