For the past few weeks, wild fires all over the north of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have devastated large part of the forests and bush.  It is very dry, and the smoke and smog are covering large areas.  The air circulation does not recognize borders, and the haze reached New York city as well as Ottawa and Toronto.  Air quality warnings have been in effect, and people with asthma and other respiratory ailments are warned to stay indoors.  Over 20000 people have been evacuated, and many of them will have no were to come back to.  Many homes burned to the ground.  In the meantime, in Ukraine flood water from the dam that was damaged by explosives washed away entire villages.  People and animals died, and homes were swept away.  No home to come back to.  Early Fridy evening last week the CBC interviewed the chief Rabbi of Ukraine who came to the flooded area to save people and religious items like Torah scrolls from being destroyed.  The little boat they traveled in was shelled and they were lucky to survive.  When they reached the shore, they found people lying on the street hurt by Russian fire. 

Whether manmade or natural disasters, we are experiencing a situation of people losing their homes. Every day in Canada we hear of evacuations from places in Vancouver Island, British Colombia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  There are more than 40 fires raging.  Firefighters from as far as Australia have come to help the overworked and tired Canadian ones, some of whom paid with their lives. Luckily the rain has started, and some folks could return to their evacuated towns and villages. The lucky ones found minimal damage, while some others found their property destroyed.  The news shows children looking in awe at what used to be their home.  People are very generous and take in strangers who have nowhere to stay. For some this is the second time this season that they had to evacuate.

What do you take with you when you have barely an hour to gather essentials and leave, not knowing if anything will survive?  I remember when we were young, we used to play a game of what 3 books you would take with you to a desert island.  It sounded veery sophisticated and of the highest priority. We did not think of the survival aspect.  Nor did we consider the anguish and grief we would feel by losing what is precious to us. When you have such a short time to gather what you take with you, your life and the life of your family members including your pets are the first priority. We are so lucky today that we can at least keep our photos, videos and other important documents on the “cloud”.  Wait a minute, do I remember my password to my account?  Will I be able to retrieve the information? I know what my husband, and perhaps even me, would make sure to pack – the computers, flash memories, USB’s and the black book of girl’s phone numbers? Just kidding. His black book of PASSWORDS! I have mine on a fabulous program called Keepass which is on my cellphone. Oh, that reminds me I must take my charger too.  But what if the electricity is off?

Meanwhile the waters of the Dnieper River are still washing away homes, animals and people. Rushia is still shelling and destroying homes, and the casualties on both sides are mounting. The counteroffensive has started and Canada is pledging $ 500,000,000 more for medical supplies and weapons.  When you think of it both disasters are actually man made.  Even though only the war appears to be caused by humans, so are the fires. We are the ones who caused the climate change, so we are the ones responsible for both the fires and the wars. Therefore, we have to also take on responsibility to try and change the situations we created. All humans have evolved to react to danger of annihilation by responses of Fight, Flight and Freeze.  While some of our world’s inhabitants fight to survive, and others flee for their life, most of us freeze.  We feel helpless and just wait for the danger to pass.  Unfortunately, it is not a bear who will go away if we play dead, but the environment that does not care if we are dead or alive.

Besides the three Fs of behavior, we are aware today of 3 more reactions to prolonged traumatic situations.  The Cry for help, Collapse/Submit and Please Appease. When freezing and doing nothing does not change the climate, the war or the political environment we cry for help.  We plead, we demonstrate and we worry.  We already can recognize places which most people reverted to the behavior of collapse and submit.  It is a positive sign to see in some of these places like Poland people starting to demonstrate again and not submit to subversive laws.  I hope none of us will live in an atmosphere were the only was to survive is to please and appease.

We must choose to care.  To unfreeze, and get into action. We no longer have the luxury to stay on the sidelines and not get involved.  Ever since being hunter gatherers we thrived by living in communities. Our survival depends on connection with others.  Attachment and safety are the first needs of every human being.  We need to unfreeze, open our hearts and accept the fact that we all have a common interest in healing the environment and our societies. I wish I had more wisdom to share, but I chose to listen to young people, support the ones that present well planned solutions.  Whether it is by financial or moral support we need to join the fight for the environment and for global social justice.  Admitted, some of us are unable to support financially or demonstrate or write, so at least watch what you buy, patronize local farms, compost and recycle.   Remember, it is the young ones and the next generation who will be living on this earth well after we are gone.  I hope they create a democratic, inclusive and caring societies for a saner, more friendly world to live in.