The news is that the state of a crucial oceanic circulation system has been reassessed by scientists. Some now believe that, as a result of climate breakdown changing the temperature and salinity of seawater, it is more likely than not to collapse. This system – known as the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) – delivers heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic.
Even when the countervailing effects of generalised global heating are taken into account, a further paper proposes, the net impact in northern Europe would be periods of extreme cold – including events in which temperatures in London fall to -19C, in Edinburgh to -30C and in Oslo to -48C.
A billionaire death cult has its fingers around humanity’s throat. It both causes and downplays our existential crisis. The oligarchs are not just a class enemy but, as they have always been, a societal enemy: a few thousand people can destroy civilisations. It’s the billions v the billionaires, and the stakes could not possibly be higher.
Not to mention that in a post-apocalyptic scenario, furniture would be plentiful while books would succumb to the elements pretty fast (once the air conditioning turns off).
Also, the amount of energy required to make usable furniture is a fraction of the amount of making paper. Paper can be made from the byproduct of furniture-making but it still requires pressing, drying, and suitable inks require (minor) chemical processing. You can use soot and honey (aka lampblack ink) but it’s way more involved than drilling some holes in some wood and then hammering legs into said holes (the simplest form of “furniture”).