April 22, 2006
When Will Earth Day Really Be Earth Comes First Day?
My first Earth Day was in 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri. I was 18 years old. I had read "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson a couple of years before that day. I had followed the impacts of pollution after that. I had researched the U.S. sponsored war on coyotes, and Golden Eagles. The first Earth Day was invigorating and left me with hope that we could save the world from ourselves. Indeed, we made gains. We got the Environmental Protection Agency, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and stricter limits on dumping of toxic waste. We also have seen attacks on all of those gains, and the exporting of the most environmentally destructive chemicals (such as DDT and malathion) for massive use outside the United States.
I believe that sometime in the early 70's I first started hearing about Global Warming. Then, until just the last year, I heard and ongoing mantra that of "debate" over whether it was happening or not, and whether humans had anything to do with it. We have known for decades that the oil industry and their lackeys have bought scientists to argue and dismiss the entire concept of global warming. That "debate" largely kept much from happening. Now there truly is no "debate." Global warming is happening.
Like the "do nothing" approach towards global warming, there as been pretty much a "do nothing" on issues of pollution, ocean dumping, industrial fishing, deforestation, pick your issue.
Today in 2006, I see a world that is dying and a climate that is threatening to explode in our faces. The oceans are dying. Fisheries are largely exhausted, protected lands are being opened up to corporate resource exploitation. The Arctic and Antarctic are melting, global ocean currents are becoming erratic, natural resources are disappearing, and fresh water supplies are becoming increasingly scarce.
I cannot generate much hope. It is clear that we are no longer in a position to avert disaster. Our only hope now is that we can dodge a total catastrophe. However, even now at the brink of climate and ecological collapse we continue at an accelerated pace in the same direction that has brought us to the brink. While the talk is loud, and at least three global warming specials are airing this weekend (two on CNN and one on HBO) we are largely at the talking stage. It took over 30 years to get to the talking stage, and in that time the situation has deteriorated beyond belief. How long will be talk before we act? Another 30 years? Perhaps never. The talk must happen. Over 30 years of bought and paid for distraction and doubt must be undone. But we truly do not have time to talk.
A video on global warming took prizes at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It is titled "An Inconvenient Truth" and is narrated by Al Gore and directed by Davis Guggenheim. Take 3 minutes an watch the trailer.
Sundance Film Festival information on "An Inconvenient Truth."
Direct link to the YouTube trailer of "An Inconvenient Truth"
Posted by rowan at April 22, 2006 8:38 AM | [eMail this article!] |I found Al Gore's introduction of himself rather ironic and amusing at the same time. If he had been allowed to continue as "the next president," perhaps more could have been done to acknowledge the impending consequences of human selfishness.
The question is, are we already past the point of no return, or will we respond fast enough to put off the point of no return?
I can't help but think about Daniel Quinn's analogy of that airplane headed straight to the earth with the pilot still paddling as fast as he possibly can, thinking that disaster can be averted only if he peddles even faster.
Posted by: Shawna at April 24, 2006 4:30 PMPersonally, I believe if a terminally ill patient is told she/he is dying before chemo and radiation, the patient has the opportunity to face the worst case scenario, accept the finality of death and non-being, and is prepared as best as possible for anything that might come. Hiding the worst case scenario is an abominable injustice! Better equipped to cope with the end of being and better equipped to accept the wondrous parameters of Being, should one survive...are the goals I believe are most worthwhile! Because Al has played the politician for some of the best reasons, he is rusty at being a human being, but I think he really is one. I think we're already down the tubes, but there is much we can do to try to save a viable resource of life it has taken billions of years to accomplish!
Posted by: Ed at April 28, 2006 6:37 AM