Many of these activities which are detrimental to the Planet Earth such as more airplanes in the air, an increase in space exploration, are openly encouraged by world governments. We are witnessing what can only be described as accelerated climate change, meaning the actions of the global capitalist class are having a severe effect on the planet and the climate with changes happening on an almost yearly basis! I say this partly through my socialism and partly because I happen to live here just like the rest of the human race.
Global constitutional political leaders speak with what native Americans called a “forked tongue,” speaking with double meanings or, in plain language, telling lies. One moment they are encouraging the rest of us, those stupid enough to listen and believe them, to reduce our ‘carbon footprint’ and in the next sentence they are glorifying the vandalising antics of people like Elon Musk and Richard Branson along with other members of the space cowboy club. In the Twenty-Six-Counties we regularly hear politicians tell us how to help save the planet with some meaningless scheme, like paying for plastic carriers, while the next minute recommending another runway at Dublin Airport. When the CEO of Ryan Air, Michael O’Leary, demands the passenger cap be lifted on the number of passengers passing through Dublin Airport he gets his way. An increase in passengers means an increase in airplanes and the pollution they bring. All hypocrites every one of them. From New York to London, from Moscow to Dublin to Tokyo they are all a waste of space as they set about being seen to be concerned and doing something about climate change while all the while protecting the profits of the capitalist class. Every now and again we get an honest person: a rarity, granted, but they do exist!
One such man is British naturalist, David Attenborough, who turned 100 years of age on Friday 8th May 2026. Attenborough has been and continues to be a brilliant man in his field and has been one of the few to speak of protecting our planet, and meaning it. David Attenborough first came to prominence in 1954 when he produced and narrated Zoo Quest broadcast by the BBC between December 1954 and May 1963. Since he hosted Zoo Quest, his career has spanned eight decades (including the fifties) and programmes which include Natural World, Wildlife on One, Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Frozen Planet have proved very popular.
On many of his programmes David Attenborough has stressed the fragility of our planet and the need to conserve and look after the place which provides us all with a home, Planet Earth. Instead of heeding this advice the capitalist class totally ignore it and continue making huge profits irrespective of the damage they are causing to the planet. Then they come up with looney ideas about finding another planet to live on after they finally hammer the last nail into Earth's coffin. While they look for another planet for a few of the mega rich to relocate and in all likelihood start the whole rotten process over again they are causing more and more damage to the atmosphere by constantly travelling through it. If they do find another planet, and it is a huge if, only a few thousand of the world’s richest and their chosen political lackeys will be allowed to make the journey. The rest of us will be left on a ball of overheating pollution to exist on. Attenborough tends to keep out of geopolitics but in its generic sense he says a lot politically which should be listened to. Politics generically speaking covers every aspect of life because the subject covers much more than party politics, parliamentary and non-parliamentary politics, but all walks of life including, even especially, the future of Planet Earth.
Many political decisions taken to protect the reservoir in which the capitalist predatory fish swim and are taken to increase these brigands profits are also damaging to our planet. Though David Attenborough stays clear of outright criticism on these decisions he condemns them between the lines. It is not so much what he says but perhaps what he does not. Most of these political decisions are a farce and if not so serious laughable, for example, telling people to buy expensive electric cars to help protect the planet then giving the go ahead for more air transport to land at the already fuel emitting and planetary damaging airports. How do they keep a straight face?
Many political decisions taken to protect the reservoir in which the capitalist predatory fish swim and are taken to increase these brigands profits are also damaging to our planet. Though David Attenborough stays clear of outright criticism on these decisions he condemns them between the lines. It is not so much what he says but perhaps what he does not. Most of these political decisions are a farce and if not so serious laughable, for example, telling people to buy expensive electric cars to help protect the planet then giving the go ahead for more air transport to land at the already fuel emitting and planetary damaging airports. How do they keep a straight face?
Irrespective of what these parliamentary semi-imbeciles decide the international bourgeoisie and groups like the Bilderberg Organisation will do as they please anyway. For this reason these groups prefer right-wing governments to those with any left-wing credentials. Right-wing politics and corporatism, where countries are governed as a company, are preferred by the bourgeoisie and they keep such ideologies in their armoury in case, as was the case in Chile 1973, socialism is democratically voted for, when the electorate voted the wrong way against bourgeois interests. International capitalism appears to care very little for our planet probably because they believe their own bullshit about living elsewhere on another planet. Maybe this is the case, maybe not, but one thing is for sure when this planet finally calls time on us the bourgeoisie will perish with the rest of us as will their billions and science fiction ideas about living elsewhere will not save the greedy minority! If as much money was to be invested in sensible planet preservation schemes as are spent on these barmy ideas, we may have a fighting chance.
On one of his programmes dedicated to preserving our planet David Attenborough quite categorically stated regards looking after the planet; “Many individuals are doing what they can” to help our planet but “real success can only come about if we change our societies, our economics, and our politics”. This observation by the centenarian is spot on especially economics and economies geared solely to the profits of the few. The rest of us are blindly led to believe this economy belongs to all of us. It does not! When governments speak of the economy they speak of the wealthy and only the profits amassed by these planet damaging parasites. Attenborough continued; “surely we have a responsibility to future generations to leave behind a planet which is healthy, which is habitable for all species”.
On one of his programmes dedicated to preserving our planet David Attenborough quite categorically stated regards looking after the planet; “Many individuals are doing what they can” to help our planet but “real success can only come about if we change our societies, our economics, and our politics”. This observation by the centenarian is spot on especially economics and economies geared solely to the profits of the few. The rest of us are blindly led to believe this economy belongs to all of us. It does not! When governments speak of the economy they speak of the wealthy and only the profits amassed by these planet damaging parasites. Attenborough continued; “surely we have a responsibility to future generations to leave behind a planet which is healthy, which is habitable for all species”.
These responsibilities we are not honouring and not only the capitalist class but the rest of us for blindly going along with their polluting and damaging schemes. When Musk launches another space programme many of us, instead of being appalled, look on in stupid wonder at this great man who is burning our houses down! Leaving Musk and Branson aside in Brazil the tropical rainforests are being cut down to make space for developments at an alarming rate. The loss of the trees not only denies the natural fauna their habitat but also removes another chunk of the planet’s lungs. Without plant life, particularly trees, the human race and other mammals will be unable to breath. This should be of major concern to all of us, but is it?
David Attenborough has seen many changes in the natural world, many not nice, since he presented Zoo Quest all those years ago. He has given over the years countless warnings about the fragility of Planet Earth very few of which have been seriously heeded. He is now 100 years old and with a lifetime dedication behind him should be listened to now more than ever before. His knowledge in this field is second to none and if he says our planet is in a perilous condition he should be taken very, very seriously.
I remember watching him some months ago when his centenary was approaching and he looked very much at ease, much younger than his years, as he accepted his time was probably “almost up”. He still spoke, and, I hope, will continue to speak calmly about the planet he loves and the biodiversity, including humans, which share earth as home.
Only one species, and a minority of them at that, are hell bent on global destruction accelerating the normal climatic changes which have occurred over the millions of years of Earth's existence so they now come at an unstoppable pace. Maybe there is still time with a complete change of direction away from profit, profit, profit moving the emphasis to preservation, preservation, preservation.
David Attenborough maintains it “may not yet be too late” with a change in economic and political direction with the way we conduct ourselves in general changing accordingly. This direction of travel must begin now, right now, but will it? It is time David Attenborough and those who follow in his wake, other naturalists, be listened to and advice followed before the planet calls ‘last orders at the bar.’
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
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