A real-life ‘Don’t Look Up’: scientist arrested after tear-stricken warning ‘we’re headed for a fucking catastrophe’

By Alma Fabiani

Published Apr 13, 2022 at 11:24 AM

Reading time: 2 minutes

30150

On Wednesday 6 April, instead of going to work, NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus went to a Chase Bank building in downtown Los Angeles along with three other scientists, and chained himself to the front doors. This protest aimed to bring more attention to the current state of the climate crisis and JP Morgan Chase’s role as the bank providing the most funding to fossil fuel companies. In a video that has now gone viral online, Kalmus is seen choking up as he warns his audience that “we’re gonna lose everything” and that the situation is “so bad,” he’s willing to put his career on the line for it.

He’s one of more than 1,200 scientists in 26 countries who demonstrated last week—and one of many who were arrested—after a recent climate change report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed that, as Kalmus said in the clip, “we are headed towards a fucking catastrophe.” In a more subtle way, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described it as proof that the world is on “a fast track to climate disaster.”

@elizmizon

Here’s something the media aren’t covering: Scientists are taking to the streets and getting arrested for the climate movement, begging governments to act and begging the public to listen. #media #climatechange #extinctionrebellion #climateaction #climateemergency #mainstreammedia #scientistrebellion #bigoil #fossilfuels #fyp #viral #funny #learnontiktok Everyone follow @action4climate @ExtinctionRebellionXR @UN Climate Change

♬ Jazz Bossa Nova - TOKYO Lonesome Blue
@ncclimatejustice

"We've been trying to warn you guys for so many decades that we're heading towards a fucking catastrophe, and we've been being ignored. The scientists of the world are being ignored, and it's got to stop. We're not joking. We're not lying. We're not exaggerating."#fup #fyp #climateaction #ipccreport #ipcc #climatejustice #climatechange #scientistrebellion #ImoniCarly #climateprotest #ipccreport #notadrill #dontlookup #fossilfuels

♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

About ten years ago, Kalmus made a career move from astrophysics to Earth science, leading him to quickly realise that the reality of climate science alone wasn’t enough to convince society to transform. He thus became an activist, helping organise Fridays for Future in the US, talking at city council meetings, and trying to drastically reduce his personal carbon footprint, by giving up flying among other things.

But, as society keeps hurtling towards more catastrophic climate impacts, Kalmus has become increasingly convinced that civil disobedience is necessary. And it seems like other scientists feel the same urgency. Kalmus was accompanied by physicist Greg Spooner, engineer Eric Gill, and wildlife educator Allan Chornak. The men are part of an international organisation of scientists called Scientist Rebellion, looking to raise awareness for the detrimental effects of climate change.

Indy100 reported that the scientists’ peaceful protest led to “at least 100” officers in riot gear arriving to arrest them. Excuse me, 100? Meanwhile, Fast Company managed to get an interview with Kalmus after his arrest, who shared that “we need to switch into emergency mode as a society.”

https://twitter.com/ClimateHuman/status/1512241881165406211
@spencewuah

i genuinely can not fathom how corrupt this world is #fyp

♬ original sound - spencer 💅

“Everything seems normal at some level, though it’s been a very not-normal few years,” he continued. “Earth breakdown is going to start kind of contributing very strongly to that sense of non-normalcy going forward. If the mainstream media is reporting this as just another story, if they’re talking about electric cars, and if the scientists are using scientific jargon and graphs and they don’t appear to be freaking out, I think the public looks at the journalists and looks at the scientists… and they’re not going to get the message that it’s an emergency.”

The IPCC report indicates that if world leaders don’t begin implementing drastic changes now—changes they’ve been promising for years yet never made an effort to integrate properly—this could be the imminent end of our planet, no less.

Scientists like Kalmus are hoping their effort to shed light on what’s happening and how urgent the situation is will inspire corporations and governments to begin cutting down greenhouse gas emissions quicker. But sadly, by looking at the poor amount of coverage this latest protest received in the media, it is clear they’ll need a helping hand from the rest of the public in order to make some noise.

Keep On Reading

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Argentina’s President Javier Milei cloned his late dog, but where’s the fifth one he claims to have?

By Charlie Sawyer

Flo Health achieves unicorn status, but is a male-led team fit for femtech?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Liam Payne facing harassment accusations from ex-fiancée Maya Henry over obsessive contact

By Abby Amoakuh

Elon Musk’s trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson to leave US amid rumours of his ties to Trump administration

By Abby Amoakuh

Influencer Sophie Guidolin slammed for Miranda Priestly-style job ad for personal assistant

By Charlie Sawyer

Nick Fuentes doxxed after coining disturbing your body, my choice phrase on X

By Charlie Sawyer

TMZ using Shawn Mendes’ sexuality for clicks proves they’ve learnt nothing since Liam Payne

By Abby Amoakuh

Russian President Vladimir Putin trolls everyone by endorsing Kamala Harris in US election

By Abby Amoakuh

Meet Laura and Becky, the women hunting and exposing cheaters live to thousands on TikTok

By Charlie Sawyer

Kai Trump emerges as President Trump’s most influential social media ally

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Romani creator Londra la Gipsy talks culture appropriation and discrimination

By Abby Amoakuh

This year’s Golden Globe’s gift bag is worth $1 million, including a wine tasting and weekend getaway

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Logan Paul trolling the BBC with a lookalike amid cryptocurrency scandal is so on brand

By Abby Amoakuh

Who is Belle Gibson, the Australian scammer who inspired Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar?

By Charlie Sawyer

Fight me: Kamala Harris’ Call Her Daddy appearance was more productive than any presidential debate

By Charlie Sawyer

Viral Disney Pixar character TikTok filter faces backlash for alleged discrimination

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Could you go an entire year without spending money? Unpacking TikTok’s No Buy 2025 movement

By Charlie Sawyer

Donald Trump’s new press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, is the mouthpiece for right-wing Gen Z

By Abby Amoakuh

Jenna Ortega deleted X after receiving pictures of nudes and underaged deepfake porn of herself

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Mark Zuckerberg criticised as Meta allegedly censors abortion pill providers, raising Trump alliance fears