Today is Blog Action Day! Every year, thousands of bloggers all over the world gather together virtually and discuss a topic.
Back in 2007, when I was just a newbie blogger, I joined the movement and the conversation regarding The Environment.
In 2008, we all rallied around the next topic, Poverty.
This year, the topic is Climate Change, and here I am once again. (You can follow conversations on Twitter by looking for the #BAD09)
Climate Change is one of those hot topics (punny!) that polarizes (hooo, I’m on a roll!) people, when it really shouldn’t. On the surface, climate change is climate change. You don’t have to be a scientific researcher to see that changes are taking place. The polar ice caps are melting. Wacky stuff is happening with the weather, and it’s all connected. (No, I’m not going to site sources, because a quick search on Google will give you an overwhelming amount of data.)
To be honest, I don’t know if humans caused this problem. I don’t know if this is where the Earth was headed in its climate cycle anyway. I think it’s a little of both…but at the end of the day, does it really matter?
Let’s agree to set aside the blame and look at what can be done about it.
Do I think that by recycling as much as we possibly can to keep trash out of our landfills will solve Climate Change? No, but I do it anyway, because recycling is a good idea and makes sense on so many levels. Even if it isn’t a solution, it’s a step in the right direction.
Do I think making our house as energy efficient as possible is going to solve Climate Change? No, but I do it anyway, because it saves us money and makes sense on so many levels. Even if it isn’t a solution, it’s a step in the right direction.
Do I think supporting research, funding, and implementation of renewable energy is going to solve Climate Change? No, but the thought of doing something better for the environment while reducing our dependence on foreign countries is not only practical and smart, it makes sense on so many levels. Even if it isn’t a solution, it’s a step in the right direction.
Do I think these things and more will solve Climate Change? I don’t think you can solve a complex problem with a single answer. Even if they aren’t a solution, they’re a step in the right direction.
And, I’ve always been a fan of going in the right direction.
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Hey
Great points.
To be honest we (as in people) are exaggerating the problem with our consumer mentality, our constant demand for instant gratification, consumption etc has become a cause of the problem.
Disclaimer
This intense focus on changing everything is another marketing program, remember the 70′ and the oil crisis, the 80′ the ozone layer, these are all ways to suck money out of the ordinary people out there. This is no different!
I am by no means advocating that we do nothing, our own actions are the cause of the pollution, the greenhouse gasses. Our demand for this instant gratification easy access to food and energy has created a demand, industry is therefor compelled to meet our demands. If every one on this planet had to take just a little care and spend a small portion of their day doing good for the planet, recycle, switch that light off, change the lights to low energy, cook with one pot etc the planetary effect will be enormous.
Everything in the universe follows cycles, day night, summer winter, 28 days of a moon cycle, 28 days of a woman’s cycle.
We know from paleontological history this planet has been through cycles, some of ice, others of heat. We also know from geological record that the planet has experienced many 180deg shift in the magnetic polarity. Scientist have been recording exponentially faster changes to the earth’s magnetic field, the revolution of the planet is also slowing at a faster rate.
So why are panicking, this is part of the greater cycle. Yes our actions have indeed made an impact and our carelessness has exaggerated this cycle.
Lets see what happens!!!
Hi JoAnn,
Well put. So often we get discouraged because the things we can do won’t solve the whole problem – but they do help.
Good on you for doing those things – and for inspire us to follow your lead.
david
I’ve done Blog Action day in the past and they had a really nice list of topics to choose from this year and somehow this one got voted in. I don’t have enough scientific knowledge to have anything useful to say on this topic. Yes, the world goes through cycles but yes we’ve also been doing a hell of a lot of damage to our environment. What will it all mean down the road? I don’t know. Could be anything from stranger weather to out and out disaster. I do know we all need to be a lot more responsible for the mess we’re passing on to our children and their children, etc., etc. “Let’s see what happens” isn’t an acceptable attitude. That’s like saying it’s so much easier to just eat junk food and not exercise because all that healthy food stuff is just propoganda — let’s just wait and see if I get diabetes or have a stroke before I decide whether or not to change my lifestyle.
I am not sure if we have any effect on global warming but I think we still need to be energy efficient and help the environment.
Once the deep mystery of “climate change” has been solved
And “What’s green and causes CC?” is no longer a popular riddle,
The legacy of the era most likely will be:
“Never in recorded history have so many made so much over so little”.
(With apologies to the late, great Winston Churchill).