On December 16, 2021 (Thursday) Typhoon Odette made landfall on the southern Philippine province of Cebu; bringing with it torrential rain and maximum sustained wind speeds of over 200 kph. As of writing, Odette has now moved passed the southern Philippines and is now over open water. But has left the affected areas (including my hometown) severely damaged, most of which can be categorized into three major groups. Physical debris. The high sustained wind speeds displaced trees, loose structures, and ceilings which led to the destruction of physical property, the displacement of people, the obstruction of roads, and damage to infrastructure.

They both want you to think about climate change. Climate change isn’t sexy. Despite its massive importance to the survival of our species, talking about the climate isn’t fun. Any utterance of carbon dioxide, reflected sunlight radiation, or a 2°C increase in global temperatures will, more often than not, elicit a reaction similar to the prospect of watching paint dry. That is also the complete opposite reaction you would get when a giant monstrous creature from the depths of the sea the size of a building is stomping towards you.