Right now, youth look to the future and see two possibilities. On one side, we can continue to burn oil, gas and coal and create nuclear power plants and nuclear waste to generate energy to fuel this ever-expanding civilization, resulting in ever-greater imbalance and ever greater conflict over dwindling natural resources until the atmosphere and oceans and land are so polluted that humans, plants and animals are all dying of cancer and other environmentally-caused illnesses, while the massive stockpile of weapons created in the 20th century are put to use defending those wealthy enough to control them. On the other side, we can collectively wake up from our unconscious consumption of these powerful substances and make the transition to a renewably-powered society, which consumes only what it needs, eliminates excess, and invests in activities which further develop the human spirit, that most renewable of resources. In this vision, human beings live happily with each other, no longer exploit those with less, and seek to elevate themselves to be the best they can possibly be. Simply put, solving the climate crisis means choosing between war and death or peace and life.
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