Holgate Glacier collapses in Alaska; video of tourists sparks climate debate
A glacier collapse on June 21 drew attention anew on Bluesky as users grapple with climate emergency and question the ethics of disaster tourism.
What to know
- Holgate Glacier in Alaska collapsed on June 21, 2026; video of tourists on a diesel-powered sightseeing boat witnessing the collapse resurfaced on Bluesky on September 21.
- The post and 84 comments reflect deep anxiety about climate change, frustration with inaction by politicians and industry, and moral concern about witnessing and profiting from environmental collapse.
- Central tensions in the conversation: whether glacier collapse is unprecedented or routine; whether tourists' apparent laughter reflects shock or callousness; and what responsibility citizens bear amid climate emergency.
The dispute Whether the tourists' apparent laughter reflects callousness toward climate collapse or shock and fear during an overwhelming natural event. · positions read across 58 posts and comments
Glacier collapse reflects systemic climate failure driven by fossil fuel use and government inaction.
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“Meanwhile climate change and sea level rise are terms recently banned by the federal government.”
wuwei2024.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Disaster tourism using fossil fuels is inherently contradictory and unethical.
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“Diesel powered sightseeing boat touring guests to watch the climate collapse our livable world.”
dadbeastlarge.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Glacier collapse reflects irreversible loss of natural wonders shaped over millennia.
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“Thousands of years in existence but a few decades of human selfishness destroys it all. Never to be formed again. Ever.”
persephone2008.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Tourists' laughter likely reflects shock or normal emotional response to a natural event.
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“Those criticizing laughter, they're probably laughing out of shock/fear. This is normal.”
nmerhar.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
madisonkittay.bsky.social Bluesky poster
How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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Users express anticipatory grief and personal loss
Comments reflect emotional responses to glacier loss, including personal memories of glaciers vanishing over decades and broader existential concern about witnessing environmental collapse.
“Thousands of years in existence but a few decades of human selfishness destroys it all. Never to be formed again. Ever.”
— persephone2008.bsky.social -
Holgate Glacier, June 21, 2026, just in case you wondered, like me
2 more of the top 3 · 47 posts in this stretch
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We are giggling tourists at our own demise.
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Heartbreaking Thousands of years in existence but a few decades of human selfishness destroys it al Never to be formed again Ever
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Conversation turns to government climate denialism and responsibility
Users reference federal restrictions on climate terminology, blame politicians and industry for inaction, and express despair over the irreversible loss of glaciers shaped over millennia.
“Meanwhile climate change and sea level rise are terms recently banned by the federal government.”
— wuwei2024.bsky.social -
Maybe once most of the coastal areas are under water 🤔 the fools will discover that for all their wealth they are unable to save their expensive homes from the sea.🌊
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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I can understand that it might be exciting at the time. But this is dire. And by the way, why don’t any of those people have life jackets on?
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Oh look, another biblical flood in our time.
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Users criticize disaster tourism and fossil fuel use
Comments express outrage at the deployment of a diesel-powered boat to ferry tourists to witness environmental collapse, framing it as emblematic of the carbon emissions driving climate crisis.
“Diesel powered sightseeing boat touring guests to watch the climate collapse our livable world.”
— dadbeastlarge.bsky.social -
Like the Tracy Arm Fjord megatsunami that happened last year 😅 (without any human death by pure luck)
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
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Meanwhile climate change and sea level rise are terms recently banned by the federal government.
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🤡. Diesel powered sightseeing boat touring guests to watch the climate collapse our livable world.
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Video of collapse resurfaces on Bluesky, sparks climate discussion
A post on Bluesky by madisonkittay.bsky.social sharing a video of the glacier collapse with the caption "Oh, nothing, just another glacier collapsing" accumulated nearly 2,000 likes and 84 comments, reigniting discussion of the event and its implications.
“Oh, nothing, just another glacier collapsing.”
— madisonkittay.bsky.social -
Terrifying. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before glacier melt due to climate change causes a megatsunami like this one:
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background
Holgate Glacier collapses in Alaska — Holgate Glacier in Alaska collapsed, with the event captured on video showing tourists on a sightseeing boat witnessing the collapse from the fjord.
What people are saying 14 voices from 1 site · best of 58 · verbatim
- Why were tourists on the boat apparently not wearing life jackets during the glacier collapse?
- Are glacier collapses of this scale becoming more frequent due to climate change?
- What responsibility do tourists and tour operators bear for engaging in carbon-intensive disaster tourism?
- Sep 22
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What got me watching was the laughing. It's NOT funny, it's should be viewed as shocking and sad. A view of the destruction of one's own environment is not a joyful thing.
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The people in charge were too busy lining their pockets. Greed has killed humanity.
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Everybody has been warned The people in charge never listened So Here we are
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I don’t think this is uncommon…..regardless of the cause.
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Eat a vegetarian diet. Walk or ride a bike when feasible. Opt for renewable energy sources at home & when purchasing. Prevent Mitigate Adapt
- Sep 21
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O
Climate change is real. Thanks to all those #fossilfuel industry idiots and certain politicians.
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They are laughing whereas I think I’d be horrified
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What used to be amazing to watch is now something that makes me feel very sad.
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There was a glacier I could see from my house growing up, I remember mourning when it disappeared a few decades ago. That others don’t experience anticipatory grief at the coming loss will always sit uneasy with me.
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It's no longer As the World Turns, the next soap opera will be As the World Burns.
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I talked w/ a young woman. just returned from Spain. She said it’s wonderful, ”You should go!” I said no, I’m not going anywhere; I want you to have a future. How many on that boat, watching our climate crisis in real time, live thousands of miles away? What are you doing to slow our destruction?
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Truly sickening to see. Those glaciers were so magnificent
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The Day After Tomorrow with Dennis Quaid n Jake Gyllenhaal 21 years ago
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Let's not forget the cause of the floods in Nepal