Last month, I was verbally assaulted by an ELF type for driving my SUV (which I just sold to save money and downsize – it was packed full of photo equipment for a shoot). I actually engaged him in a conversation, because I am genuinely curious about this topic, and he seemed like an educated man. He told me I was “THE cause of global warming,” and when I asked him what scientific evidence there is to say that humans are the SOLE cause of global warming, he said every study completed conclusively shows it. I asked him where humans were when the mountains of Colorado were under water (there are masses of river rocks atop the NCAR plateau in Boulder), and he said without missing a beat that Earth, before the ice age, was bombarded by solar flares, which caused the ice caps to melt. Isn’t Earth at the end of an ice age? Is this part of a natural cycle? Are there any studies that show the impact of humanity. Are there any studies that take humans out of the equation, and quantify emissions from volcanoes, releases of natural gas from Earth’s crust, animal gas emissions, release of oceanic carbon, etc…? I’m asking for both independently and privately funded studies. Isn’t warming good for global food supplies? When I see people and companies of global influence, like Al Gore and NBC Universal, buying carbon offsets from their own companies (using their “green” salaries to purchase carbon credits and justify use of a private aircraft; in other words, re-purposing money spent on offsets, for offsets), it sounds the BS alarm for me. When I see mercury in “green” products, and no one says “WHAT?!” it raises the BS flag (trace amounts of mercury over years and decades will surely have an impact on our landfills and global water supplies). Collectively, humans always have the propensity to only look out for “number one” (self), and engage in corruption. We’re all guilty of it, but the degree to which humanity is swayed, one way or the other, concerns me. Don’t get me wrong. For the past couple years, our family has been doing what we can to reduce our carbon footprint. We do this because sustainability makes sense to us, and waste seems pointless. I have seen the reality of waste personified in those with environmentally induced illnesses (i.e. – Tallevast, Florida groundwater contamination, number of illnesses per capita in small, natural gas producing towns, and finally, the number of people with cancer on my mother’s block, which was right next to a rocket production facility – my mother died from her fourth bout with cancer, pancreatic cancer, in 2000 at the age of 53). Given the corruption that exists, like “climategate,” I keep an open mind to both schools of thought. People will blindly follow any message that sounds good, and then try to persuade others to follow them based on this information, and do so without fully researching the topic. That is what scares me. My dad thinks climate change is a scam, despite the research. Some of my best friends, however, believe that humans are THE cause of climate change, despite data that suggests warming hasn’t occurred in almost a decade. Both sides make valid arguments, but I will always question each. I will always question the motivations behind each individual argument. Why am I so slow to embrace one side over the other? Because I see green products with dangerous and deadly elements and byproducts. Because I see “Earth-friendly” politicians living in multiple 15,000 sq. ft. mansions, who pollute their lawns with pesticides, encourage trade with China (and turn a blind eye to products with lead), drive giant SUVs and fly on private jets. Because I see massive companies making billions of dollars off green products (the capitalist in me says “good for them,” but money always leads to corruption, greater power and influence to change policy under many different guises). Because our push to be green means more boutique fuels, which drives up cost and speculation (see the $5/gal prediction for this summer, and almost $10/gal predicted for Germany). Because we have an abundance of natural resources, some of the greatest reserves in the world to be exact, to satiate our needs until more viable, cost effective products and industries can be developed. Because accommodating fear of climate change is contributing unnecessarily to the global recession. We slam oil companies for record profits, but we as an environmentalist society and government put them in a position to put such a heavy premium on their products. With greater corporate overhead, comes greater risk, and results in greater cost. What was once just oil is now hundreds of refined products that cost millions to produce, but sell for hundreds of billions. This has a dramatic effect on everything around us. We spend more for groceries to arrive at stores. We spend more on air travel to see family over the summer. We spend more on oil-based products, like plastic. And, because those products cost more, “green” products are more in demand, which then drives up their costs. We are growing faster than our resources allow, which means inflation will continue to go crazy. Boiled down, we are killing our chances for fiscal stability. If this side of the argument is fiscal suicide, then the other side is environmental murder. Wow! Environmental murder? When we clearcut and deforest, there will be noticeable changes, especially since these renewable sources, are slow to be renewed. When we continue to pollute without thinking of the environmental repercussions, and how it will affect future generations, then we are killing the world around us, and our chances at survival. Why do people intentionally waste? It’s just plain stupid.
Relative to the poster picture, what do I tell my sons? Do I tell them air travel is environmentally sound? Do they not travel to send their message to oil companies and speculators? I don’t know what to do. However, I do know that I’ll continue to think about Earth, and support environmental projects, but only if sustainability is fiscally viable and responsible. I will only be an activist if people and companies put money and actions where their mouth is. I look for the day when we all can collaborate, and draw up a solution with all factors in mind, sans corruption and narrow mindedness. Hopefully, that day will come in this lifetime, even if humanity ends today.
