Climate Change, Global Warming or not...isn't the point to protect the earth?

Individuals and political parties in some western cultures (mainly the U.S.) spend so much time debating whether the theories of climate changes as human induced are accurate or not, or whether the science is well thought out. What this debate sets up is an out for all the people who want to put their blinders back on.

I mean afterall, I would be thrilled to find out that the scientists were wrong and we really aren't going to burn up or cause species to die because of our thoughtless exploitation of the earth's natural resources. But this doesn't really address the bigger issue--Americans have, for years, exploited our own natural environment and our corporations have gone to developing countries to do the same. We waste, destroy, and create havoc. The point is not whether this wastefulness is driving catastrophic environmental change, but whether it is impacting someone, and whether we couldn't find a better way to handle things to minimize the impacts.

I think the people who profess that human induced climate change is "junk science" are purposefully taking the focus off human environmental impacts, so that the average person can feel off the hook and the average person can then consume more (without worrying about reducing his or her impact or even making efforts to recycle)--this return to consumption then benefits these proponents who are likely corporation owners.

I don't really care whether climate change is real or not. Sometimes Americans with blinders need something more to dig themselves out of the rut they are in and find a better way to treat our natural resources and this earth that sustains our lives, the lives of plants, and animals. Maybe the theory that we are driving the earth toward catastrophic change is enough to get people off their couches, out of their cars, and out of the stores. Maybe it will get them thinking about new ways to protect our planet.

Messy Roadways

As we walked and rode home from a mom and kids bike ride the other day with cars speeding past us, I wondered how different the roadways would be if more people walked or rode bikes. There was trash all along our route, and the safety of walking or riding was questionable with all the speeding cars.

As walkers/riders, we were going slow enough for me to notice what was around us. Broken plastic toys, fast food wrappings, pieces of paper all littered the roadside. The sidewalks and bike lanes near our house are totally inadequate. We often end up walking the bikes through the dirt and weeds to be safe. I always pick my bike routes based on a drive in the car. Once we get going, I realize how inadequate my review from the car is. The route is never as easy or safe as I think it looks when speeding by in a car. The small stretch of no sidewalk turns out to be a quarter mile of dirt, thorny thistles, and toddler treasure--dangerous trash.

If people would just get out of their cars and walk, they would probably care about all the trash they saw. They would probably slow down so they didn't hit a human being or animal. But, we all just speed by without a care, on to the next destination, because of course our society forces the destination rather than embracing the journey.