I have come to believe that the greatest threat to our collective health, especially in terms of the climate and ecological crisis, is stupidity. The etymology of the word stupid means to be “struck senseless or to be amazed or confounded”.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer developed a theory on stupidity and noted that he thought it was more dangerous than malice, as it often goes unnoticed and can not be countered with reason or force. He noted: “against stupidity, we are defenceless.”

Stupidity and ignorance are not the same thing. One is due to a lack of knowledge and the other is having no desire to gain or integrate new knowledge or information. Stupidity is doing senseless things and having no desire to learn or accept new thoughts or ways, and it is rampant amongst climate change deniers and doubters.

I recently had a conversation with someone on whether it was a moral issue to be stupid, as it often places lives and communities at risk. I stated that people have a right to be stupid and they believed they didn’t or shouldn’t. They believed people should not be allowed to be wilfully uneducated on matters of public interest and security.

But the evidence is overwhelming, that stupidity is a powerful political position which appears also to be a right. And it is a right that large numbers of people appear to be exercising globally. But most worryingly it appears to be being actively endorsed and modelled by many political leaders.

Two such leaders who have made numerous stupid decisions recently are Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. Both of them are climate deniers and down players, as well as war mongers. Both of these men make being sensible and educated look like a crime in their respectful countries.

In the week that Belfast riots were demonstrating that the police are struggling to maintain law and order in Northern Ireland. And after the Court of Appeal defended a position that peaceful Palestine Action activists are treated as terrorists for protesting against genocide. Mr Starmer held a press conference declaring it would be illegal for under sixteens to use social media from next year. Most people wouldn’t notice it but, this is one of the most ridiculous and unenforceable laws that he could have created at this time. Anybody who understands the justice system, understands this is a nonsense. But he did it and yet again, sense has failed to prevail.

The ex-barrister, turned Prime Minister, looked proud as punch making this statement, about a new law that is unenforceable and senseless. If the police can’t protect us from yearly riots, how can they regulate an entire generation on the internet? What are they going to do? Give 12-year-olds community service for scrolling TikTok or sending Snapchat threads? The courts are already a mess, how is this nonsense going to help the justice system? My only thought was, ‘that man is a complete muppet.’ It seems almost inevitable that lawlessness and rates of anti-social behaviour will increase, because the lack of sense from our governments is making a mockery of any semblance of justice and order in these countries. And the smart people are noticing.

Then there’s Trump… we don’t need to think much to come up with examples to evidence his unrelenting love and admiration to defend his right to embrace stupidity. He is without reason, logic and care and that will be his legacy. It would actually be impressive, if it wasn’t so dangerous and scary. ICE and the violence he has encouraged nationally and internationally is neither amusing nor funny. His reign of terrifying stupidity is rooted in being completely indifferent to learning and being educated on matters that impact and threaten the lives of many, many, many people.

As for the climate- the POUS loves oil and he believes all of us who speak out on the climate crisis are “crazy”. And that’s the danger in him, right there. There is no discussion with these people, no debate, just a senseless conviction in their own inaccurate and environmentally disastrous beliefs. Trump only cares about business and Mr Trump loves his fossil fuels, as he went to great lengths to tell the UN General Assembly for over an hour not that long ago. Never mind pulling out of the Paris Agreement and therefore ditching all the Sustainable Development Goals, not once, but twice.

Don’t get me wrong I have been stupid, can be stupid and am more than likely going to do stupid things on occasion going forward. But I am aware of that propensity and take steps to change and improve myself when I make stupid mistakes. This is where me and many people I know and the most dangerous, and some of the most powerful stupid people, differ.

In the face of overwhelming stupidity from many of our leaders and large numbers of people, I think the most powerful thing we can do is remain open to learning, be curious about the world and new information. I also believe it is imperative that we critically think about matters rather than simply accept what comes out of our media and politicians. We must never, ever, ever stop learning.

If the enemy is stupidity, then our victory lies in education. It is our right to demand smarter leadership and representation. Until we get there, don’t let the senseless grind you down. Be smart climate children- we only have a world to win.