Dr. DJUWARI
A video recently went viral, being shared within a specific WhatsApp’s group just yesterday. This video discusses a report presented by a prominent private TV journalist in Indonesia, detailing predictions for the year 2050.
According to the video, 2050 will witness an unprecedented and uncontrollable rise in global temperatures, rendering life incredibly hot and accessible only to the wealthy. The video foresees a significant number of casualties due to the extreme heat.
This elevated global temperature will also bring about various problems, including shortages in food and employment, along with other essential human needs. These challenges will force people to struggle significantly for their survival, ultimately resulting in a substantial loss of lives.
In response to this viral video, I commented, “In reality, the threat to our world’s environment has been a concern for a long time. However, these concerns were not documented or reported by news media or TV in the absence of today’s widespread internet access.” I continued by stating as the following.
Reflecting on the extinction of the dinosaurs, we comprehend that these colossal creatures were wiped out by a catastrophe. This calamity involved scorching meteors plummeting into the ocean, triggering massive, searing waves that engulfed and exterminated all the dinosaurs.
The global population has witnessed depictions of this event through films depicting the annihilation of the dinosaurs, where not a single one survived. Furthermore, during my elementary school days, a history teacher illustrated the melting of ice in the Arctic Ocean, to the class.
This ice melting, as documented in history books, caused certain landmasses in Indonesia to separate. Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Java were once part of a single landmass but eventually split into distinct islands—Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Sulawesi.
When we reflect on this historical context, it becomes apparent that similar geological transformations can occur at any time, although the exact timing remains uncertain. So, we are not sure. Yet, the viral video predicts such changes will transpire in 2050, which is 27 years from today, given that it is currently 2023.
Considering generational shifts, those born today will be 27 years old by 2050. For millennial, who are around 17 years old now, they will reach the age of 44. This period represents the prime of life for the generation born today and the pre-retirement phase for today’s millennial.
So, what steps can we take in response to the above? The global education systems should prioritize the promotion of love, peace, and efficiency. It’s crucial to provide children and higher education students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead efficient lives.
Fostering love and peace can encourage nations worldwide to look out for one another. When some nations are facing hardship, whether due to natural disasters like floods and earthquakes or conflicts dominated by more powerful nations, others should exhibit compassion.
Without love and peace, the scenario depicted in the viral video regarding the 2050 disaster could resemble the chaos and devastation seen in dinosaur-themed films.
Educational institutions should incorporate teachings on love, aiming to instill the capacity to crystallize these values into shared principles. These shared values have the potential to transform nations into caring and empathetic entities.
Dr. Djuwari is the Associate Professor at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (UNUSA), Indonesia. The President of International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors, and Reviewers (IASPER). He is also the editor and reviewer of some international research journals; a journalist at Indonesia Pos; A small business owner of Djuw Cafe.
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