Humanity is at precipice. There is no denying the fact that humanity has proved itself against viruses, diseases and plagues. However, he has rode along these forces and has thrived in multiple ways. He has endured pandemics, world wars, and has flourished itself against these forces. But can he sustain this prosperity? Is his future not at risk? Isn’t recent climate change an alarming danger edging itself around the corner of humanity survival?
Covid-19 should have been a wakeup call for him. It reminded him that the entire humanity can be threatened or held hostile by a tiny virus. A tiny-pathogen emerging in Wuhan, China, crossed borders and affected millions of people across the world. Luckily, human emerged victorious and battled down the virus, as never before, and vaccinated itself (though still in the process). It certainly gives the lie to this rather jaundiced view that humanity is, indeed, at crossroads when it does not act promptly to tackle tiny issues. Can he, similarly, be able to battle down other similar threats that cause him devastating danger? Who knows!
Climate change is, no doubt, proving itself a detrimental threat to humanity. The recent flash floods and heavy downpour in Pakistan is a clear manifestation of climate wrath. Last year, Iceland bade farewell to its largest standing glacier. Glaciers are melting at an alarming pace, droughts, and heatwaves have sustained in major parts of the world. If humanity wakes from the slumber of deep sleep and smell the cup of coffee of climate change, than he will be able to act promptly to tackle this lingering threat. If he fails to do so, than humanity is certainly at crossroad.
Contagious movie was a good watch during this pandemic. However, the movie predicts a Covid like outbreak and deals with it. It proposes humanity to wash their hands, keep social distance, and wear mask. Entertainment industry has always enthralled us with movies on climate change, super volcanos, asteroid impact, robots, and technology. All these movies have, overtly and covertly, showed the catastrophic risk which these forces are causing to planet earth. Yet, unknown to many people, a similar lethal force, capable of destructing humanity, is brewing in the shadow of our daily lives. And, ironically, Hollywood movies have ignored its impact—even human itself. Is this enough lethal to self-destruct humanity? Is humanity at crossroads? What can be done to undo it? Is it too late? Who knows!
“Humanity is at precipice.”
This lethal self-destructing force is driven by our unquenchable desire for material consumption. Ironically, this is the result of human life itself. If we have a glance at our surrounding, we are inseparably surrounded by these material products, whether we need them in our lives or not. This ever-expanding desire for consumption is concomitantly degrading environmental habitant, depleting earth’s natural resources, stripping our emotional health, and creating piles of thrash. If its driving forces are uncheck, then humanity is, certainly, at crossroad.
The savage of materialism is so ingrained in our minds that creating new stuff and craving for new products has become a collective human psyche. Humans have settled it in their minds that creating new things and trying them does give a meaningful purpose and ambition to life. However, a life without it is doomed to be monotonous. Materialism has in affect increased consumerism. This consumerism is devouring natural resources, increasing plastic piles, and acidifying oceans at an alarming pace. Is there anyone to put back the genie of consumerism back in the bottle? Can humanity realize the horrendous effects of materialism and consumerism? If there are no checks and balances on the rate of consumption, than humanity is certainly at crossroad.
Artificial intelligence is equally proving itself to be a bane for humanity. It was a time when man worked with his bare hands and utilized his cognitive abilities. However, over the years, technological advancement in the shape of artificial intelligence has replaced it. Now much more is reliant on machines. After the industrial revolution, machines replaced human working hands; in the same way, advent of artificial intelligence is proving itself to replace human cognitive abilities. If AI remains successful, will human be useless in the world—since human has possessed these two qualities, physical and cognitive abilities? Is not humanity at crossroad when robots think instead of humans and dictate them the terms and conditions of this world? Is there a possible way out? Who knows!
To sum it up, it can be argued that humanity has reached at the culmination of self-destruction. His actions in the world have undeniably produced a series of deleterious consequences in shape of climate change, Covid-19, and the saga of massive consumption. In order to deal with it and save himself from the clutches of wanton destruction, he must act promptly—otherwise humanity is in crossroads. The question here that begs the answer, can humanity save itself from his destiny or he will perish? Who knows!
About the Author:
Jahanzaib Mengal
SIT AlumniJahanzaib Mengal has done his graduation from Qauid-i-Azam Univeristy Islamabad in International Relations. His field area is International Politics, Indian Ocean, and National Security.