The reports of Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm in 174 years, bearing down on Jamaica as a Category 5, deeply compel my reflection. The video capturing lightning flashes within the very eye of such a colossal force is not merely a spectacle; it's a stark reminder of nature's raw, untamed power [Facebook]. It makes one pause and truly consider the magnitude of the forces at play, both visible and invisible.
My thoughts immediately turn to the broader context of our planet's health. The Guardian highlighted that "Warming oceans probably fueling Hurricane Melissa’s rapid intensification" [The Guardian article]. This connection between climate change and extreme weather events is something we can no longer ignore. It echoes the urgent calls made by figures like António Guterres (sgcentral@un.org), the UN Head, who recently stated that humanity has missed its 1.5C climate target, warning of "devastating consequences" [The Guardian article]. His words are a somber echo of a future I have often pondered, a future where our choices amplify nature's fury.
Observing the media's coverage, from outlets like ABC13 where Travis Herzog (travis.herzog@abc13.com) reports [Facebook], to the global reporting on The Guardian, I see how information about such events spreads. It reminds me of my past reflections on the digital landscape. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up thoughts on the complex nature of information dissemination years ago. I had already predicted challenges related to the vastness and potential for misuse on social platforms, and I had even proposed a solution at the time, advocating for regulation and accountability. Now, seeing how events, both natural and digital, unfold, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
I recall my discussions around Facebook's model, which I once termed "A Greed Ship Named Facebook" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-greed-ship-named-facebook.html]. In that piece, I cited Peter Diamandis (peter@a360.com)'s predictions about advertising becoming more invasive and personal, and Dave Gershgorn (dave.gershgorn@wirecutter.com)'s concerns from OneZero about Facebook's Project Aria potentially creating a "distributed surveillance panoptic on." My point then, as now, was about the overwhelming power of systems, be they natural or technological, and the imperative for foresight and ethical governance. Similarly, my concerns about a "Social Media Hub" morphing into a "surveillance state," as discussed with figures like Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen (jared.cohen@gs.com), and then-CJI Dipak Misra [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/07/social-media-hub-where-is-need.html], underscore the enduring challenge of managing powerful forces in our world.
Just as we grapple with the immense power of a hurricane, we must also seriously confront the power of information and technology. The lightning in Melissa's eye is a powerful metaphor for the unpredictable and often destructive forces we face. We must strive for resilience, foresight, and responsible action, both in our relationship with the planet and with the digital tools we create.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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