Think about it
Thursday, 3. July 2008, 10:48:37
Global warming. The new buzz words. Whatever else they may know about the environment, or not, everyone has definitely heard about this phenomenon.
Is it real? Are we all doomed unless we change our ways? Or is it all just a big farce? Much ado about nothing? Both sides have their proponents.
On one hand you have the environmentalists who blame human activity, mostly use of fossil fuels, for contributing so much of green house gases to the atmosphere. The scientists at IPCC, Al Gore and an assortment of others, all of who believe that unless there is a drastic change in the habits of the entire world, and fast, we’re all going to be elbowing each other for space, ‘cause half of the Earth will be under water. Not to mention a host of other catastrophes that’ll tag along.
Then on the other hand, there are the skeptics, and not all of them are oil majors. They believe all this fuss about global warming and the polar ice caps melting and the plethora of other doom’s day scenarios are all hogwash, and the products of the over-active imaginations of a bunch of Earth fanatics. They call it “scare-mongering.”
As a layperson, one not in possession of any scientific knowledge or data that I can myself call conclusive proof, what should I think? For every scientist-type person showing me charts and graphs of the temperatures of the Earth over the years, cyclones etc, there’s another supposed great authority on these matters pooh-poohing all such charts, graphs, showing me some more of how the Earth is just blowing hot, and cold as it’s supposed to. What then, should I think?
Well, I personally feel global warming is indeed happening. However, I want to try to be fair to the skeptics.
Let us say that what the skeptics say about the Earth going through its normal phases of heating up and cooling down is true. Let us say there is no threat of widespread havoc bearing down upon us anytime soon. Let us say the global warming gang is in fact blowing things a wee bit out of proportion.
So what does that mean? Ah! Sit back, relax, buy your gas-guzzler SUV and leave all your electronic items on?
Even if the end of the world is not coming anytime soon (not for these reasons anyway), there are still some undeniable facts. Leave aside all data about the Earth’s temperature. Leave aside all unusual occurrences of heat waves, cyclones hurricanes, droughts etc. leave aside all of that. Just concentrate on these four facts:
1) The supply of fossil fuels IS limited.
The reserves of fossil fuels, already tapped or not, are limited. Finite. They will run out sometime or the other. Maybe not in our lifetime, but they WILL run out. Now, can we increase our reserves of fossil fuels? Ummm….no!
2) The human population IS increasing.
Can we decrease it? Well, technically, yes, but actually, no. It is our god-given right to procreate. Never mind that we misuse that right to the utmost extent. We can run population control activities on all other species but ourselves. We can’t all pull a China and have laws regulating birth. Besides, most of us wouldn’t even want that. There are other things we can do, but I digress.
3) Use of fossil fuels HAS increased.This growing human population of ours also has its disproportionately growing demands. Technology is permeating every aspect of our lives. The world is a smaller place today not only because there are more of us to share it, but also because technology brings us closer. More people, cheaper, more accessible technology, more cars, more factories, basically, ‘more’ of everything.
4) The amount of green house gases in the atmosphere IS increasing.
Now since all of this wonderful technology that we are so extravagantly using uses up a lot of energy, that translates into a lot of fossil fuels being used up directly or indirectly, which in turn means a lot of CO2 and other green house gases being dumped into the atmosphere.
While we all know how green house gases work, but since I’m trying to be fair, I’ll not say that they are causing ‘global warming’. But, look at it practically. The alteration of the balance that exists in our atmosphere is bound to have some effect. Moreover, an alteration to a great extent is bound to have a greater effect. Add to that the loss of a lot of the earth’s forest cover due to again, the afore-mentioned happily procreating species (and I don’t mean rabbits), can anyone deny that the earth’s natural balance has been disturbed? If this balance continues to stay disturbed and be further disrupted, does it not stand to reason, that there are bound to be some effects on how the climate of the earth behaves? What makes our climate anyway? Air and water, and their movement isn’t it? Therefore, if you disturb these things, there will be some effect on climate. I’m not saying what effect that will be, but chances are, we could stand to lose a lot.
So what am I suggesting we should do?
Stop using anything and everything that contributes to producing these green house gases, and go back to the Stone Age and use tom-toms to communicate, or worse, nothing at all?
Of course not!
But, I wonder, would it be really bad if instead of flagrant over-use, we are more wise and intelligent about how we use our resources?
I fail to understand how judicious use can meet opposition. Even if there is no immediate threat to us, are we really so shortsighted, that we cannot see that sooner or later, all that we are doing is going to take its toll on the earth? Anything we use, anything and everything suffers from wear and tear and needs to be maintained. Why should the earth be any different? Everything is made from it!
What would anyone lose, if the people of earth are more sensitive towards their own home?
Would is really be all that bad if our cars are more efficient and give out lesser smoke?
Would it really hurt if we use CFLs and get more light and use lesser electricity?
Would it not be nice if other species of plants and animals can flourish with us?
What is the harm in not wasting?
What is the harm in giving impetus to research for alternative energy options?
If the specter of ‘global warming’ jolts the people of earth out of their apathy, into becoming more aware and responsible ‘Earthlings’, would it really be all that bad?
The way I see it, the human race is behaving like a little child whose mother threatens him with the ‘Boogey man’ to make him eat his veggies. Here, ‘global warming’ is the ‘Boogey man’ and concern for wiser use is the vegetable. The difference being, that in this case, not eating the veggies will be bad not only for the child, but for everything around him too.
Whether it is true or exaggerated, the lesser of two evils, I think we could do with mongering a bit of scare.
Is it real? Are we all doomed unless we change our ways? Or is it all just a big farce? Much ado about nothing? Both sides have their proponents.
On one hand you have the environmentalists who blame human activity, mostly use of fossil fuels, for contributing so much of green house gases to the atmosphere. The scientists at IPCC, Al Gore and an assortment of others, all of who believe that unless there is a drastic change in the habits of the entire world, and fast, we’re all going to be elbowing each other for space, ‘cause half of the Earth will be under water. Not to mention a host of other catastrophes that’ll tag along.
Then on the other hand, there are the skeptics, and not all of them are oil majors. They believe all this fuss about global warming and the polar ice caps melting and the plethora of other doom’s day scenarios are all hogwash, and the products of the over-active imaginations of a bunch of Earth fanatics. They call it “scare-mongering.”
As a layperson, one not in possession of any scientific knowledge or data that I can myself call conclusive proof, what should I think? For every scientist-type person showing me charts and graphs of the temperatures of the Earth over the years, cyclones etc, there’s another supposed great authority on these matters pooh-poohing all such charts, graphs, showing me some more of how the Earth is just blowing hot, and cold as it’s supposed to. What then, should I think?
Well, I personally feel global warming is indeed happening. However, I want to try to be fair to the skeptics.
Let us say that what the skeptics say about the Earth going through its normal phases of heating up and cooling down is true. Let us say there is no threat of widespread havoc bearing down upon us anytime soon. Let us say the global warming gang is in fact blowing things a wee bit out of proportion.
So what does that mean? Ah! Sit back, relax, buy your gas-guzzler SUV and leave all your electronic items on?
Even if the end of the world is not coming anytime soon (not for these reasons anyway), there are still some undeniable facts. Leave aside all data about the Earth’s temperature. Leave aside all unusual occurrences of heat waves, cyclones hurricanes, droughts etc. leave aside all of that. Just concentrate on these four facts:
1) The supply of fossil fuels IS limited.
The reserves of fossil fuels, already tapped or not, are limited. Finite. They will run out sometime or the other. Maybe not in our lifetime, but they WILL run out. Now, can we increase our reserves of fossil fuels? Ummm….no!
2) The human population IS increasing.
Can we decrease it? Well, technically, yes, but actually, no. It is our god-given right to procreate. Never mind that we misuse that right to the utmost extent. We can run population control activities on all other species but ourselves. We can’t all pull a China and have laws regulating birth. Besides, most of us wouldn’t even want that. There are other things we can do, but I digress.
3) Use of fossil fuels HAS increased.This growing human population of ours also has its disproportionately growing demands. Technology is permeating every aspect of our lives. The world is a smaller place today not only because there are more of us to share it, but also because technology brings us closer. More people, cheaper, more accessible technology, more cars, more factories, basically, ‘more’ of everything.
4) The amount of green house gases in the atmosphere IS increasing.
Now since all of this wonderful technology that we are so extravagantly using uses up a lot of energy, that translates into a lot of fossil fuels being used up directly or indirectly, which in turn means a lot of CO2 and other green house gases being dumped into the atmosphere.
While we all know how green house gases work, but since I’m trying to be fair, I’ll not say that they are causing ‘global warming’. But, look at it practically. The alteration of the balance that exists in our atmosphere is bound to have some effect. Moreover, an alteration to a great extent is bound to have a greater effect. Add to that the loss of a lot of the earth’s forest cover due to again, the afore-mentioned happily procreating species (and I don’t mean rabbits), can anyone deny that the earth’s natural balance has been disturbed? If this balance continues to stay disturbed and be further disrupted, does it not stand to reason, that there are bound to be some effects on how the climate of the earth behaves? What makes our climate anyway? Air and water, and their movement isn’t it? Therefore, if you disturb these things, there will be some effect on climate. I’m not saying what effect that will be, but chances are, we could stand to lose a lot.
So what am I suggesting we should do?
Stop using anything and everything that contributes to producing these green house gases, and go back to the Stone Age and use tom-toms to communicate, or worse, nothing at all?
Of course not!
But, I wonder, would it be really bad if instead of flagrant over-use, we are more wise and intelligent about how we use our resources?
I fail to understand how judicious use can meet opposition. Even if there is no immediate threat to us, are we really so shortsighted, that we cannot see that sooner or later, all that we are doing is going to take its toll on the earth? Anything we use, anything and everything suffers from wear and tear and needs to be maintained. Why should the earth be any different? Everything is made from it!
What would anyone lose, if the people of earth are more sensitive towards their own home?
Would is really be all that bad if our cars are more efficient and give out lesser smoke?
Would it really hurt if we use CFLs and get more light and use lesser electricity?
Would it not be nice if other species of plants and animals can flourish with us?
What is the harm in not wasting?
What is the harm in giving impetus to research for alternative energy options?
If the specter of ‘global warming’ jolts the people of earth out of their apathy, into becoming more aware and responsible ‘Earthlings’, would it really be all that bad?
The way I see it, the human race is behaving like a little child whose mother threatens him with the ‘Boogey man’ to make him eat his veggies. Here, ‘global warming’ is the ‘Boogey man’ and concern for wiser use is the vegetable. The difference being, that in this case, not eating the veggies will be bad not only for the child, but for everything around him too.
Whether it is true or exaggerated, the lesser of two evils, I think we could do with mongering a bit of scare.
WIDGETIZE