When the adipose of colonial
excesses clog and accumulate it takes human form and assume grander view of the
world. They also think themselves as exceptional beings while people wanting in
their valuation or expectation are usable or disposable. Clearly, this
valuation is not based on empathy, intellect or what defines a human. Nothing
explains complete lack of application of mind or empathy for tribulations of common
people across the world who are facing the cascading effects of climate change.
Market media across the world are seen lacking in their response to the looming
climate crisis despite the fact that millions face bleak future. They seem to
have abdicated whatever little responsibility they have. Although they claim to
represent fourth estate of democracy -a watchdog, they are mostly controlled by
powerful interests. Few billionaires control influential outlets and they overwhelm
the space, hence it’s difficult for concerned committed outlet to emerge -it
also is dependent on nature of society too -a primitive society where herds can easily be controlled and kept excited through superficialities
of politics, fantasies of religions, mediocre movies, wastrel’s games, it
really becomes difficult to be responsible citizens. Herd has to be always kept
distracted, otherwise lacking basic sense they turn into mob.
BBC has produced some excellent iconic documentaries
on nature and environment over the years, and with David Attenborough it was
nothing short of miracle. But these attempts by BBC News to play both
sideism on the issue of climate crisis even in the year 2022 is telling. It also shows
how much they are complicit in obfuscating the critical issue for the last many
decades. It shows how much they value matter that will impact the fate of life
on earth, all those amazing species. This is an existential crisis. It is NOT that ‘environmentalists are
upset’ over UK PM not attending COP27 or that Sweden has removed Environment ministry
(imagine a Scandinavian country has slipped into such a mess, it’s really unbelievable)
any sane person will be, and should be, upset.
*western british media like BBC have
serious impact on erstwhile colonies since the elite sections frame much of their
worldview through these -ofcourse in the recent times democratization has happened
through profusion of digital and social media. But many of these News channels
carry reputation -not necessarily deservingly as BBC is persistently proving. When
I was in my early teens I was asked to listen to BBC since it was supposed to
carry authentic news, as also it would help me learn 'good English'. I first listened
to BBC when Indira Gandhi got assassinated and there were reports of riots,
there was no source of authentic news. Quite coincidently I had recently got a portable
Japanese radio set, and would listen BBC with much keenness although I really couldn’t
understand much of what they said and the accent made it worse. Fortunately for
me they repeated the news every half an hour or so, and I would listen again
and again. Slowly I could catch the words and search the meanings in the
dictionary, thirteen-year-old me would be exhilarated. I even thought Punjab
was actually Poonjab! Now as I look back, I feel violated that BBC is reduced
to such crap, or maybe they were always manipulative and that I am no longer naïve.
