That sounds a lot like our bewilderment over inaction on climate change, several decades ago. Here was a civilization-ending, even species-threatening catastrophe unfolding before us and it was nigh-on impossible to invigorate a meaningful response from Governments and passion from the public.

My gut reaction is that most folks are brushing it off as a non-event because it doesn't directly concern them, and they've become numb to outlandish, world-changing news.