Voices from the Edge: The Radical Truths of Hank Van Vice — On The Eco-Dystopia & How Environmental Collapse Is Already Here
Interviewer: Dana "Earthquake" Morales, Green Revolution Radio
Dana: Hank, it’s no secret that our planet is in trouble. But you’ve been saying for a while now that we’re already living in an eco-dystopia. Can you explain what you mean by that?
Hank Van Vice: [Sighing, shaking his head] Look around, Dana. We’re not heading for disaster—we’re already in it. They keep talking about climate change like it’s some future event, something we can kick down the road for the next generation to deal with. But the truth is, we’re living in an eco-dystopia right now, and most people are too blind to see it.
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat—it’s all contaminated, polluted, poisoned by decades of greed and short-sightedness. Our oceans are dying, our forests are burning, and species are disappearing at a rate that should scare the hell out of everyone. But instead of taking action, they’re doubling down on the same bullshit that got us here—more drilling, more deforestation, more consumption.
Dana: Why do you think there’s such a disconnect between the reality of the situation and the actions being taken?
Hank Van Vice: It’s the same old story—money and power. The people who are supposed to be leading the charge to save the planet are the same ones profiting from its destruction. They’ve got a vested interest in keeping the status quo, in convincing us that we can have infinite growth on a finite planet. But that’s a lie, and it’s one that’s going to cost us everything if we don’t wake up soon.
And then there’s the fact that they’ve trained us to be consumers first and foremost. They’ve got us addicted to stuff—stuff we don’t need, stuff that’s killing the planet. And as long as we’re hooked on that stuff, as long as we’re focused on the next big thing, we’re not paying attention to the destruction happening right under our noses.
Dana: How do you see QEA’s music contributing to the fight against environmental collapse?
Hank Van Vice: We’re trying to raise the alarm, to shake people out of their complacency. Our songs are like a wake-up call—a reminder that this is real, that it’s happening right now, and that we all have a part to play in stopping it. We’re not just singing about the problem—we’re singing about the solution, about taking action, about fighting back against the forces that are driving us to the brink.
And it’s not just about shouting into the void. We’re working with organizations, with activists, with people who are on the front lines of this fight. It’s about using our platform to amplify their voices, to spread the message that we’re all in this together, and that we can’t afford to sit back and watch it all burn.
Dana: Do you believe there’s still time to turn things around?
Hank Van Vice: Time’s running out, but it’s not too late—not yet. But it’s going to take a radical shift, a complete overhaul of the way we live, the way we think, the way we relate to the planet. It’s about rejecting the idea that we can keep taking without giving back, that we can keep exploiting without consequence.
We need to embrace a new way of living—one that’s sustainable, that respects the Earth, that values life over profit. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s necessary. And it’s something we’ve all got to be part of, if we want a future that’s worth living in.
