The mainstream media feels like Don’t Look Up. It’s horrific – Clare Farrell in Medium

About 5 minutes at the end of the programme was dedicated to what we need to do to respond to the mess we’re in; protest/resistance, and energy transition. I had the opportunity to speak twice and tried to cram in what I wanted to say, after hours of preparation and none of the research questions the producers prepared me for actually being raised.

I struggled to get to sleep that night and woke up in the morning and burst into tears. It breaks my heart taking part in these inane conversations. I was hoping this might be the time that we’re actually able to have a grown up conversation about what could be the end of the world and what to do about it, due to the terrifying heat in London. As predicted though, I left feeling disappointed in how little time was given, the sensationalist line of questioning, and then lay awake at night thinking of the millions of things I didn’t say.

Off air, the majority of people tell me that they know we need revolutionary change. Including those on the set of Newsnight this week. It would help if people would say what they actually think publicly. It takes courage, but its almost the end of the world isn’t it, so fuck your ego and your status, live in truth. You will feel better for it!

I once said to a presenter, something along these lines, “I don’t know why I behave so well in these spaces, I answer your questions even though they make a mockery of the situation, I’m too polite and always leave heartbroken. And I don’t even glue myself to anything!”

The reply was, “Maybe you can glue yourself to me one day!” in a lighthearted tone.

What was I meant to say?! I’ll call you tomorrow to arrange that thanks very much? This isn’t a fucking joke?

You have to understand that the scientists and activists, we never wanted to come out and say we told you so. Producers are telling us behind the scenes “Well, everyone can see you were right now, can’t they?” while still diverting their line of questions away from the crisis to the same old questions, like “Aren’t your tactics a bit problematic?”

Do you know what I think is problematic?

We are living in a self terminating society and idiots who don’t understand objective reality are in charge. That’s on us by the way. The citizens are the conscience keepers in a democracy.

The heat we are feeling is making it real now, isn’t it.

This is what it feels like to know a stable climate and a prosperous natural world, and watch it spiral into mass death. Knowing what needs to be done and yet everyone letting it run out of control. Knowing we are all trapped in this one slither of atmosphere on a rock in a vacuum of space. What idiots would do this to themselves?

London was on fire this week. Recently birds were dropping out of the sky in India, it was so hot. WE KNOW Vast swathes of the world are going to become uninhabitable. Our food systems are going to break. There will be war over water supplies.

We’re not ready but we’ve had ample warning.

It is sweet irony that the hottest temperature was recorded at Heathrow on Tuesday, the same day the High Court, that once ruled new runways are incompatible with carbon reduction in line with Paris commitments, ruled that government Net Zero plans are incompatible with carbon reduction obligations. The justice system is not functioning properly with the knowledge available to us today.

The Joint committee on national security has said that it seems there are NO ministers responsible for the resilience of critical national infrastructure to the effects of climate change. At the same time as transport is described as needing decades to adapt to extremes we have seen.

All the while our moron PM skips more Cobra meetings and goes on a school trip to the RAF so he can fly in a plane.

Impacts are worse than even pessimists had predicted. The massive jump in max temperature should frighten us and urge us to get some real adults in charge — which may actually mean younger people, by the way. Who care, diligently educate themselves, and still have some compassion and decency in their hearts.

It’s a case of aiming for the least worst outcomes now. This is going to get worse, I’m very afraid that my worst fears are here and time is like a concertina, what was predicted far ahead is flying towards us at increasing speed.

The media have betrayed humanity, complicit in the biggest campaign of deadly lies in human history. Off camera I remarked that in 2018 I was still preparing for interviews where I would encounter denial. Think tanks and lobbyists have to be held accountable. The PR and advertising industries need to be held accountable. Society will suffer more if it cannot recentre itself around the sacred concept of TRUTH AS A VIRTUE.

The Environment agency is calling for jail sentences for willfully negligent execs of water companies allowing our waterways to be pumped full of sewage. When will we see the same for destroying the whole biosphere with wilful intent?

It’s in the public domain, records of deceit, bullshit and corporate cover ups. There are real human beings who have made decisions to bring us here.

Where are the jail terms? The repercussions? Where’s the accountability?

Last time I went on Newsnight I recorded how I felt on camera. I just feel that I have to get it out there, partly for my own catharsis, but I hope it will help shed light on some of the realities of our work. We are living in the midst of a horror story where society is being gaslit by people and institutions who should know better, and who are dragging us over the cliff for their own short term self-interest.

I said it on air and I’ll say it again: PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT JUSTICE, and I think it’s feasible that will include the 4th estate.

This piece was originally published in Medium on 22nd July, 2022.