Displaced by Disasters

In preceding millennia millions used to be displaced

By wars, natural disasters, pestilences that they faced

After the world wars we seemed to have achieved

A semblance of balance, we came to believe

That mass displacements would not happen any more

Society was more stable than ever before

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The illusion lasted for a few decades

For the most part, people safely stayed

In their homes, though some were forced to flee

Their homelands due to political and economic instability

Natural disasters seemed manageable

Overall the world just seemed more stable

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In the past few years that semblance of stability

Has been lost, despite enhanced scientific capabilities

Unpredictable severe weather events are increasingly disruptive

To daily lives, often highly destructive

To lives and property, leading to an increasing number of people being displaced

Our problems are worse than those we have previously faced

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Torrential floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires

Grave are the consequences of our planet’s ire

We have to pause using the earth’s resources indiscriminately

The planet has been making it clear to us lately