Gaia and Climate Change
Monday, 3. March 2008, 13:44:14
After two months of banging on about my Slimming efforts, I think it's time to change tack. I'll write one more big Weight Loss Report this week, my eighth, then slim that down (bad pun, I'm sorry) to a mere reportage of the figures as I progress. There's practically no way I'm not going to achieve the magical 14 lbs of weight loss this week not with only half a lb to lose - and it's even more certain that losing the second stone (and the further 7-10 lbs after that) will be more of the same; now that I've proven to myself and everyone else that I can do this thing, I think you'd all appreciate hearing less about it from now on as much as I will appreciate a break from revisiting my naked egotism each week.
In the spirit of new directions, then, let me touch on a topic that will affect all of us no matter where we live in the world: Climate Change. In particular, I'd like to direct you to this article from the UK's highly respected Guardian newspaper that I read today, an Interview with a man synonymous with Environmental Science, James Lovelock. Go away, read it and come back: it's not very long.
Click here to read the article
You may recall the name in relation to his Gaia Theory, where he proposed the fanciful idea that the Earth and her thin skein of biological life are, in fact, one colossal super-organism, rather than millions of separate parts clumped together under the same roof. Well, in this latest article he makes some fairly chilling claims about the future - his ‘expectation’ of 80% global population loss by 2100 is quite the cure for sleep, made all the more frightening by his already successful prediction back in 1965 that we'd all be facing enormous environmental problems right about now: a modern-day Nostradamus indeed. "Most of the things we have been told to do might make us feel better, but they won't make any difference. Global warming has passed the tipping point, and catastrophe is unstoppable.”
Lovelock’s comment actually jibes with what I remember hearing from scientists in the mid 90’s, they claimed that we’d already passed certain unmoveable deadlines back then, and this was before we spent a decade watching the glacial pace of ecological awareness propagate among our governments and big business. But beyond the sensationalism and fear-mongering, Lovelock raises some very disturbing points about our current efforts to ward off this impending apocalypse: he claims recycling is practically useless, Ethical Shopping is merely a salve for troubled consciences, as is the great con of Carbon Offsetting, and so-called 'Sustainable' Forestry is just kidding itself. If, like me, you already do one or more of these things then the last thing you probably want to hear is that you're acting under a delusion and no amount of worrying about supermarket plastic bags is going to help.
He’s certainly furrowed my brow. While I’m not convinced by most of these environmental cures, I do recycle quite diligently. I already try not to use plastic bags if I can avoid it – the ol’ rucksack gets some heavy use these days. I’ve replaced most of the bulbs in my house with fluorescents (although now I’m unclear on how to dispose of them and their cargo of poisonous mercury when they eventually fail) and I’m very particular about switching off devices I’m not using at the plug (If nothing else, this keeps my bills as low as possible!). If disaster is inevitable as Lovelock seems to think then I’m most likely wasting my time in order to ease my own vainglorious conscience.
To put that in context, I’m not a huge crusader for the environmental cause. Mainly because half the time I’m convinced the whole field of Climate Change and Global Warming is just too big for my tiny mind to wrap itself around, or any mind for that matter, particularly when there are so many diverse and conflicting viewpoints out there. Who on Earth are you supposed to trust has got their science right? And before anyone points to the legions of scientists who have cried wolf over the years, it has always been my view that until Science knows EVERYTHING, then it can hardly claim to know ANYTHING. New theories come along all the time, old views are destroyed by new facts, and who is to say all of the data regarding Global warming has come in, and the underlying mechanisms of weather and ecology are wholly and properly understood?
I’d love for you to comment on this. What do you all think about our environmental problems? Are they a real and genuine threat? Or is it yet another conspiracy designed to endear our wallets to corporate bank accounts (As the fridge/CFC thing was back in the late 80’s)? What do you do in your own lives? Or do you do anything at all? Voice your opinions in the boxes below, and thank you for listening.
In the spirit of new directions, then, let me touch on a topic that will affect all of us no matter where we live in the world: Climate Change. In particular, I'd like to direct you to this article from the UK's highly respected Guardian newspaper that I read today, an Interview with a man synonymous with Environmental Science, James Lovelock. Go away, read it and come back: it's not very long.
Click here to read the article
You may recall the name in relation to his Gaia Theory, where he proposed the fanciful idea that the Earth and her thin skein of biological life are, in fact, one colossal super-organism, rather than millions of separate parts clumped together under the same roof. Well, in this latest article he makes some fairly chilling claims about the future - his ‘expectation’ of 80% global population loss by 2100 is quite the cure for sleep, made all the more frightening by his already successful prediction back in 1965 that we'd all be facing enormous environmental problems right about now: a modern-day Nostradamus indeed. "Most of the things we have been told to do might make us feel better, but they won't make any difference. Global warming has passed the tipping point, and catastrophe is unstoppable.”
Lovelock’s comment actually jibes with what I remember hearing from scientists in the mid 90’s, they claimed that we’d already passed certain unmoveable deadlines back then, and this was before we spent a decade watching the glacial pace of ecological awareness propagate among our governments and big business. But beyond the sensationalism and fear-mongering, Lovelock raises some very disturbing points about our current efforts to ward off this impending apocalypse: he claims recycling is practically useless, Ethical Shopping is merely a salve for troubled consciences, as is the great con of Carbon Offsetting, and so-called 'Sustainable' Forestry is just kidding itself. If, like me, you already do one or more of these things then the last thing you probably want to hear is that you're acting under a delusion and no amount of worrying about supermarket plastic bags is going to help.
He’s certainly furrowed my brow. While I’m not convinced by most of these environmental cures, I do recycle quite diligently. I already try not to use plastic bags if I can avoid it – the ol’ rucksack gets some heavy use these days. I’ve replaced most of the bulbs in my house with fluorescents (although now I’m unclear on how to dispose of them and their cargo of poisonous mercury when they eventually fail) and I’m very particular about switching off devices I’m not using at the plug (If nothing else, this keeps my bills as low as possible!). If disaster is inevitable as Lovelock seems to think then I’m most likely wasting my time in order to ease my own vainglorious conscience.
To put that in context, I’m not a huge crusader for the environmental cause. Mainly because half the time I’m convinced the whole field of Climate Change and Global Warming is just too big for my tiny mind to wrap itself around, or any mind for that matter, particularly when there are so many diverse and conflicting viewpoints out there. Who on Earth are you supposed to trust has got their science right? And before anyone points to the legions of scientists who have cried wolf over the years, it has always been my view that until Science knows EVERYTHING, then it can hardly claim to know ANYTHING. New theories come along all the time, old views are destroyed by new facts, and who is to say all of the data regarding Global warming has come in, and the underlying mechanisms of weather and ecology are wholly and properly understood?
I’d love for you to comment on this. What do you all think about our environmental problems? Are they a real and genuine threat? Or is it yet another conspiracy designed to endear our wallets to corporate bank accounts (As the fridge/CFC thing was back in the late 80’s)? What do you do in your own lives? Or do you do anything at all? Voice your opinions in the boxes below, and thank you for listening.
Earth as one Giant Organism! Hum very interesting!
By anonymous user, # 3. March 2008, 13:54:13
Earth as one Giant Organism! Hum very interesting!
By anonymous user, # 3. March 2008, 13:54:40
Oops not sure how that happened, maybe there is an echo in my computer!?!
By anonymous user, # 3. March 2008, 13:55:47
By GoldBug, # 3. March 2008, 14:00:59
I always feel guilty that I don't do more though, I should recycle glass and things too...and so much more! The idea of recycling anything is only really just getting started here, in some countries it's something which everyone does without a second thought!
There are enviromental problems, but i'm not convinced that things like climate change are necessarily due to what people are doing...it could just be something which is happening naturally, the climate has always changed over time, there might be nothing we can do to avoid it!
By kirstycat, # 3. March 2008, 14:16:33
I try to recycle as much as I can and my paper bag is always full for the fortnightly collection by Aberdeen City Council. Unfortunately some councils in Scotland don't collect wine bottles at doorstep collections which requires a trip to the local bottle bank. Sorting green, brown, clear bottles is always fun and listening to the smashing sound when you drop the bottles in the containers! I am easily pleased maybe I should get back to trying to wipe out those peskie Thundercats!
By anonymous user, # 3. March 2008, 14:57:21
Guilt is an interesting phenomenon. Why do we as individuals feel guilty about destroying the planet when our solo input would have to be pretty spectacular to make even the slightest difference?
And if the damage has already been done, then why harbour any guilt at all?
Is it guilt that propels me to save on plastic bags and recycle glass and paper? Or Ego? Idealism? Duty?
By GrantTLC, # 3. March 2008, 15:09:24
The problem with M & S charging 5p a bag is that those things were handy for using as bin liners, so what am I going to use from now one? I grudge paying for plastic bags so will probably start carrying them around with me from now on, but what happens when they get worn and have holes in them? They will be useless!!!!!
As for Cheetara I would do some devilish things to her, ARGHHH HA HA HA Mumma Ra the EVER LIVINGGGGGG!
By anonymous user, # 3. March 2008, 16:14:40
It's also guilt though, the way people look at you when you give in to temptation and take the plastic...people who have remembered to take their special bag, giving the smug and disaproving look back to me...
By kirstycat, # 3. March 2008, 17:10:57
By GoldBug, # 3. March 2008, 18:51:21
We have a big water problem here. Basically the cotton/rice farmers upstream use all the water and the mouth of the river is blocked with crap. I try to use the same bowl and cup all day so I don't create more dishes to do. Then my mum takes them away and stacks them with teh dirty ones...
We recycle paper and err...use green shopping bags. And ummm...don't take sandwiches to uni with me, because I would have to wrap them up and it would create rubbish. Oh no! I ate an apple today and threw the core in the BIN! LANDFILL people!!
What do I think of climate change? I think it is TRUE because I used to be a chemistry student. (I used to be oh so clever
By galadriel, # 4. March 2008, 11:18:24
Originally posted by Galadriel:
To solve this you just need to make sure your mum sees you licking the plates clean, that way she'll know they don't need her attention.
Originally posted by Galadriel:
...until you drank all that cotton/rice water and started working in a pub? Or has the blogging reduced your intellect as it did mine?
By GrantTLC, # 4. March 2008, 12:58:48