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Tuesday, 08 August 2006 16:20 |
 Recently, numerous conversations throughout the country ?? indeed, most likely throughout the Northern Hemisphere ?? have revolved around one phrase: ?®It??s really hot out there!?∆
While valid critiques could be made about people??s tendency in everyday language to state the obvious, we would now like to take this opportunity to do just that.
It is too darn hot!
Much of the
country has experienced triple-digit temperatures and residents of
California endured a two-week heat wave last month that killed 141
people and countless crops.
Meanwhile, power grids throughout the U.S. have been stretched to their limits as air-conditioners have been turned up.
In the midst of
this record-beating heat wave, Al Gore??s documentary, ?®An Inconvenient
Truth,?∆ has stirred up much talk about global warming. What better
climate for such a conversation?
While a single heat wave in August is not proof in itself that global warming is real, an overall pattern seems to be emerging.
Despite the
protests of the Bush administration and powerful lobbying groups, the
scientific community has largely reached agreement about global
warming. The earth, many scientists say, is heating up because of the
impact of human activity.
Some oil
companies and auto manufacturers have even jumped on the environmental
bandwagon with large-scale public relations campaigns designed to give
the impression that they are part of the solution and not part of the
problem.
We encourage everyone who is feeling too hot to stop for a minute and consider just how much hotter our climate might get.
At a recent
lecture on solutions to global warming, a speaker compared the
situation that the world faces with the phases of grief. First there is
shock, followed by grief and denial. Our society is moving out of the
denial phase of our confrontation with climate change. We urge everyone
to push through this denial and start making choices right now to
impact its effects.
And if you find yourself overheated and stuck in the anger phase, you might want to write a letter to your congressperson.
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