(Wrote this draft January 1, 2015)
Went to a discussion three weeks ago on climate change, a follow-up to a sermon given by a minister
that day at a local church. I participated because I walked in the People's
Climate March in New York City. The speaker commented that climate change encompassed
all the world's problems but didn't elaborate on that grandiose statement.
Eventually, a woman, ninety years old with lots of moxie, asked how could it be
that climate change is tied to all the world's problems? He replied with brief
examples--he had to leave for another commitment--including hotter climates
producing hotter tempers, devastating floods, and so on. However, the woman's
question has resonated since that discussion.
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| CRYSTAL LAKE (During drought, Summer 2013) |
Informed, long-term
followers know two critical points: that scientists have warned of climate
change long before our current crisis. And, science fiction predicted
scientific fact (a topic I mentioned in an earlier blog). What weakens the
controversy is how, like an extended outline for a research paper, the subheadings,
i.e. direct and indirect effects of climate change have been overlooked. To
simply my premise, I will list these consequences, in random order, and then
provide my observations about some of these current/future effects.
1. Housing
2. Jobs
3. Income
4. Health
5. Discrimination
6. Poverty
7. Global
conflict/International relations
8. Displaced
refugees
9. Censorship
10. Security
Of course, the above
represent a short list of the immediate challenges our changing weather
patterns have produced, will produce. Moreover, each could be a topic for a
scholar's dissertation. To address these challenges with an academic's eyes,
however, would be for naught. Most politicians have ignored scientists'
warnings for years, and scientific data goes over their heads. And, for anyone
in our global community who works just to survive, the list above means little
until we look at real world, concrete examples that will forever change their
lives.
Think about this: the
population of the Maldives (an island group, south-west of India in the Indian
Ocean) is @345,000 people. Within our lifetime, their lifetimes the islands
will be swept away by rising seas. Where will they re-locate? How will these
refugees be sheltered, fed, given opportunities for work?
Americans know from
Super Storm Sandy that thousands lost their homes in New Jersey, Staten Island
and elsewhere. The cost to rebuild skyrocketed as some businesses saw their
chance to capitalize on the disaster. Flood insurance rose significantly not
only there, but along the eastern seaboard. Many first homeowners who've lived
their lives and worked their trade along the coastline will be unable to
return.
Already illnesses
related to increasing temperatures will only worsen as pollutants percolate in
the already thickening smog from local industries. Nuclear plant run-off,
depleting or threatened aquifers, and agricultural run-off will threaten water
supplies. Steep increases in respiratory-related illnesses, such as asthma,
allergies, chronic diseases, as with Lyme, have and will continue to rise.
Yes, these examples have
been highlighted; nevertheless, Congress, the media, the power elite refuse to
see the now short-term dangers of ignoring climate change. In fact, Congress
just agreed to slash the EPA's budget when the agency had finally begun to make
strides to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants.
Climate change must be a
major issue in upcoming presidential platforms. Let’s all contribute our voices
to insuring politicos hear the call and continue to act on preserving our
planet for generations to come.
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