Shannon Costello

I’m thinking it’s next to impossible for me, Unscientific Shannon, to figure out what’s really going on with global warming.  Discussion of the issue as reported in the media often frustrates, sometimes confuses, and occasionally amuses me.  

Al Gore speaks as if total destruction is imminent (say, next year): “We must face up to this urgent and unprecedented threat to the existence of our civilization…”   He’s not by any means the only one to talk like that.  Jim Hansen gently chides:  ”We cannot afford to put off change any longer. We have to get on a new path within this new administration. We have only four years left for Obama to set an example to the rest of the world. America must take the lead.”  

Such statements seem to me to function best as scare tactics rather than reasoned advice.  More than that, they seem to readily assume that mankind actually can fix the problem, if we all work together. Just like we took care of poverty.  

With my ire thus aroused, it is harder for me to give articles such as this one a fair reading.   Contrast that with this one, also from today’s Washington Post.  I like George Will’s point that we have lost some perspective, but I have no idea how the average reader could reconcile the apparently conflicting data in those two articles.   

The good news is that our sense of humor can apparently withstand high temperatures.  I don’t trust Al Gore , which meant I enjoyed this article.  

Still, I guess I am stumbling towards some sort of opinion on the matter, which opinion will no doubt frustrate, confuse, or amuse some of you.  

1)  Like any other physical system (at least that I can think of), our planet is probably deteriorating all the time.  It wasn’t designed to last forever, especially if it’s being used.  So I guess I don’t mind if we talk about maintaining it for our -er - your grandchildren, but let’s keep in mind the impossibility of permanent preservation.  

2)  Individuals and nations will act irresponsibly when it comes to the earth.  We’ll even destroy when we are trying not to.  Check out the trash in the nearest parking lot.  And solar panels are a great idea but apparently their manufacture results in some pretty toxic by-products.  (The google search you do to check that out will apparently have a negative impact on the environment as well.)  

3)  I believe the globe is warming and accept the possibility of man as the cause.  At least, I did last week.  George Will has me feeling uncertain again.  

4)  Part of being a functioning member of society involves the attempt to take care of one’s environment.  If I can reduce the amount of trash sent to rot in some private landfill in Virginia, so much the better.