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Why are we doing so little in the face of the worst global crisis in human history? [1]
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Date: 2022-07-27
Temperatures reached 110 in parts of the Paris region in France.
The water sources for the West Coast are drying up.
I’m well aware of the differences between the two parties. But the suicidal failure to respond to global warming 40 — 50 years ago when virtually all scientists and their respective governments knew what was coming absolves no one from some blame. But the ruling circles of the great powers, including our own, share the most blame. They top the list of the offenders as the largest producer of fossil fuels, the addiction “drug” by which we are destroying the world with.
The Failure of Politics
In particular it is America and Russia that dominate and control the fossil fuel industry, and they have the most to lose in terms of power and influence in the world by a change over to other sources of energy. In terms of costs connected with this changeover, they would be enormous.
It means putting an end to the way we used to handle our way of life, economies and class structure. The tremendous gap in wealth between the top and bottom and wasteful and often decadent consumerism cannot remain if we are to succeed in avoiding extinction as a civilized species. Massive resources, commitment and sacrifices are needed if we are to survive both as a country and as a planet.
We are Trapped like Yossarian in Catch-22
We are facing a global Catch-22.
New technologies must be developed, or the worst will come, much sooner than expected it seems. Mass starvation awaits us as food production and agriculture start to collapse in the wake of floods, heat, and drought. With that become political instability, conflict over resources, and even wars.
I’m not speaking as a bible thumper predicting the end of days. It is now science that tells us that could be in store. Why this issue has not been put forth is instructive, I believe. We are all historically boxed into a corner by not having prepared for this. And no one will tell us the truth or except responsibility, blame or the cost. And we desperately need to hear the truth from our leaders. Biden’s recent steps are welcome but may be 50 years too late. Much more needs to be done. The fossil fuel industry needs to be confronted, as well as Wall Street, if there are to be any worthwhile steps taken on the scope that’s needed. Not very likely, unfortunately, but one can hope.
We no longer even need the scientists to tell us that truth, just go to Weather.com and follow the daily reports of worldwide weather disasters and extremes. The life blood of Western America, the Colorado River, is drying up. Alaska and the West are on fire along with large sections of Europe. St. Louis area gets 11 inches of flooding rain in 5 hours. To name a few.
Can We Handle the Truth?
Can the world handle the truth?
Time is running out, for all of us, and I’m unaware of anything that can be done to reverse the course of global warming in enough time to avoid planetary disaster. If there is some way to neutralize either the gases themselves (massive tree planting), or reduce the sun light energies that reach us, I’m all ears. I’m recalling the infamous line uttered by a renegade general played by Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men. “You can’t handle the truth!” he shouted after having a man punished and beaten to death.
Does the political leader of any nation, large or small, have the nerve to tell its citizens the truth? Tomorow is too late. Heck, today might be too late.
On the Poll
(Regarding the poll, it blew my mind that I’d ever see the day I could legitimately ask this question and not have become one of those disturbed individuals predicting the end of the world. I would like to add that we have to start making much more noise about this issue. I don’t think any politician will touch the issue in the way if needs to be talked about to the public without lots of pressure. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned that the seas will rise and flood every port city in the world in our children’s lifetimes.)
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