Fires on Maui
We cannot forget that climate change is caused by humans
Back when I was in my twenties I was lucky enough to experience New Year’s Eve on the Island of Maui 4 or 5 times, and it was amazing. I remember we would go for a week and stay with some of my mom’s family at the apartment they had. During the day on New Year’s Eve, everybody would go to the local grocery store to buy fireworks before they sold out. Before midnight, we would gather our fireworks (like you would a pile of coveted Halloween candy) and all up and down the beach there would be piles of fireworks ready to be set off. Groups of friends and families waited until midnight, at which point we all set them off at once, which was remarkable to watch.
My wife and I were at dinner last night at a local Mexican restaurant that we love and our food was taking a bit longer than usual. While we were waiting, I noticed that my wife wasn’t really looking at me or talking to me the way she usually does. I almost got upset but then she pointed out that the TV’s were behind me, and they were playing the news about the wildfires in Maui. I couldn’t believe what I was watching when I turned around! One of my favorite places on earth was engulfed in flames. It looked like an atomic bomb had been dropped on the island, it was pure apocalyptic. The fires, however, were not caused by a bomb, but by the effects of climate change, which scientists have proven is a human-made cause. I feel like there have been more fires this year than ever before, and we definitely know that this year is the hottest on record so far. We cannot forget that all of these things are happening because humankind has decided to put profit over planet, which means that we have consumed more than we can and the planet is fighting back. The very least we can do is cut down on our consumption in general and try to remember that these fires are not as far away from affecting us as they may seem. Climate change has a much greater impact on minority communities, including those of us with learning differences or disabilities. My family and I are praying for everyone on Maui right now, and I urge us all to change our ways so that we can continue living on this beautiful planet.