Life Imitating Art: Trump’s Presidency and Environmental Concerns
Back in 1989, British comedian Ben Elton wrote a book called Stark. It paints a grim picture of the future, showing a world devastated by greed and environmental collapse. The resemblance to today’s challenges is striking.
In Elton’s story, a wealthy group maintains power despite the damage they cause to the planet. They realize it’s too late to reverse the destruction and plan to escape to the moon using rockets they’ve built, called Star Arks. The book opens with a powerful statement:
The earth was dying. To be more specific, the earth was being killed… Killed by the pursuit of money.
It’s easy to imagine figures like Donald Trump fitting into this elite crowd. His administration seems to echo the Stark Conspiracy’s disregard for the environment. Trump’s approach indicates he has learned from his previous term, aiming to eliminate obstacles in his way—starting with environmental regulations.
One significant player in the environmental field is the Sierra Club, founded by environmentalist John Muir in 1892. This organization has been a vocal critic of industries harming the planet. A report from May 2024 reveals alarming plans from Trump’s supporters to dismantle federal environmental protections.
They suggest a drastic rollback of policies meant to tackle climate change and safeguard public health. These changes would not only weaken agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but also prioritize fossil fuel interests over science and environmental protection.
Trump has made promises to the fossil fuel industry that could lead to significant regulatory changes. Following a plan that seems almost theatrical, administration insiders are preparing to support these shifts, potentially ignoring the urgent climate crisis.
Scientists like Michael Mann warn that if completed, these aggressive policies would throw environmental efforts back decades, sidelining scientific research in favor of polluting industries. Mann summarized the stakes plainly: if the U.S. abandons its leadership in climate action, the entire global effort may falter.
This situation parallels Elton’s fictional tale where the wealthy flee the consequences of their actions. The stark reality remains: some individuals have the resources to escape temporary discomfort, while the planet suffers due to their choices.
Elton’s novel closes with a somber reminder of society’s failure to act on the environmental crisis:
Too much money was involved; it simply wasn’t economical. Nothing had been done, and now the reckoning was upon them all.
As we see political leaders making decisions that prioritize profit over the planet, it’s crucial to reflect on the implications of their actions for future generations.
Dr. Norm Sanders is a former commercial pilot, flight instructor, university professor, Tasmanian State MP, and Federal Senator.
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