Hi purrpurr, I know exactly what you mean and I have found as the years go by I become even more aware of the global problems. As a JW I lived in this haze of the 'world out there' is in a mess but big J will make all our problems go away soon.
Now I sometimes cry for the terrible things that happen to people in different parts of the world. I feel increasingly a part of a global community, a member of humanity and what hurts other people affects me.
As you say as an atheist I know nobody is coming to help us but it gives me heart that so many wonderful people are doing so much through charities to help others, usually complete strangers and often on the other side of the world. Small amounts of money go a very long way in developing countries and it isn't the amount you give it is the regularity of it that matters. Charities rely on monthly donations so they know they have x amount of money coming in to fund their projects. It really helps me cope to know I am doing something positive to help other people who weren't born into a rich western country as I was. It also gives me hope for humanity that there are so many caring people out there, some volunteering their time for free, others giving cash. People are good and that gives me some peace when I see the news.
We need to stop feeling helpless and allowing politicians to tell us they can run the world and we need only vote them in. I email politicians about my concerns and I have been to talk to local ones face to face.
We are powerful simply because there are seven billion of us. Don't give up on your power to influence or help. There are many unscrupulous people who love to make us feel we are powerless but this is nonsense. Governments and big corporations are very much aware of the power we have and spend a great deal of money trying to manipulate us for their own ends. Use your power and you will fell less afraid and more in control in this frightening world.
