Re: The reality of Climate Change as an Easter thought.
- From: "Richard Orrell" <rich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 14 Apr 2006 08:54:29 -0700
Hi Keith,
I have a couple of thoughts.
Any reductions in Co2 emissions are surely just a drop in the Ocean,
although wanting to see something done myself am I really prepared to
forfeit my car and flying out for a summer holiday in the sun? I guess
not if I'm honest with myself. My PC is still running the
ClimatePrediction experiment 24/7, again adding more to the burning of
fossil fuels.
The bio-sphere does not care where greenhouse gases originate from.
This means that every reduction that we can make does have a tangible
affect. Now I am not saying that by (for example) choosing to use the
train rather than using a car we will rescue the situation, but by
making conscious choices that minimise the combustion of fossil fuels,
we do have an affect. Also by acting within ones "sphere of influence"
as opposed to within ones "sphere of concern" we make a tangible
difference and don't feel so lost at the same time.
Then on the big scale of things, the USA don't care (well
the polititions at least), India, China and other 3rd World Nations are
determined to catch up with the 'west' as industrial and economic
successes, and why shouldn't they, who are we to say they can't do this
and can't do that?
I believe that the climate (sorry for the pun) is changing in the U.S.
with regards public acceptance of the issue and the need to act. Of
course the current Administration does not subscribe to this view but
just see what is happening in the world of business and commerce, at
the level of the State, and at the grass roots level. Watch this
space.... Paradoxically I believe that ultimately the U.S. will find an
answer to this problem (but not solely through its current emphasis on
technology). That being said, the answer may come too late before
substantial and irreversible change has occurred.
Perhaps I'm sounding a bit pessimistic about the situation, but it's how
I see the reality of it all as I see us poring more C02 emissions into
the atmosphere in the years to come before mother nature decides it's
time to stop us.
For most of in the 'developed world' (a terrible term) we have a lot of
choice as to how we live our lives. I get up in the morning I choose to
stay on the right side of the law, to be good to my family, etc.. It is
also possible to make choices that enable us to live a low-carbon
lifestyle. Some of these choices may be very tough ones to make, but in
many circumstances we choose not to make them for a variety of reasons.
I believe that if we fail to prevent the worst that climate change
could bring then it is because we have failed to make the right
choices. This hypothesis would not apply in the Majority World where
sadly day-to-day survival severely limits the choices that one could
make. However in the influencial Minority World I believe that we can
choose to fix this if we have courage, determination and foresight.
What is the best choice that we can all make today?
Regards,
Richard.
--
Dartington, South Hams, Devon.
100 ft AMSL.
50' 12N, 03' 24W.
.
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