A headline for a news report published on the Internet today (Tuesday September 20^th, 2016) reads: “Fire in the mangroves of Holbox, Quintana Roo”.

(Read full story in Spanish here -> http://aristeguinoticias.com/1909/mexico/incendio-en-manglar-de-holbox-quintana-roo/)

The fire began on Sunday, apparently, so by the time this article was written, published and out for everyone to see, the fire had been going on for more than 24 hours. The fire spread through kilometers (approximately, since they have no real estimations of the damage) of mangroves and forest. Given the habitat, access was very difficult so the fire was able to spread quickly without being extinguished or even controlled by local inhabitants of the island. It was also said to have started in ten different locations, TEN. I am not going to describe the report since you can read it. Nor am I going to discuss the damages to the human communities and ecosystems or local population in depth since I consider the implications of this tragedy terribly obvious.

Instead, I wish to ask a question… Why do we act like this still surprises us? Why do we act like we think it’s terrible and click the little sad face on Facebook? Or the little angry face because oh! Dear god, how indignant! And then maybe pour some more coffee and continue to browse over pictures of cats and incessant memes, and feel (and do) absolutely nothing? When you think about it, we are so insensitive it’s scary!

As a person lucky enough to get the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature everyday (I work right next to a regional botanical garden) sometimes I feel very disconnected. And I think this feeling may also be generalized. I can see us being so disconnected from nature (and probably from life itself) that it’s easy for us to receive the data, think about it for one second and almost sociopathically react without really feeling and then move on just like that. In conclusion I think that we, as humans, are being led into a completely numb and senseless state and are in desperate need of more organic connections with each other, with the outside and ultimately with ourselves. Maybe achieving these connections can maybe lead us in a different path than where we’re headed.

Or otherwise pour another cup of coffee while atrocities happen all around the world and continue to pretend to care while doing and feeling nothing.

Community impairment as a result of neoliberal policies

The neoliberal policies that have developed within the last thirty years have generated a huge social polarization in the world, which, in turn, has generated social inequalities significantly harming the welfare of communities. These policies are causing social insecurity, especially in the most popular classes. Within these classes, the most adversely affected have been the young, and particularly those who lack job skills that would facilitate their integration into the labor market. In the following paragraphs, I will mention different aspects that have arisen as a result of neoliberal policies which deteriorates human communities.

Economic depression

Although several countries have very broad social policies, families are not getting the support they need, as this is being curtailed by the economic crisis. Globally, more than half a million families are “forgotten” and have no access to public programs.

An inability to access public programs leads to a gap in academic education. Not only is there a gap, but also there are many problems educating children. As well, there is a lack of trust in the politics that lead people to be discontent.

Obesity

In the world there are more than 17 million deaths each year from heart disease, caused by being overweight. Obesity affects nearly 60 percent of the population and the impact of obesity in society is so great that a medical problem is now a social, demographic and economic one.

Experts warn that the current generation of children may have shorter lives than their parents or grandparents, due to a lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet.

Alcoholism

The impact of problems with alcohol on children and families can influence many areas of life, such as physical and psychological health, finances, employment, social life and relationships. Problematic alcohol use can have a particular impact on the structure and function of the family.

Loss of family structure

Daughters of divorced parents are 40% more likely to become mothers in their teens. Children in families with only one parent are 60% more likely to leave school and 129% (boys) and 65% (girls) more likely to have sex before the age of 16. In similar families, eighteen year olds are 90 percent more likely to be heavy consumers of alcohol and teenagers are 50% more likely to be drug users and 325% more likely to be expelled from school.

Other problems in families in which the parents are not married and one of them is missing include a consistent pattern of lower family revenues, higher patterns of problems such as depression, family violence, and a greater risk of child becoming victims of violence and sexual abuse.