Cartoon Pen & Watercolour 8″x12″
Copyright 2009 Jean Burman
“For those who believe… no proof is necessary
For those who don’t believe… no proof is possible”
- Eyes of the Beholder
So where does this leave us in the Climate Change Debate?
Precisely nowhere.
But that’s okay because… either way… I still have a couple of outstanding questions.
Things like:
1. Why is the sea level rising in Kirribati and the Maldives but nowhere else?
2. Why are we changing light globes from incandescent to [mercury containing] compact fluorescent globes when the environmental consequences of doing so have not been fully investigated… and there are no established guidelines for their safe handling and subsequent disposal?
3. Why are we legislating that new roofs in the tropics must now be [a heat absorbing] dark brown or green (ironically to blend with nature) when sound common sense dictates that a lighter [white or silver] roof would not only keep the home cooler in summer but also reduce the amount of energy required to cool it?
4. Why are we introducing an Emissions Trading Scheme which could potentially disadvantage many sectors of the economy without first establishing [without a doubt] that the carbon we are attempting to reduce is in fact the true culprit in climate change?
5. And is climate change the real issue anyway?
There has been so much time-wasting debate that were it the real issue… it is now becoming all too late. And if it is not the real issue… then there has been a heck of a lot of greenhouse gas expended in talking about it for no particularly good reason why! [Grin]
So would it not be wiser to address the broader issue of environment instead of climate change?
Would it not be smarter all round for us to focus on the indisputable evidence already to hand of the adverse impact that humankind is having on the planet overall? If this were the case… the hystrionics of the whole climate change debate would cease to exist… and in it’s place would be calm rational bipartisan discussion about “what is good for us” [or not] and what we can reasonably do about it.
I do not know of a single person who would dispute the fact that humankind is having a hugely detrimental impact on the environment… the world at large… and the planet in general. Climate Change however may continue to be debated until the cows come home… [with way too much methane going down by then]
Cleaning up our act and changing our attitude toward the environment in which we live is within the realms of possibility for each and every individual on the planet. It can happen today.
Becoming environmentally aware is the responsibility of all those who draw breath from the scant six kilometres of oxygen in the atmosphere above our heads before there is… absolutely… precisely… nothing. Just that one single thought should be enough to start people thinking about selling their Hummers and carpooling to work.
The big picture is a mighty one. And there is nothing to suggest that it’s not a daunting task.
But it’s the only honest way to go.
Climate Change in and of itself is only one small factor in the greater global catastrophe which may befall the planet if we fail to make immediate changes to the way we live… do business… and co-exist with the natural world.
We must act now… as though our life depended on it.
Because it does.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
All good points, Jean. As you suggest, the root of the problem is people, or what I would call human infestation. The planet simply was not designed to feed, clothe, shelter, keep warm and cool this many people, while transporting them from place to place in huge energy consuming machines. It’s really pointless for the “experts” to argue about whether or not humans are at fault. There’s ample evidence that it’s happening, and therefore that steps must be taken.
Yes John. And too many unthinking people I suspect. Our resources are finite. Until we realise this and learn to conserve and protect what we have… survival on the planet will not be a sure thing.
Do you remember the Gyre? The swirling mass of plastic [the size of Texas] bound up in the North Pacific? People did that. And no-one knows how to fix it.
So many advancements and so much so called [progress] does not have an effective antidote. It’s the antidotes we need to work on first… not the blind progress at all cost. Rushing ahead into a solution without first knowing and completely understanding the full extent of what we’re dealing with is not only futile… it is dangerous.
Sometimes slow and steady wins the race. Not ego and bluster or being “politically correct”… or for that matter… being FIRST with the solution as we race toward a solution before Copenhagen. The first knee-jerk response is not always the soundest. Just me. But it’s important [I think] to get it right first time.
Because the first time may be the only time we get! Jean, you ask so many good questions. You could be an environmental designer. This is really so good I’m going to tweet it. These are all things we addressed (theoretically) in environmental design classes when I was in college where good minds come up with good solutions (theoretically). My pet peeve is that we are a throwaway society and do not recycle … and yes, what about those mercury filled light bulbs being rammed down our throats and up our … well, you can read between the lines. I put a few in my house before the mercury factor was published. Now what to do with them? Okay, I’m going off to tweet your blog post now. Good essay!
Wow! You make a good point and it’s wonderfully written. I wish that everyone could read it and take note.
Thanks for the tweet Vernita! And also the ringing endorsement. It’s always difficult to take on a contentious issue especially when the PC police have hi-jacked the podium and refuse to allow a differing viewpoint.
Re: compact fluorescent lightbulbs/globes… I guess I just can’t see the point in taking one step forward and two steps back when it comes to something as precious as the environment (or our health).
I wrote about these little monsters back in 2008 under the topic What’s Up With the Environment. It’s really important that people understand that mercury is a toxic substance even at very low levels and appropriate safe cleanup and disposal measures should be understood.
Selling these globes without clean up instructions (or even a safe method of disposal) is unconscionable. In fact… putting them out into the market place is unconscionable.
Governments don’t come up with damaging legislation like this all by themselves. Vested interests/lobbyists and industry are almost always the perpetrators pushing the barrow for their own political/commercial purposes. It’s when Governments suck up the propaganda without questioning the science… we all have a problem. Usually a big one!
Hi Kristeena
I’m just glad you got to read it! Each and every one of us can make a difference as long as we are fully informed. Being fully informed is the difficult bit… with so much misinformation and misunderstanding being peddled out there in the marketplace.
Thanks so much for stopping by!