Entry #6: Father Jett’s Note of Hope
Climate Change is an issue I am very interested about. I believe that remedying, reversing, and preventing climate change’s effects from worsening is something that should be on everyone’s top priority list. After all, it’s also us that is affected - future us, that is. In fact, my research paper for English 12 is concerning climate change and humanity’s seemingly lack of action and attention on the issue.
I very much enjoyed Father Jett’s lecture on sustainability. He delved on the misconceptions, the current state that we’re in - which, surprise surprise, is bad - and, my favourite part, aside from Father being so witty and funny, Father’s “note of hope.”
Father Jett showed several graphs and figures that illustrated our very problem. He talked about Ateneo and how even if it’s already clean, is 10 units above of the recommended, or rather, amount of PM2.5. But Father Jett did not end with fear. Father Jett ended with a “note of hope.” According to most of my sources for my research paper, the problem with social media’s coverage of climate change that unfortunately leads to indifference instead of action, lies in the way social media frames the issue - that is, negatively.
More often than not, climate change is presented as a threat, and just that. It is framed with strong emotions of fear and shock. And according to studies, this does not work for people. Instead of resulting into actions of changes, the average person will most likely become desensitised and indifferent towards climate change if social media continues to frame it negatively. According to Andrew Fiala, “in order to stimulate prompt and effective action with regard to the ecological crisis, it is necessary to paint a grim picture of the future. But if this picture is too grim, then it appears rational to do nothing… In order to take a problem seriously, one must perceive both that the problem is significant and that there is hope that it can be solved.”
To my wonder, that is just what Father Jett did. He gave us hope. He told us that there is still a chance for a better, more sustainable life should we act, step up a hill and see the whole picture.
There should be hope. In Father Jett’s words, “Fear is not sustainable. It will paralyse you. Love is sustainable.”
- Kim Co