It’s not unique or particularly revealing to state that, especially lately, it often feels like the world is ending and no one gives a shit about it.
Perfectly illustrating this facet of modern life is a recently made viral clip of a report by UK-based outlet GB News featuring climate expert John Hammond.
As seen below in a tweet that brought the clip in question to worldwide attention, the way this report was published has people comparing it to an equally alarming sequence in last year’s Adam McKay-directed apocalyptic comedy Don ‘t Look Up, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer. Lawrence as a pair of scientists whose findings about impending planetary doom are treated with the same level of seriousness as the gossip of today and tomorrow.
“I think there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of excess deaths early next week,” Hammond is seen telling newscasters when discussing the ramifications of a fairly severe heatwave in the UK. “The graphics that I can see in front of me are terrifying. … This is not going to be nice weather, this is going to be potentially lethal weather for a couple of days.”
To Hammond’s clear bewilderment, a host chimed in to say they want viewers to “be happy with the weather” before complaining about what she describes as “fatalistic” weather forecasters that are “harbingers of doom.” In addition, the presenter downplayed the seriousness of serious weather problems and loss of life by arguing that hot weather has always existed.
While Hammond refuted this and urged everyone not to be “lazy” about so many people dying, the clip has been widely circulated in recent days as proof of how seemingly screwed we all are.
Here in the United States, President Biden spoke this week about the threat of climate change, calling it “literally, not figuratively, a clear and present danger” to humanity.
“Climate change is literally an existential threat to our nation and to the world,” said Biden, who was announced a day later to have tested positive for COVID-19.
Source: www.complex.com