A piece of culture, a piece of politics #2

Deep thoughts in a shallow format & Trump's unexpected help to the enviorment

A piece of culture: Deep thoughts in a shallow format

Upon starting this publication I was looking for a framed structure of 2–3 topics to keep me focused in.

As me and my hallucinating, not-so-reliable friend ChatGPT were brainstorming on catchy titles, he offered this Buddha quote:

“In the end, only three things matter…”

I will not continue on, just let you wonder what those 3 things are.

Because it didn’t take a very deep dig to find out Buddha never said anything like this. That quote was actually from a naive pocket book called Buddha’s Little Instruction Book, by Jack Kornfield.
This is the kind of paperback you’d find in a hostel’s common area, next to the Lonely Planet guides, The Alchemist, and The Secret in various languages.

And this is the issue with philosophy these days: meme-ification of meaning.
We take complex stuff and squash it into a square Shutterstock image with a sentence that sounds wise. Moreover, as information flows faster and wider, messages often get twisted, misunderstood, or misattributed — passed along with confidence, but without context or accuracy.

In a recent essay¹, Douglas Youvan explains how memes give instant validation to one’s point of view. He emphasizes how memes reduce nuanced discourse into quick hits of meaning. Deep thinking stays on the surface, clichés are embraced, and complexity is left at the door.

Simply put, these memes are philosophical fast food. Tasty with no real nutritional value. All just another contribution to our culture of cognitive impatience — where speed and emotional resonance matter more than accuracy or depth.

I made this meme all by myself, I took the picture on the Atlantic coast, and I’m quoting a book I read and recommend.

A piece of politics: Will Trump’s Trade Policies Have an unexpected Impact on the Environment?

Among the many new tariffs—and what appears to be yet another erratic maneuver by Trump to promote... well, I’m not sure what he tries to promote… Anyways, the cancellation of the tax exemption for low-value goods caught my attention.

While economic news outlets are warning of a looming collapse in global trade and financial markets, I recalled the saying: even a broken clock gets the time right twice a day.

Could Trump aggressive tariff policies—despite being rooted in isolationism or protectionism— unintentionally help curb overconsumption, one of the driving forces behind climate change?

Is Trump's current policy, which includes new tariffs on imports and the cancellation of tax exemptions for low-value goods, setting the stage for a slowdown in fast fashion, excessive consumerism, and a reduction in the soaring levels of global air and sea traffic?

If higher tariffs make ultra-cheap, low-quality imports from platforms like Shein and Temu less attractive to consumers, it might:

• Decrease the demand for disposable fashion.

• Lower carbon emissions from long-distance shipping.

• Shift public attention toward local, sustainable products.

• Encourage a culture of buying less and choosing better.

It’s ironic, but perhaps this controversial policy could spark a behavioral shift that no amount of climate activism or consumer awareness campaigns have managed to achieve at scale. What do you think?

It’s the end of the world.

Don’t waste time doomscrolling and consuming bullshit.

Eat well, walk enough steps a day, travel as much as you can, be a tourist in your own hometown.

Call your loved ones, forgive your parents.

If you like what I write, you’re welcome to show it 👇🏻

1. Youvan, Douglas. (2025). Memetic Cognition: The Compression of Complexity in the Human Psyche. 10.13140/RG.2.2.10487.12968.