The Planet’s Being Burned for Profit... But It’s Not Too Late to Flip the Script!

What kind of person knowingly profits from planetary destruction?

A question that relentlessly knocks at the doors of our minds,... and one that’s at the heart of a 2021 New Yorker piece by climate journalist Bill McKibben.

Spoiler alert: the answer is messy, but rooted in something we witness every day: unchecked egos, denial, and a culture of “uncare”.

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In the piece, McKibben walks us through how companies like ExxonMobil have adopted Big Tobacco-style tactics to dodge accountability. They knew the science. They knew the damage. But instead of facing the music, they deflected - pointing the finger at consumers, casting doubt, and pushing the now-infamous & infectious narrative “your personal choices are the problem.”

Like politics nowadays, it’s a playbook that banks on distraction. Because if we’re busy blaming each other for using plastic straws, we’re not questioning the billion-dollar systems that sell us single-use everything in the first place.

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British Psychoanalyst Sally Weintrobe calls this “the Age of Exceptionalism.” It’s the idea that “the rules don’t apply to me.” That our actions couldn’t possibly be that harmful. This precise idea, deminishing the power of one's actions, is what lets those precise petro-chem' and other delish' industry leaders sleep at night.... while their world burns -and them with it. Isn't this mechanism a fascinating double whammy for humanity?

Although, as Weintrobe points out, there is an antidote: young people. Communities. Movements. People who reclaim their power, demand better, request accountability, and prove that care is radical.

At Bye Bye Plastic, we’re here for that energy

Along the host of reflections this might trigger for you, this article actually gives you another insight into our why. We’re not just out here pointing fingers - we’re actually building something better. We're taking today's cultural stage to flip tomorrow's script. From artist-led Eco-Riders to refill revolutions at festivals across Europe, we’re flipping the script on exceptionalism, and bringing everyone along for the ride.

Because being part of the problem isn’t a given, and being part of the solution can actually be… kind of epic!!

→ Wanna join us? Head to our site or follow the good vibes on IG @byebyeplasticlife