Sunday, January 20, 2008
RIP Planet Earth
I was listening to someone in authority from the National Wildlife Foundation say that he doesn't think that people and politicians will ever be interested enough in the Environment to change things. He thinks as do many others that we only have ten years to turn this madness around. Is this figure correct? Can we do it? Why are the politicians not pushing more? Why do we still support oil? Why don't people care? I'm really scared for the future to come? Are you? Probably not if your like the average person the guy from the NWF described.
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7 comments:
I don't believe in any of those figures such as "10 years" or whatever it's going to take to turn around global warming or wildlife or whatever. Like most people looking for government help, they need to exaggerate their situation in order to get noticed.
Why don't people care? Because every situation like this gets exaggerated. Unfortunately, I was tricked by the Y2K exaggerations and I vowed to never again become a victim of the doomsday hype after that turned out to be nothing. This is why it is so difficult for me to be concerned about global warming--I can accept that the earth is warming and that we are probably responsible and should do something, but I refuse to believe that "we must act in __ years or else we will all die in __ years".
Why do we depend on fossil fuels? Because they are cheap, there are still hundreds of years worth of them left, and most importantly, there is no viable alternative. Biofuels help, but at best you are looking at about 10% of total energy use. In addition, they are only marginally better for the environment and they raise food prices, thus causing an increase in hunger. We need to learn how to make cellulose into biofuels or stop expanding their use. Solar and wind power need to be expanded also, but once again, they will never be worth more than 5-10% of all energy use, and especially not within 10 years. Worst of all, some of the same people who warn us about global warming are also terrified of the best solution of all: Nuclear power! Hypocrites! If the environment is in such great danger, wouldn't it make sense to use zero-emission nuclear power plants, especially when the biggest danger is NIMBYs in Nevada telling us not to store the waste there?
So why don't people care? Because it doesn't really affect them. The average American has to worry about paying bills, feeding his/her family, keeping his/her job, and so on. The key is to continue to get people to make small sacrifices for the environment such as recycling or energy conservation. And why should they do it? Not to avoid doom and gloom, but they should conserve because they are responsible citizens of the planet. As for telling people that we only have 10 years or else? Sounds like what they were saying 10 years ago to me.
JZ,
I think the impending crisis with the environment is more real than the Y2K bug, but there is as much rubbish attached to it. The terms as ambiguous, but what is not is the fact that people need to start coming to terms with their consumption issues.
J
Joe Z,
you can keep sticking your head in the sand! Just because you "refuse to believe" doesn't mean it's not true. What the guy was probably talking about was the carbon concentration tipping point. When the concentration reaches so many ppm the Earth will be in a positive feedback loop and the changes will be unstoppable. We are on track to reach that tipping point in about 10 years. You always underestimate the capablities of alternative energy especially when combined with energy conservation. Nuclear power is a better option than fossil fuels but it still has a lot of problems and should be the solution to strive for. I'm glad that there are some economic incentives to conserve but they aren't going to be enough by themselves to avert the crisis. Massive, comprehensive action is needed immediately. As Ben Franklin says, "If you won't listen to reason, she'll surely rap your knuckles." In this case I would subsitute nature for reason.
Dan,
Do you think it's an issue in Washington? I'm sickened by the politicians who say they can't take measures to find new energy sources nor find measures of conservation. Will this really be something grassroots? corporate? Who's going to help out Planet Earth? Captain Planet?
If the "tipping point" is in 10 years, I may as well bury my head in the sand and suffocate, since there is no possible way to even stop the increase of CO2 in less than 25 years. Even if the US was wiped off the map, China and India would pick up the slack and keep the increase coming.
As for the "tipping point", there is no tipping point, and if there is, we are nowhere near it yet. I'm not saying we shouldn't conserve, we should take steps to stop burning fossil fuels because:
1. We can't depend on the Middle East
2. We're going to run out of fossil fuels eventually
3. Fossil fuels release TOXIC chemicals like Mercury
and...one of the side consequences is that our CO2 emissions will eventually go down, but hopefully we will realize how much we are overreacting before they tax me for exhaling.
Grassroots action is already happening. There are co-ops, carpools, energy saving habits that people are already practicing. Corporate is just starting to listen and pay attention. Government hasn't completely gotten the message yet and that is where the biggest difference is to be made. Getting strong environmental canidates into office is extremely important. We need a strong, uniform, multipronged attack to fight global warming. And it can be done. But Captain Planet would help! :)
Okay, I've got it. I've come up with the ultimate global warming analogy: Lord of the Rings!
Let me give you the cast of characters:
-Gandalf the scientist/environmental advocate "There is still time if we act quickly!"
-Theoden, King of Rohan who is misinformed but would do the right thing "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"
"Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?"
-Wormtongue the oil/energy lobbyist "Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind?"
-Eomer leader of the Roherem, honest legislator "Orcs are running freely across our lands. Unchecked. Unchallenged. Killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman."
-Saruman energy company executive "Cut them down [the trees]. Cut them all down."
"The world is changing. Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor? To stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman and the union of the two towers? Together, Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-Earth. The old world will burn in the fires of industry. Forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the Orc. We have only to remove those who oppose us."
-Treebeard as pissed off mother nature "They come with fire, they come with axes. Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning. Destroyers and usurpers. Curse them!"
-Denethor Steward of Gondor corrupted by power "You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor, and with your right you would seek to supplant me! I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan. Oh yes! Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now I will not bow to this Ranger from the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship."
"My sons are spent. My line has ended. Rohan has deserted us. Theoden's betrayed me. Abandon your posts! Flee, flee for your lives!"
-Aragorn as the strong progressive canidate "Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"
Sauron as the oil executive "BRRRRRRAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!"
The Ring as Carbon "It must be returned to the fires from whence it came."
The Hobbits all take the role of the average citizen:
-Pippin "Well, yes. At least, I can sing well enough for my own people. But we have no songs for great halls and evil times."
-Merry "The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of Tuckborough and Buckland will burn. And... and all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won’t be a Shire, Pippin."
-Sam "It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end."
-Frodo the champion of the story who felt insignificant but asked simply, "What must I do?"
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