Simeon Brody
Last Thursday a tragedy happened. An 18 year old woman, Ruby M, was cycling along a cycle track where it is crossed by a service road to York Racecourse, and she somehow came into contact with a lorry. She was killed. I heard about this the following morning as she was the friend of a friend. This one person's death has brought so much sadness, so many questions, so many people with feelings of emptiness and loss.
That Thursday night, I delivered some paperwork to a friend I know through one of the voluntary organisations I'm in, and as we chatted, we got rather 'deep' and the friend told me that s/he (for confidentiality) was considering comitting suicide. I knew s/he had been through some hard times, but I had no idea that it was this bad. A combination of factors including bad luck, poor health and several other difficult circumstances meant that s/he could not see past the current depression and s/he was quite matter-of-factly considering ending his/her life. I am fond of this person and was alarmed, saddened, and very moved that I should be told this. I asked if I could help prevent this, help make things better, try to find a solution or solutions. I was given leave to make some contacts, to try to find a counsellor/advocate, and the following day, contacted MIND and the Samaritans, to see what help might be available. Losing this person would be a tragedy, a huge loss to many people. This person is currently unable to see how special, how loved and lovable they are, how much they mean to so many others.
Last week a weather event killed perhaps 100,000 people in Myanmar. Cyclone Nargis swept across the south of the country, the high winds combining with the 'storm surge' (very low atmospheric pressure allowing the sea level to rise significantly) to kill many thousands by drowning and building collapse. Due to the political situation there, it is forecast that many more will perish. Each one of these people is just as precious as Ruby or my friend. Each a unique individual, a mother, daughter, grandfather or child.... and each just as missed as any other victim of any tragedy.
The biggest tragedy of all, though, may be about to unfold. Climate change may very well deliver many more cyclones, hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines, refugees, wars. In the worst case scenarios, millions will die. And each one just as precious as any other person.
You may now understand why I am 'green', why I care about the future of this planet and it's life forms, especially humans of which I am one.
If you want to see how important this is, please watch this video, don't be put off by the American chap, watch it through, and pass it on. If you'd now like to cheer up a bit and have a look at us folks from another life-form's point of view, watch this video.
My green tips of the week are... to be greener, be less of a 'carbon weevil', and to reach out and help others. Comfort those who have lost a loved one, make a donation to the relief effort in Myanmar, or give to a charity which helps in many humanitarian crises, such as Oxfam. And pass on those videos!
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