21 August, 2006
An Inconvenient Truth
I finally saw An Inconvenient Truth yesterday and found it to be at turns, terrifying, infuriating and hopeful.
One question keeps running through my mind and is aimed at those who deny that global warming is a problem (much less a serious problem): What is the payoff for continuing to deny that global warming is a very serious problem? I mean, unless you work for own an oil company or coal mine, how does continuing to deny global warming benefit you?
In the face of all the scientific evidence that demonstrates that (man-made) global warming is a problem that is having an impact on our lives now (i.e., Hurricane Katrina and her many siblings last year) and will have a more dire impact if we don't take steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions NOW, why is it so difficult to admit that we are destroying our planet--our HOME--and hey, maybe we CAN drive less or switch to energy-efficient light bulbs, or replace our dead appliances with energy saving models. It's like seeing a grease fire break out in your kitchen and instead of trying to extinguish it, just letting it burn because, hey, you're in the living room watching TV and you just can't be arsed to switch off your show to try to put the fire out (though maybe you'd call the fire brigade at the next commercial break). And besides, it's only a problem in the kitchen; maybe if it spreads to your living room (and interrupts your TV show), you might be motivated to do something about it. But by then it'll be too late.
Except in this scenario a house is much MUCH easier to rebuild than a planet.
The Web site for An Inconvenient Truth is climatecrisis.net. On the site is a section devoted to the science of global warming and its impact. There's also a section where you can calculate your carbon emissions. FWIW, my score is 4,900 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution per year (versus the US national average of 15,000 pounds per year). I have a smaller impact because I drive very little (I'll have had my car for two years next month and have only driven it a little over 9,300 miles), I take public transit and walk (until I get my bike fixed) as much as is feasible. I don't burn a lot of lights in the apartment and use my appliances (and computers) as efficiently as possible. So for me, there aren't a whole lot of places where I can cut back, short of getting rid of my car entirely (though I'm hoping Subaru figures out how to retrofit Outbacks and Bajas with hybrid engines in the next near while).
It's time to admit that we have a serious problem on our World. By facing the facts and investing in products that lessen your environmental impact, you'll even save money in fuel and electricity costs. Seems to me there's a bigger payoff to facing the global warming situation than there is in denying that there's a problem. (Unless, of course, you like giving your hard-earned money to Big Oil and the other Energy company executives...)
Technorati Tags: global warming, weird weather
~~ victoria on 10:28 PM ~~ 0 comments
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