To the editor,
Climate change refugees arrived at our door last night. First-wave intruders? Ants!
It appeared we were being overrun when I discovered the wee creatures huddled in window corners, including one clutching its larva. Outside, ants scurried frantically, many toting larvae, seeking safety. We have never had a problem with ants, so suddenly it dawned on me – we were in the middle of a drought, in a heat-wave, and bathed in smoke from mainland forest fires. Our house is pleasantly cool and fresh, and ants might sense refuge inside for their precious cargo. Over 50 ants later, with door sealed, this morning I found a lingerer, larva in its grip. With glass and paper, I gently put it outside, into what might be a deadly atmosphere even for ants.
The lawn is crispy, many birds have disappeared, pine needles are browning. Yet, plans are underway for the flooding of valuable farmland to install Site C dam; fracking and burial of contaminated water continues in this province; clear-cuts ensure loss of trees that absorb carbon, hold water in the ground and prevent landslides; the Kinder Morgan pipeline is slated to increase oil production, while it winds its way through an earthquake zone to our already stressed ocean. Species are going extinct, as we ignore their habitats; yet, what we do to them, we do to ourselves.
We have all created this world that we live in. What fears make us maintain business as usual, ignore what we are doing to the environment and to each other? How can we clean up our act, change our damaging economy, create a healthy world? While it will take time and concerted effort, it is better sooner than later. It could start with each one of us engaging in change, consuming less, supporting local healthful economies, and teaching our children, so that all of us do not become climate refugees.
Lavonne Garnett, Nanaimo