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DISCUSSION: WHO HASN'T HEARD OF GLOBAL WARMING?
There can be little doubt that the natural Milankovic cycle (the way the Earth wobbles on its axis and the differences in the orbits around the sun) has and always will be a major factor in global warming and global freezing. This is generally accepted … except perhaps by those who continue to believe the Earth is flat and is at the centre of the universe – and make no mistake, there are many who refuse to believe overwhelming evidence.
Where as the natural Milankovic cycle is beyond doubt, the increasing weight of evidence is such that mans activities are causing an upset in the natural balance. This natural balance is an equilibrium between complex factors. One of the consequences of this equilibrium is a natural global warming – a recognised greenhouse effect – that increases the otherwise low surface temperatures and makes most of our world habitable.
Without
this natural global warming there would be a deep and extensive ice age.
Without this natural global warming life as we know it would certainly not
be the same.
Are mans activities causing such an upset in the natural balance? Is the balance being changed so a new equilibrium is reached at an increased surface temperature? These activities include burning ever increasing amounts of fossil fuels, massive deforestation, pollution of the seas, damaging gases from increasing waste and landfill, intensive farming, etc., etc., etc.
The weight of evidence strongly indicates the increasing levels of, for example, carbon dioxide and methane, as a direct result of the above activities are causing a realignment of the complex natural equilibrium. Many of the consequences of this realignment, this enhancement of the global warming, are best guesses. Yet the overwhelming majority of these best guesses – and from people who know – point to the same general direction … there is a disaster looming on our horizon. This disaster will be unprecedented in human history. This disaster will affect all life in our world. It will change everything.
As stated above, some people will always refuse to believe something unless there is overwhelming proof. In fact there are those who will refuse to believe something even if there is overwhelming proof.
Most of us have never walked on the moon – yet we know the moon exists. We’ve never touched it yet we can see it and we’ve heard of other people walking on the moon. Do we doubt the existence of the moon even although we’ve never been there?
The overwhelming evidence of the existence of the moon is mostly from measurement and observation. What we have today for global warming is measurement and observation. This is nothing to do with blind faith or accepting blindly. This has everything to do with the weight of evidence and being beyond reasonable doubt.
Who denies the existence of the moon? Who denies the existence of the enhancement of global warming?
Some scientists, for example, believe that evidence should be irrefutable before being accepted as fact. They cannot in all truth be blamed for following the rigours of scientific discipline. But the fate of world should not be left up to them.
Politicians, for example, who are usually more concerned with short term events coinciding with elections, are notorious for failing to take a strategic view. Some are also notorious for failing prey to specific commercial organisations that may (or may not) contribute to campaign funds for, of course, a completely unconnected reason. Some politicians will also use the lack of overwhelming evidence as a stalling tactic to avoid decisions and avoid action.
The fate of world should not be left up to them.
And then there are those commercial organisations themselves.
The
vast majority of commercial organisations (but not all, by any means) fall
into two main areas:
1. those who follow the core of human nature and pretend nothing bad will ever happen to them and if it does they will be able to survive. And by the way, don’t the marketing and PR people think it a good idea that we should find out what our carbon footprint is?
2. those who actively profit from causing global warming. Examples of these are oil and oil related companies whose profits rely completely on persuading people to use more oil and dissuading the development of alternatives. They also include power companies who continue to burn coal in grossly inefficient power plants. They include vehicle producers and transportation companies who continue the blind alley cycle of oil use instead of developing into new areas, especially as oil production will soon be in decline. They include logging companies laying waste to huge tracts of land.
People – individuals – will change global warming behaviour and activities if given a viable, cost effective alternative.
Our future is being held to ransom to ensure the present profits of the types of companies above. Are they embarrassed? Are they in shame? Are they being pressurised by the public? They should be.
Why?
Why, because it isn’t so much the mean global temperature increase that people should focus on. This is only an average and so will not be evenly spread.
- There will be regional spikes in temperature. This will alter the terrain of whole areas of the world, increasing the surface temperature in some areas beyond habitable limits, or at least making agriculture impossible.
- Ground water will become more difficult to find.
- Some inland areas will become deserts and prone to unpredictable storms.
- Coastal areas will become flooded and prone to unpredictable storms.
- The zone of tropical diseases will move north and south – and up in altitude – to expose significant centres of population that were previously relatively safe.
- The economies of a number of countries will be devastated.
- Health and education within these areas will decline.
- There will be a significant shift in the global population unleashing a massive wave of migration.
- Ocean currents may be affected, altering further the weather and climate within specific regions of the world, causing drought, ice or torrential rain.
- Much more.
The above points are not alarmist or things that “might” happen at the beginning of the next century. These will be within living memory. This has all the makings of an unprecedented human disaster the like of which has never before been seen.
For those who perceive they will be safe in the developed world and that, somehow, the worst effects will again be felt in Africa – think again. Agriculture will become increasingly difficult in a wide band from Australia through to China, through to southern Europe and many areas of central America and the US itself. The changing and extreme weather will be felt by everyone. The effects and consequences of the massive wave of migration will also be felt by everyone.
The value of everything you have will change.
How you perceive your future and the future of your children will change.
Why?
Why, because of those commercial organisations who profiteer from global warming. Why, because of politicians who steadfastly refuse to take a strategic view and hide behind the mantle of not having overwhelming proof. Why, because we as individuals perhaps don’t push hard enough for positive change.
Change will happen in profiteering organisations only if they are forced to change. Change will happen from politicians only if we tell them to change.
What we are presented with is a series of opportunities. Opportunities to develop sustainably and strongly. If we refuse to recognise these opportunities, the opportunities will transform into threats and then into unwanted consequences.
If you are an individual reading this article – you know what you have to do.
If you are a politician reading this article – the world needs leadership with foresight and the will to act. Would you like to know what you should be doing? Would you like a viable alternative?
If you are a decision maker within a profiteering organisation reading this article … the window of opportunity for you to alter the damage being done is quickly closing. When it closes, you will be in shame forever, the fortunes of your organisation will be in shame forever. Would you like a viable alternative?
There are always alternatives. Alt3 specialises in creating insight from no sight.
Be wise.
This is one of those moments that have the ability to change the world. It all depends on what YOU do now. This is THE moment. Like every moment in time, once the moment is gone, it is gone and cannot be returned to once there is the advantage of hindsight. Do not ignore this moment. There will never be another one quite like it again.
Plan A: relish the moment and act because once there is the benefit of “overwhelming proof”, it will be too late.
Plan B: there is no plan B.
Written by: JAMES STUART http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstuart - new direction and development through innovation
Insight through understanding. Advice you can trust.
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