An Environmental Pearl Harbor
October 12, 2026
by William P. Meyers

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Get ready for the final conflict

No government has declared war on the fossil fuel industry, or other entities pushing the natural world to complete destruction. Why? Because this is a Slow Motion Apocalypse, and declaring war is a serious thing for most of us.

In history there were tripwires that caused war to be declared. Most famously, in recent history, the United States of America, under President Franklin Roosevelt, declared war on Japan, Germany, and the other Axis Powers after the Battle of Pearl Harbor in late 1941. Germany had invaded Poland in 1939, defeated France in 1940, and invaded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia) in mid 1941.

What is it going to take to see the environmental equivalent of Pearl Harbor, for the good people of the world to turn all their energy to defending the environment and crushing its enemies?

A lot, in two senses. We have already seen some spectacular environmental disasters from global warming. The Los Angeles fires of 2025, the Nepal flash flood of 2026, the series of coral reef bleachings, the Insect Apocalypse. The list is as long as you like to make it.

So it would likely take something pretty big, like a major famine in the U.S. or Europe, or south Florida being wiped out by a storm surge wave, to get a Pearl Harbor level reaction.

On the other hand we have a collection of people who benefit from the fossil fuel industry or other activities that contribute to the coming apocalypse. And to politicians. But even if you include the employees of Chevron, Exxon, BP and etc., as well as the executives and owners, they only form a small part of the global population. Why are the rest of us failing to resist or revolt or at least vote them out of power?

After the reality of profits and greed, the biggest factor is denial. Denying global warming is a big business. On a smaller scale most people have enough to worry about without taking an alarmist position; denial is the drug of choice. Then there are religious sects that welcome the apocalypse.

Prioritizating choices in a world of multiple problems seems to be another major factor. These last two years the young protestors focused on Palestine and Gaza. I understand that. There are only so many young people willing to risk their careers in order to cause trouble, so any other issue can suck the energy out of the environmental movement. Asked about issues in the USA, most people prioritize the economy, or immigration, or crime. Most Americans believe in global warming, they know it is going to be bad over time, but on any given day it is too far down the list to take action on. When people in the U.S. do take action it is usually something like buying a hybrid or electric car, getting a heat pump, or donating to some group that defends wildlife. All good things, but you can't defeat a Hitler by refusing to buy German beer.

We will know when there has been an environmental Pearl Harbor when people change priorities, perhaps led by a U.S. President, perhaps by a reinvigorated U.N., perhaps by the Chinese or leaders of a group of nations who are first impacted. A war must be fought. An all out war against the fossil fuel industry and environmental destruction.

In retrospect we are taught FDR was a great leader. But he could have stopped the fascists in Spain during the Spanish Civil War simply by send a few thousand troops to help defeat General Franco. He (or the British or French governments) could have made the German invasion of Czeckoslavakia a tripwire. He did not. He could have sent troops, in advance, into Poland. He did not. He fidgeted until the game was almost lost.

Already American and other politicians have possibly caused us to lose the game. Trump and friends have made the situation much worse.

So if major national leaders do not step forward, the people, at least the serious environmentalists have a right and a duty to step up, form provisional governments, and fight to save the earth.

It really has become that simple. There is just one question: Which side are you on? And how much punishment can you watch the world take before you act?