Although there are many potential benefits from accepting societal collapse, there is nothing inherently beneficial about being right about one’s expectations of catastrophic change. Having held more accurate assessments than the majority doesn’t reduce the pain about what’s happening or what’s to come. It doesn’t compensate for the alienation experienced with those who would not see, or even condemned our clarity. It doesn’t compensate for the pain of witnessing the lost opportunities for people to process this reality for themselves. If there is any benefit in being right, it comes from how we acted with our awareness until now. Has it influenced us to do more of what we consider wholesome, and less of what we consider unwholesome? Has it meant we have tried to develop our capabilities for coping better as life becomes more difficult? Perhaps, also, to help others develop their own capabilities? You know the basics – mindfulness, letting go of old habits and expectations, and having a way to make sense of life in an era of collapse. For some of us, we can experience a liberation from past compromises and the permission to ‘go wild’. Without evolving ourselves in such ways, then feeling we were right could generate a further alienation, through a pointless sense of superiority. And what we definitely don’t want is to be isolated in our pain as things unfold, in the same way many of us have been isolated in our anticipation. So, when our outlook is confirmed by current observation, it is a time to assess whether we have made good use of our knowledge. Then, if not sure, to commit to try again.
Beyond that, it’s not the time to be shy. For many reasons, people would benefit from knowing that ‘doomsters’ were right and our critics were wrong. One of the main benefits is that more people could discover that there is wise counsel available about what to do from now on. That is because those of us who concluded things were going to get really bad, and faster than the managerial classes would admit, have been doing a lot of thinking, talking, and organising over the past 5 years. Many journalists are wedded to those managerial classes, and therefore continue to hide the full extent of the truth from the public. For instance, recently one the most famous radio stations in the world spent a lot of time and money doing a documentary about ‘deep adaptation’, only to have it pulled from broadcast by a senior manager who thought it too difficult or awkward to put on air. Probably that was another case of projection and paternalism.
The awkwardness of explaining that we doomsters were right and our critics were wrong can’t be escaped. We will be told we are gloating about doom. Recognising that conundrum, I find solace in doomer humour. So, for a bit of fun, I plugged into Jembot the following statements about how doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong, and asked it to produce lyrics for ‘The Doom Vindication Blues’. Those lyrics can be found at the end of this post. There is a serious point to this exercise, which I’ll return to in a moment. But for now, these are the statements I plugged into Jembot…
As we whizz past 1.5C global average warming decades before predictions, the thermometers of the world prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As CO2 concentrations grow each year, the air sensors of the world prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As CO2 emissions continue to grow, country statistics prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As limitations of world resources for a net zero transition in high consumption societies become known, both battery technology and geology prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As prices keep rising due to disruptions in the food sector and supply chains, all of our grocery receipts prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As deranged narratives about either a climate hoax or being saved by technology are spread by competing capitalists, online sentiment analysis proves us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As political agreements to achieve real change are non-existent, while climate conferences become profit-seeking and career-boosting jamborees, the news from COP28 prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As top climatologists announce they’ll discuss current catastrophic changes in reports in… 2027, the UNFCCC decisions prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As media continues to report top climatologists defending their views while the climate shifts abruptly around them, their lack of sobriety and inquiry prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
As both mainstream media and social media suppress discussion of the need to prepare for catastrophic scenarios, the tyranny of positivity from the managerial classes prove us doomsters were right, and our critics were wrong.
If these statements make sense to you, and you would welcome some counsel on how to integrate these difficult truths into your life, then I am glad you are here. I recommend the guides listed on a database associated with the Deep Adaptation Forum (DAF). I also recommend engaging with the DAF itself and attending one of their online meetings, then finding a local group, or creating one. In addition, it can help to explore some of literature related to this subject. The following are four books that could help:
Breaking Together: a freedom-loving response to collapse – Prof Jem Bendell
Fugue: Climate, Collapse and Contemplation: by Stephen G Wright | Goodreads
Eye of the Storm: Facing climate and social chaos with calm and courage by Terry LePage | Goodreads
If you are financially sorted, then before there is a financial collapse. please thank me for telling you the truth by donating to the Bekandze Farm School crowdfund.
Now for those lyrics from Jembot (with a slight edit by me).
THE DOOM VINDICATION BLUES
(Verse 1)
Well, I’ve been singing this song, for oh so long,
About a world that’s gone terribly wrong.
Thermometers rising, that’s not surprising,
Proving us doomsters were right all along.
(Chorus)
Here’s the doom vindication blues,
Our critics were wrong, we now see the proof.
Carbon is climbing, ain’t no denying,
Their air sensors echo the awful truth.
(Verse 2)
Emissions growing, the danger’s showing,
Warnings crushed by the bosses’ might.
Net zero transition, a fading vision,
High consumption societies losing the fight.
(Chorus)
It’s the doom vindication blues, my friend,
A song of a world that might meet its end.
Prices are rising, it’s not surprising,
Your grocery bills tell a tale we can’t mend.
(Bridge)
We’ve been shouting from the rooftops, but they didn’t heed,
Now we’re living in the aftermath of their greed.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s time to concede,
We were right, and it’s a truth we must all now heed.
(Chorus)
This is the doom vindication blues,
A melody born from the somber news.
We were right, and our critics were wrong,
Now we’re left singing this mournful song.
(Outro)
So here’s to the doomsters, who saw it clear,
Who warned of a future we should fear.
It’s the doom vindication blues we sing,
Knowing change is what the dawn will bring.
If you feel like writing a song with some of these lyrics, go ahead, and post it in the Deep Adaptation Facebook group. I am working on other songs at the moment, which are more about living lovingly, rather than being vindicated 😉
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Prof Jem Bendell 