Okay, I apologize in advance for not having time to really delve into this as I would like, but I am teaching Art in E's class this afternoon. So. The short version:
We go to a Unitarian Universalist Church. One of our 7 principles is this:
We covenant to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
I'm good with that -- I agree with it wholeheartedly. I mean, I had a subscription to Ranger Rick when I was a kid. I'm two steps and a wheatgrass smoothie away from being an environmental wacko.
So a guy was at our church on Sunday talking about global warming. And he had lots of interesting stuff to say. I do believe that the pollutants we humans have unleashed on the world have altered our climate.
That said, I still have questions, and I am hoping that my brilliant and loyal readers (all 4 of them) will have a source of information for me that answers this fundamental question:
If the Earth's climate has gone through thousands of years of climatic changes, with freeze and thaw cycles that last for thousands of years and usher in or out Ice Ages and the like, why are we freaking out so much about this?
Yes, I understand we need to stop our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to come up with clean, renewable energy sources. Again, I'm good with that.
It just makes no sense to me that we regularly have conniption fits about the climate change and animal A, B, or Y not being able to survive -- god forbid they should become extinct!
People, let me clue you in to something revolutionary here: animals have been going extinct for millions of years. Heard of that Darwin guy? He says if you can't adapt, you die. Period.
Do I want a world without Polar Bears, or Bald Eagles, or those adorable little Spotted Owls everyone talks about? Of course not. I'm just saying that perhaps the climate change isn't due as much to humans as we'd like to think (we are, after all, the most arrogant species that ever existed). And maybe the changes are accelerated by our pollution, etc., but they were still going to happen anyway. Maybe the Spotted Owl is supposed to die off in the grand scheme of things.
Sad, yes, but possibly true.
Like I said, I don't have time to really dig into this right now, but I am interested in your (well-reasoned, thoughtful, polite) ideas on this. If you don't agree with me, tell me why. But don't bash me -- I love a good debate and I introduced the topic in order to learn something. I welcome respectful comments, but if you feel like coming in here, guns a-blazing, you're just gonna piss me off and get deleted.
You've been warned. Now teach me something.
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ReplyDeleteUmmm, ok. Global Warming, which is about the stupidest name since it really should be Global Climate Change, which is way more accurate. I digress (and probably will continue to do so).
You are right. The world's been changing for many years, many cycles occur. There is nothing we can do about that. Our human nature however, requires that we panic about it. This would be the same reason that we consider the apocolypse is upon us as 9/11 and similar events occur. But somehow I don't think it is. Cultures and societies in the history of the world have been though similar and equally horrifying events (inquisiton, plague, holocaust, war), yet the world continues to turn. This would be the same reason we search for cures to disease. Ultimately I think that the reason is FEAR. Humans desire to control what is by nature uncontrollable. We can't stop bad things from happening, but we'd sure like to. Our culture fears death, pain and pretty much anything that keeps us from doing what we selfishly feel entitled to.
As far as human impact on global climate change... YES. I think we are at fault, though I agree that there is every possibility that global climate change would have become what it is eventually without our assistance. I do think that humans and our insatiable need for all things petroleum is certainly speeding this process along.
To that end yes, we need to find renewable energy sources to power our lives. But we also need cut our waste. KTTC ran a blurb last night about the horrors of plastic store sacks. How they are not recycleable and how they don't break down. How people rack up thousands of them yearly when they shop.
But I don't think "I" am the problem here. I think the store is. I got groceries the other night. The bagger took my 6 pack of paper towels and stuffed it into a sack. My 5# bag of apples went into a sack too. Alone. WHY? The paper towels are carryable on their own, the apples were already in a bag.
A couple more examples of waste: Baby food. Now comes in plastic rectangular box thingys. Just the fruit though for some reason. But the box thingy is NOT recycleable. Might make a cute craft, but unlike the glass I can't plunk it into my weekly collection bin. Why? What was wrong with the glass? And pop is now being sold in 12 oz plastic bottles in a cardboard fridgepack case. Why? What was so bad about cans? While this plastic is in fact recyleable, more municipalities have the ability to recycle aluminum easier than plastic.
Cute and not as wasteful thing I recently came across...plastic rings on cupcakes rather than plastic picks. At least the ring can be worn by the child for a while...the pick was just trash.
American (specifically) society is turning into a pack of greed mongers. Just wait till you come home...you'll be amazed by the sprawl. If we had to ration now as they did in the 40s...well, I wouldn't want to witness that. (digressing again?)
Bottom line. Global climate change is real. Whether or not humans are driving it solely, partially or not at all remains to be seen. But we can do relatively simple things to eliminate our wastefulness and our greediness if we want to. Technology for alternative energies exists if we would spend time and money improving it to be useful for everyone. What I am afraid of though, is that just like in the 70s we won't do anything about it until we HAVE to. And by then it might get ugly.
It makes me sad that in the 30 years since the energy crisis we have managed to make cell phones that every person can afford to own, fit into the slimmest pocket of your painted on jeans...computers that used to fill a room fit in the palm of your hand...iPods, DVDs, you name it...but NOT a family sedan that gets 60mpg, runs on garbage/sun/methane. And that's because we really don't want to. But I wonder if when we do, it won't be too late.