Currently — February 7th, 2023

February 06, 2023

What you need to know, currently.

Happy “Last of Us” Recovery Day!

To celebrate, here’s an op-ed by Kelly Hayes for TRUTHOUT. In it, she outlines how the post-apocalyptic drama—which serves as a semi-metaphor to climate change—doesn’t rely on cynicism and terror to get its message across, but rather, notions of care, radical love, tenderness, and mutual aid.

“Storytelling affects our notions of what is possible, our beliefs about human nature, and even our sense of our own potential. Given these realities, it’s unfortunate that so much apocalyptic fiction models a dim view of human potential. Assumptions that people will become hysterical, violent, and only look out for themselves amid crisis lend themselves to right-wing and authoritarian ideas about how people should be managed during a crisis. In addition to propping up bad politics, such stories also disregard the well-documented reality that many people respond to crises with caring, prosocial behaviors amid catastrophe — as we saw at the start of the pandemic when so many people joined mutual aid efforts.

To explore the fragility or durability of such efforts (even if one eventually came to cynical conclusions) would at least engage with reality, but many apocalyptic stories simply bypass questions of human potential, and how we might care for each other, disregarding themes that are crucial in our times.”

Currently is a member-supported independent news outlet and we can’t pursue our mission without you. The best way to support our work is to become a member:

What you can do, currently.

Climate change is making wildfires worse, damaging our communities and the environment. Not only do wildfires hurt our forests and put people in danger — burn scars can result in harsher floods — like we’ve seen in recent weeks across California.

Our partner Wren supports efforts to prevent wildfires by removing flammable, dead wood and turning it into biochar — removing carbon in the process. Join Wren to start funding climate solutions today, new users get 20 native trees planted for free on us.

Enjoying our stories and want more reporting on the ground? We publish daily weather updates in the following cities. Sign up now!