Thoughts on environmental/political issues
It seems to be on everyone's mind lately and I noticed Emily's post about gas prices, so I figured I'd put my two cents in on my own journal.
Whether or not Global Warming is fact or fiction and whether or not it is directly caused by human activity, there are a few undeniable facts that we as humans can own up to:
1) Gases and toxins released from the mining, refining, shipping, and burning of fossil fuels ARE a cause of disease and human suffering (even if you don't give a shit about birds, fish, and other wildlife). If you don't believe these things are toxic, I encourage you to close your lips around the nearest exhaust pipe and inhale. It's merely evidence of our limited ability to see beyond our own needs that we assume that once these gases leave our vehicles and industry centers that they just disappear. If only that were true.
2) Instead of arguing about who's responsible for these emmisions and who's responsible for coming up with alternatives, we each should try to take as much action ON OUR OWN as possible. In some parts of the country this may be easier than others. However, simple things like driving as little as possible, keeping your tires properly inflated, and switching to compact flourescent light bulbs would help. Recycling never hurt anyone -- and buying recycled products is just as important.
3) Even if you don't believe that global warming is taking place, what harm could it do to take a few steps that will actually lower your monthly and yearly energy expenses? Hell, you can use your savings to buy more gas!!
4) I used to think that organic produce was a hoity-toity gimmick to entice gourmets and to rob more money from consumers. I've since learned that organic farming actually makes for very responsible use of the earth and (in many cases) promotes better living conditions in other countries. Again, it's not the end-all-say-all answer to a problem, but it is a place to start. Consider that organic farms produce more product per acre (and better product) than the giant industrial farms that eventually strip the land of all its ability to support plant life (through erosion and the introduction of industrial fertilizers and pesticides).
5) Whether or not you believe in God or a higher power, what makes you presuppose that we do not possess within OURSELVES the ability to erradicate our own species -- not even in the most obvious means (nuclear weapons, genocide, wars, biological warfare) but in our fascination with using the earth up rather than trying to fit into its natural systems? No one is asking that you don a fig leaf and take to the woods to eat twigs and berries, but is it really necessary to CONSUME as much as we do? If everyone on earth lived like the average American (in terms of energy and food consumption) we would need several more planets to sustain such consumption. Is our need to fuel our SUVs so that we can drive to Wal-Mart (2 miles away) to buy toenail clippers from China more imporatant than an entire ecosystem? Is it right to keep killing off giant sections of the planet so that we can keep going in the direction we're headed rather than admit we've been selfish? If so, what will we do when there is no more oil and all the oceans have been tainted, and the land has been stripped of its nutrients, and the very air hangs heavy with the bi-products of our "success"? Where will we go? Earth No. 2?? At that point, it won't matter how solid the science behind Global Warming is. It won't matter which party joined the bandwagon first or which policitian did more to help or cover up the evidence.
6) I highly doubt that our government (or any other government for that matter) will ever devise a plan of action that will provide a solution to this problem (global warming, gas prices' strangle hold on the economy, etc.). Perhaps if being a politician paid minimum wage plus tips, we'd all be a little better off, but that's not going to happen in MY lifetime.