The Climate Crisis: Here & Now
An optimist (which I am not) might say that the appalling levels of indifference and ignorance in relation to the climate crisis are slowly, but surely, reducing. Well, I hope the optimists among us are right. But I can say that I am glad that the degree of focus on this extremely frightening problem has begun to rise to some extent.
Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was very, very scary - but, it was nonetheless an optimists's view on the crisis. Gore believes we have about a decade until the tipping point is reached. (Some scientists, of course, believe the tipping point came and went long ago.) My favourite quote from the film was "Is it possible that we should prepare for other threats besides terrorists?". And, of course, his point was yes. Believe it or not, terrorism doesn't hold the monopoly on international problems. In my opinion, global warming makes terrorism look pretty meagre on the threat scale. And I for one am a hell of a lot more concerned about climate change than I am about who might be sitting on the same plane as me. Oh, and our dear old sunburnt country got a mention in the film too. Yes, we are one of the two advanced nations who have not signed the Kyoto Protocol. I bet John feels special to be part of such an exclusive group.
www.climatecrisis.net
And Canadian environmentalist, David Suzuki, has been in Australia lately and addressed the National Press Club the other day. It was a bloody good address too. He covered various areas concerning the environment, but spoke mainly about climate change and its connection with problems like the drought and water shortage.
Phillip Adams talks about global warming a lot, just as everyone should be. A recent column on the subject concluded, "Get angry. Get going. Protest. Pray to God or write to your MP, though neither activity will be much use. But do something! Join something! At the very least see Al’s movie".
John Howard pissed me off the other day (nothing new, of course). Why? I saw him on the news talking about the money he's pledged to the farmers currently afflicted by severe drought. And, when asked about the bigger picture, said "As to the broader issue of the relationship between drought and climate change, obviously you can't totally separate the two. But I think it's important that we don't overdo the link." I wanted to punch the TV.
Barbra Streisand, with whom I have been patient, finally updated her blog (the link for which is on the right). And she lists some basic things that each of us can do to help combat the problem.
People need to get it. People need to understand exactly what will happen if we continue to neglect our responsibilities as the inhabitants of the only home we have. We also need to accept that we are the source of the problem, but that we are, at the same time, capable of cleaning up the mess we've made so far. Additionally - and I'm drawing from David Suzuki's speech -, our politicians need to end their obsession with short-term goals that serve only to get them re-elected. Basically, our way of thinking needs a major shake-up. And perhaps now you can understand why I'm a pessimist. But, Al Gore did say that too many people jump from 'denial to despair' in one leap without stopping to realise that the opportunity is there and that there still is a chance for us to solve this problem. In other words, there is no need for despair - yet. But there will be if we skip do.
Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was very, very scary - but, it was nonetheless an optimists's view on the crisis. Gore believes we have about a decade until the tipping point is reached. (Some scientists, of course, believe the tipping point came and went long ago.) My favourite quote from the film was "Is it possible that we should prepare for other threats besides terrorists?". And, of course, his point was yes. Believe it or not, terrorism doesn't hold the monopoly on international problems. In my opinion, global warming makes terrorism look pretty meagre on the threat scale. And I for one am a hell of a lot more concerned about climate change than I am about who might be sitting on the same plane as me. Oh, and our dear old sunburnt country got a mention in the film too. Yes, we are one of the two advanced nations who have not signed the Kyoto Protocol. I bet John feels special to be part of such an exclusive group.
www.climatecrisis.net
And Canadian environmentalist, David Suzuki, has been in Australia lately and addressed the National Press Club the other day. It was a bloody good address too. He covered various areas concerning the environment, but spoke mainly about climate change and its connection with problems like the drought and water shortage.
Phillip Adams talks about global warming a lot, just as everyone should be. A recent column on the subject concluded, "Get angry. Get going. Protest. Pray to God or write to your MP, though neither activity will be much use. But do something! Join something! At the very least see Al’s movie".
John Howard pissed me off the other day (nothing new, of course). Why? I saw him on the news talking about the money he's pledged to the farmers currently afflicted by severe drought. And, when asked about the bigger picture, said "As to the broader issue of the relationship between drought and climate change, obviously you can't totally separate the two. But I think it's important that we don't overdo the link." I wanted to punch the TV.
Barbra Streisand, with whom I have been patient, finally updated her blog (the link for which is on the right). And she lists some basic things that each of us can do to help combat the problem.
People need to get it. People need to understand exactly what will happen if we continue to neglect our responsibilities as the inhabitants of the only home we have. We also need to accept that we are the source of the problem, but that we are, at the same time, capable of cleaning up the mess we've made so far. Additionally - and I'm drawing from David Suzuki's speech -, our politicians need to end their obsession with short-term goals that serve only to get them re-elected. Basically, our way of thinking needs a major shake-up. And perhaps now you can understand why I'm a pessimist. But, Al Gore did say that too many people jump from 'denial to despair' in one leap without stopping to realise that the opportunity is there and that there still is a chance for us to solve this problem. In other words, there is no need for despair - yet. But there will be if we skip do.
posted by Anthony Stoddart @ 2:41 PM
1 Comments:
At Wed Oct 25, 05:02:00 PM,
Sarah said…
Great post :)
As long as John Howard is PM nothing will be done, unless the US elects another Republican President who is willing to take action on climate change (hahahahaha). Then, and only then, will Little Boots be tempted to do the right thing. And only because Master's footsteps have shown him the Way.
Pah-thetic.
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