Shut up and eat some cake

When you talk to your mum about environmental problems and the devastation you feel towards the planetary development, she will most likely nod understandably and subsequently ask you if you want whipped cream with your cake. Her response is totally awesome and appropriate. Because talking about it is not really going to change anything. Your mum knows that. She has been there. Trying to save the world is not an outstandingly new idea. Many people tried. Many people failed. I am not trying to be a jerk, but talking about it is not going to help. You think “How can mum not be interested and listen to the most important topic of our time?” Your mum thinks “I wonder if there is enough whipped cream for everyone…” Talking about it usually makes you and people you talk to anxious. Of course, it is very frightening to think about the global challenges we are facing. But research found out, that bad news only rarely get us to change. When a smoker get’s the news that he has lung cancer, one of the first things he wants to do is to smoke a cigarette. People yarn for normality and safety, and no one wants to be reminded of a growing global threat. The result? People don’t listen to you and you get pissed because they don’t listen to you. Next time your mum asks you if you want cake, take it and enjoy. Because one aspect of sustainability is, no matter what, about the connections you have to other people. Your mum get’s that. That’s why she invited you in the first place. So shut up for a minute and eat some cake.