Emily Cunningham

But the fundamental premise of this essay is flawed. The author essentially says she, and we, are powerless to fight the extinction crisis, so we might as well settle in, take token actions to make ourselves feel better, and enjoy what beauty remains while we still can. (2/)

This is bullshit defeatism. Each of us is complicit in the extinction crisis, both through our personal actions but more importantly through our acquiescing to the broader social, economic, and political factors that cause it. (3/)

If you think all you can do is set up a birdbox while nature burns around you, ask yourself: have you stood up to the powers that be today? Have you demanded political accountability from your electeds? Have you forced unpleasant discussions about complicity? (4/)

Further, what have you done to foment revolution today? What have you done to overthrow the ever-expanding, ever-rapacious capitalist, materialist, consumerist system which is the root of the extinction crisis? What have you done to stick it to the man? (5/)

Need solace? Fine. Set up a birdbox. Read a poem. Write a poem. Go for a hike. Daydream in the shade of an oak tree. Grow carrots in your yard. Whatever you need to do to feel better, no matter how meaningless. (6/)

Then get off your ass, pick yourself up, and fight like hell with everything you have to save what we have left. Join a revolution. Start a revolution. Opt out. Quit your fucking job. Take to the streets. Be subversive. Be a monkeywrench in the machine. (7/)

Maybe it's all for naught. Maybe we are too late. But goddamit, If we all just sit around tending birdboxes, we lose not just the ability to influence the outcome but our fucking humanity. Saving a few bluebirds while a million species go extinct is narcissistic and selfish. (8/)