With the recent launch of
"The We Campaign" and its media exposure paid for by Al Gore, as well as Earth Hour, climate change has been on my mind. Then I read MarineGunrock's
blog post regarding global warming and ended up spending more time than I thought I would on the response. I'd like to hear other people's opinion on this topic. I don't claim to be an expert on anything really, but I like to be informed on as many things as reasonably possible. Of course, with anything there are usually two sides to a story and differing opinions. I don't want to argue or debate anyone, but I would like to hear any thoughts people have pro or against actions in the interest of reducing or reversing humanity's impact on our environment.
I'll start off with the response I left on MG's blog:
MG: "When I hear the phrase 'global warming' I look out the window and laugh."
I've made that same comment before as a joke, but the reality of the situation is that global warming isn't about the temperature outside your window at any given time. Shifts of even a couple of degrees from established norms in certain areas of the globe can have serious implications to the natural processes that occur there.
Think about homeostasis in your body, we're endothermic which means our body temperature remains the same because for us to function properly at the basest levels we need to remain at about 98.6F. If you were to shift that temperature several degrees up or down, like when you have a fever of 103F, you feel horrible and sick. Imagine it weren't a transient virus or bacterial infection, but a permanent state caused by abusing your body over the years. I don't know how long the human body could last at a permanent feverish state, but it certainly wouldn't be pleasant.
The science about the effect of carbon dioxide and other pollutants has been proven in the laboratory, there's no denying that if you pump the atmosphere full of it, heat has a much harder time escaping; simple greenhouse effect. Think about the amount the human race pumps out every minute of every day and then think about what possible effect that might have in 100 years from now. You might be dead, but somebody is going to have to pay for it. Nobody is saying there will be "The Day After Tomorrow" apocalyptic events (that's just shock value for entertainment), but crank the heat up a few degrees and you'll have major climate changes, rising sea levels, changes in rain fall and deserts forming where there were none, etc. etc., and then what will we do? Guaranteed, the cost in manpower and material to cope with those kinds of events over time will be far greater than the immediate short term cost of tightening our belts, learning to live without being grossly excessive, and developing new technologies to reduce our impact.
We're making changes to this planet that it has never gone through. There's absolutely nothing natural about the path humanity is following and the high impact technologies we've developed over the last 200 years. On the grand scale, we're behaving like bacteria, multiplying in exponentially greater numbers each year, consuming natural resources and excreting toxins... what happens when a human body is completely overrun by bacteria? They die. Is it so hard to believe that if we shit all over our planet without a care in the world, it won't begin to die as well? Then where does that leave us?
Just think about it. If anyone else would care to comment, provide more information, or a counter-opinion, I'd love to read it. Also, anything you have personally been doing to help improve the situation. For instance, I rarely ever have the lights on in my house. At night, I leave curtains open or use candles whenever possible. I also turn off my a/c when I leave the house and don't set it below 80F, which is rough considering I live in Miami. I'm also going to buy a hybrid vehicle in the next year or two to replace my already economic 2-door VW.
Peace.
Stumble This
Sifted Nature Videos
