Read the editorial on Delano. ●●●
This editorial, bolstered by interviews with sf writer Francesco Verso and Solarpunk Magazine editor Justine Norton-Kertson, attempts to characterize the mind-paralysis many of us feel when confronted with news of how (fantastically) the climate catastrophe is doing. It was published in Delano magazine in 2021 and addresses a general (i.e. not an academic or sf) readership.
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Consider a pair of experiences from last week. I heard (against my will) about an exhibit at the Rotondes, a sound installation depicting what underwater environments actually sound like. Often romanticized as silent and pristine, the reality—of course—is summed up in the event’s tagline: “destruction of a silent world”. The very next day, I learned that Microsoft is going to build datacentres in the ocean in a bid to be eco-friendly. “By putting datacenters underwater near coastal cities, data would have a short distance to travel, leading to fast and smooth web surfing, video streaming and game playing,” says an article on the company’s website.
And just like that, I’m slammed on both sides. Heartbreak at the reminder that marine wildlife is beyond help; “the answer” being sold to me by copywriters whom I patently disbelieve.
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Jeffrey Palms 
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