Even as someone fully expecting increasing "climate chaos" events, I find the situation in California particularly stunning. It's not like the state is experiencing one or two weather manifestations -- they are experiencing nearly the whole palette at one time! This is leading to massive amounts of human trauma and loss, and will continue to do as this series of storms hits them, and long after. The level of human pain there and in similar events around the world is high, and most of us are feeling it too (with the exception of those people incapable of any human feeling). Coming decades will require a focus not only on how humanity should proceed, practically, but also spiritually and psychologically.
I can't help, though, but think of Nature's feelings, Her trauma and loss. At what moment in history did She realize that humanity was plowing ahead with its plans and inventions, with no thought for the needs of the natural world? I mean, at this point, it really doesn't matter that much when or where this took place, or under what government or religious constructs, or what political or economic systems. We don't have time to resolve that question. But there was a moment when humanity started digging mines, and filling in wetlands, and creating harsh weapons -- without a thought for the earth. From that point forward, virtually every single bit of progress (particularly in recent centuries) has been a boomerang into the future, causing pain and trauma to Mother Earth that has finally circled back and is hitting us smack in the face.
Humans who survive the transition we are in will probably look back in horror at the fact that our earth home was not treated with more respect and honor -- simply as a resource to be exploited. Inventors of the most important and sophisticated tools never turned to Mother Earth in prayerful respect, asking, "How can we do this in such a way as to cause You least harm?" We are clever and inventive -- probably many of our major technologies could have been reasonably safe for the earth, if we had only factored it in. We might still be able to soften some of the blows if we put the earth first, immediately. Unfortunately, our institutions don't seem to be set up for that.
