"An Inconvenient Truth", and a pleasant surprise
Thursday evening I went out to watch a movie with my brother. Apparently the only theatre in all of Ottawa playing the movie about Global Warming featuring Al Gore was the Bytowne cinema. It's certainly not what I'm used to in a theatre. They didn't have debit or credit available, and it was they only had one screen at the cinema. They were extremely efficient, and the prices were amazing (for a theatre :).
It was quite interesting. Many aspects about our current predicament presented by Gore I already knew. However, they mentioned several things to which I was unaware. A great example was when they presented the idea that warming temperatures would melt the glaciers of Greenland and shut down the Gulf Stream. This would end with Europe falling into another ice age. Very heavy stuff :O
Personally, I think that the best way to deal with the situation would be to get the economy behind it, rather than for everyone to make a personal change. Don't get me wrong, making a difference all on your own can go along way to solving the issue of CO2 emissions. I just think that in the long term it's unreasonable to think that EVERYONE will do it. The way to get everybody behind this and actually make a difference is to exploit the economic benefit that can be realized by making the necessary changes. A tax incentive here, a few regulations there, the phasing out of problematic technologies by replacing them with newer ones. All these things coupled with conservation on an individual basis (at least in the immediate and short term) are what I think will ultimately change things permanently.
I suppose we'll have see how things turn out. After all, the consequences of current predictions will be realized within our lifetimes (That is to say, the 20 something demographic ;)
On a more positive note, I got an interview lined up to work at a local photolab. That should help me through the remainder of my patchy university career. I especially like the idea of getting significant hours (16-32) and the benefits that part-timers get. Drug and dental I'll get immediately, with optical coming around after 2 years of service. Of course, that's assuming I'm there for 2 years.
The only downside is that it's minimum wage :'(. But no matter, it will suffice. and the wage does increase according to the union contract. So that's good at least.
Wish me luck on the interview this Monday!
It was quite interesting. Many aspects about our current predicament presented by Gore I already knew. However, they mentioned several things to which I was unaware. A great example was when they presented the idea that warming temperatures would melt the glaciers of Greenland and shut down the Gulf Stream. This would end with Europe falling into another ice age. Very heavy stuff :O
Personally, I think that the best way to deal with the situation would be to get the economy behind it, rather than for everyone to make a personal change. Don't get me wrong, making a difference all on your own can go along way to solving the issue of CO2 emissions. I just think that in the long term it's unreasonable to think that EVERYONE will do it. The way to get everybody behind this and actually make a difference is to exploit the economic benefit that can be realized by making the necessary changes. A tax incentive here, a few regulations there, the phasing out of problematic technologies by replacing them with newer ones. All these things coupled with conservation on an individual basis (at least in the immediate and short term) are what I think will ultimately change things permanently.
I suppose we'll have see how things turn out. After all, the consequences of current predictions will be realized within our lifetimes (That is to say, the 20 something demographic ;)
On a more positive note, I got an interview lined up to work at a local photolab. That should help me through the remainder of my patchy university career. I especially like the idea of getting significant hours (16-32) and the benefits that part-timers get. Drug and dental I'll get immediately, with optical coming around after 2 years of service. Of course, that's assuming I'm there for 2 years.
The only downside is that it's minimum wage :'(. But no matter, it will suffice. and the wage does increase according to the union contract. So that's good at least.
Wish me luck on the interview this Monday!