Cashing in on climate change
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The great snowstorms of 2010 and Climategate would seem to put the validity of the science behind global warming in question. However there are those who argue that it is global warming causing the snow. Of course, these are the same people who would argue that global warming is the reason there are no snow storms, if that was the case this year. I understand their pain and fear.
No one likes to have his faith shaken or to see a project he has invested years in begin to collapse. This is personal.
But I am not here to debate or cast doubt on anyone's beliefs. Instead, the time has come to put the namecalling and fear mongering away, on both sides of the issue.
Contrary to popular mainstream media opinion, and Al Gore, there is no consensus on man-made global warming/climate change; perhaps in time there will be.
What is apparent is that both sides have a money-making industry that they do not want to see end anytime soon. What is gained by the rank and file during this constant fund raising? Nothing but anger, fear, intolerance, a lack of reasoned debate and division among the people.
I do not believe in the theory of man-made global warming. That does not make me a "flat earther" any more than your belief in it makes you an "eco-fascist." What we need to focus on is conservation and alternative power sources. It is difficult to believe that either side of the issue would argue whether clean air and water are vital to the nation. By continually focusing on the end of the world, we have lost focus on preserving the world that we have.
It seems both sides agree that we need to become energy independent. Yet we are no closer to achieving that goal now than 35 years ago. Is it so difficult to agree to allow offshore drilling or drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for a limited time while alternatives to fossil fuels are developed? The tax revenue generated could be used to fund the development of alternative energy resources. A gradual change to wind, solar and clean coal, and electric- or hydrogen-powered cars, would allow for the training of workers and reduce the impact on the economy.
We have a responsibility to our children and their children to leave the planet in a better condition than we found it. To accomplish that task we must put the partisan sniping behind us, ignore the cash calls from the political industrial complex and focus on doable projects that can make a positive impact on the environment by the end of the decade.
First Published February 25, 2010 12:00 am
