I read a scary article in the LA Times this morning about hypoxic (oxygen-starve) zones in the ocean.  The phenomenon started within the last fifty years, at least in zones that used to be rich with fish and other forms of sea life.  These dead zones, while making up only 1% of the world's oceans are found in sections of the ocean containint 20% of the earth's fisheries.  The article is worth reading from the standpoint of being informed about the perils of global warming/global climate change.

However, it frustrates me that there are no proposals about global or individual behavior changes that would help alleviate the situation.  So we read a scary article.  Half of the population (those folks listening to Rush Limbaugh) say, "Oh, there's no such thing as global warming and even if there is, it's a good thing."

The other half, like me, say "Oh my God, this is scary and horrible."  But because the problem is so big, so global, so like badly written sci-fi--our response is not qualitatively different from the ditto-heads.

My personal response is this:  I cannot individually change the dead zones to living zones.  But I can do the following things:

1.  I can live responsibly within my environment by following basic green principles.

2.  I can continue to engage this overwhelming blob known as "global climate change" and learn about causes and effects.

3.  I can vote green at the ballot box and with my pocket book.

4.  I can challenge the thinking of ditto-heads wherever I run into them.

Is it enough?  Not on my own.  But it's certainly something.  And something, as they say, is better than nothing.

 


Comments

Erik

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:26:00

You're right - we can't do it alone. But I love the quote of Margaret Mead about this - "never doubt the power of small groups of people to change the world."

I also believe that multiple forces are at work in beginning ways about this and other climate/biosphere problems. I don't believe for a moment that the planet (and humanity) will be damaged beyond repair. Things will get dicey in the next 2 decades. I think several things will happen as a result:

1) We will continue to realize how much damage we're doing, and what we need to do to cut it out, including the ditto-heads. It is one thing to dis-believe in global warming, it is quite something else to hit the store for your favorite fish and discover you can't get it anymore.

2) We will be forced to become Terraformers. We are developing enough information to start large-scale experiments in this regard, and I don't think anyone is really aware of what we can do to reverse the damage done.

3) I believe that the generation that is growing up now, and which is already inculturated with the idea of global warming and its attendant problems, will gradually take over from the generation of our parents, as they pass on to other realms - all to the good.

Erik

 

Laura

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:40:18

Thanks for the dose of practical optimism. I needed it!

 



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