This post will probably offend some people but I need to get this off my chest.
The environment is a big topic, which means no one can predict exactly what will happen. There are several schools of thought and each does their best to discredit the others.
Common sense dictates that whether or not you believe global warming is caused by CO2 emmissions or by natural planetary evolution, the fact is that there are a heck of a lot of people on this planet using up resources and causing polution and that's a problem.
Can we at least agree on that?
And yet, I find otherwise rational people making the most far-fetched arguments against there being any sort of problem at all. Key words seem to be communism, conspiracy and Al Gore.
A summary of the key defense against global warming being true:
'Al Gore lives in a nice house. Therefore he is an evil capitalist lying about global warming to make money. The global warming message is a Communist plot. Therefore Al Gore is a Communist.* Communists lie. Therefore global warming is a lie.'
*Maybe he's a Communist during the week and an evil capitalist on weekends.
Feel free to leave a comment disagreeing with me but please don't use the C word.
I mean, Communism.
December 18, 2009
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Yup, we certainly do consume a lot of our natural resources. And if we wanted a climatically stable planet, we picked the wrong one, and just because big Al is a doofus, that doesn't make him a communist! (Oooops! Was I not supposed to say "communist?) :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, Maven, your use of the C word disqualifies you. ;-) Just kidding. But whether humans cause global warming or not, I don't think devoting your life to trying to persuade people to live mores sustainably and companies to produce more sustainable products makes you a doofus or a Communist. And I would bet money that his motives are purer than most of the lobbyists and oil company executives arguing that global warming is a hoax.
ReplyDeleteAl's attitudes about global warming don't make him a doofus. He was a doofus long before that! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI highly respect Al Gore. I can't think of many others who have used their position and power in such constructive ways...
ReplyDeleteI feel strongly about the issue and lack the platform, facts, and eloquence to drive the point home. In the name of asking forgiveness rather than permission, I am informing you that I am posting this entry on my blog as my own. kidding(will give credit and trackback, whatever it is called) Clever and undeniable. People arguing a right to be ignorant, sick, and planetless. Aren't these the same opponents of HCR?
ReplyDeleteThanks Magda please do.
ReplyDeleteas soon as i read that this post may offend some, i knew i would appreciate it. along with the threat of the c-word, of course.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of respect for Al Gore and regardless of his living arrangements he seems to be trying to do a lot for the environment which is more than a lot of people seem to be doing. Hard to say who is right but the fact remains, we are warming up be it evolution or man made.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the cake recipe I posted yesterday is not really a fruit cake in the traditional form, it uses candied cherries and pineapple as the fruit instead of dark like raisins. If guess you'll just have to try it Lol!
Thanks MNM (Eminem) I'll give that cake a try. It looked much lighter than typical fruit cakes, not quite as door-stoppy.
ReplyDeleteNo, I agree. I do think there are definite changes and problems with the environment. I do not think that the polar ice caps are going to be melted by next week, however.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Seems to be that the issue of the environment should transcend politics. Aren't we all in the same boat? And shouldn't we all want to be responsible with the use of our resources, and shouldn't we all want clean air and water? I've heard lots of arguments about climate change and whether it's a reality. But getting bogged down in whether global warming is happening, and what's causing it, misses several other important points regarding the environment.
ReplyDeletethanks so much hp
ReplyDeleteplease forgive typo in my farking title. ugh. it has been addressed. please do not banish me
I think as with most disagreements, there are completely differing motivations for each position. The people who don't believe in the causes of global warming would possibly agree that it's still a serious issue. But I'd guess that what they really object to is the attempts to put regulations on business that may impact profits, costs, etc. They do this b/c businesses are the "people" who fund their political campaigns. Wait... are there non-politicians/businesses that disagree with the causes of global warming?? If there are, perhaps my theory is nonsense...
ReplyDeleteWait. A light fruitcake? Hum......be right back.
ReplyDeleteOK. Environment. As a whole, we are not good caretakers of Mother Earth. We do use too many resources. But, at the same time, we seem to want to live in nice houses and drive nice cars. I don't think that makes us bad people. We should all do the best we can do when making our life choices (using public transportation, eating less, making fewer trips, buying less crap that we don't really need, etc.)
I don't get it, I really don't. It's pretty easy to look around and see that we do not do the best job of taking care of our environment or conserving our resources. The outcome may be debatable, but making changes for the better can not hurt. If people are worried about the financial implications, there is plenty of money to be made in the "green-ing" of commerce. It's the wave of the future. The rich can still get richer and the poor can learn how to install solar panels. More jobs, more money. There is something in it for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you honey! xoxo
ReplyDeleteSC
Had to stop by from Magda's blog to say how much I loved this post. It seems so simple the way you present it here. Too bad the lunatic in this country can't use their heads to think clearly or rationally about the subject. Thanks for the refreshing take!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! And scientists now agree that we humans have caused a rise in the earth's temperatures.
ReplyDeleteIf the opposition can only come up with arguments about the C-word, then it seems to me that they haven't come up with much...
Umm, I've never seen that argument (Al Gore has a big carbon footprint, therefore there is no global warming) before, anywhere, and certainly not as the key argument against man-made global warming. I have seen Gore called a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have heard people say, "Beware the prophet who profits."
Frankly, I think both sides should be heard, in an open debate, without any name-calling.
I linked to you today.
ReplyDeleteI saw an opinion-page cartoon about the climate summit that asks "What if it's a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing?"
ReplyDeleteYeah, even if scientists can't completely agree on the details, we do know that cleaning our act up is desireable -- what's wrong with a cleaner, less polluted world!?!
I agree with you. My husband drives me nuts on this issue. He keeps insisting that we are coming out of Ice Age which is at the root of climate changes. He does not believe in Global Warming. It is very frustrating.
ReplyDelete