Mark today in your calendars because USA Today's headline just made it official: "The debate's over: Globe is warming." My first reaction was astonishment. I kept scanning their website for other up-to-the-minute revelations. What's next? Are the Beatles really about to break-up? Is the Berlin Wall really going to come down?
But my second reaction was more optimistic -- and less sarcastic. I shouldn't scoff at USA Today's belated recognition as much as I should marvel that a tipping point is happening right before our eyes. The real news here is not that the debate is over -- it's been over, of course, for quite some time -- but that USA Today and other media like it have finally awarded a TKO to climate scientists and greens.
As it turns out, USA Today's conviction is because big corporations, utilities, Republican governors, and even religious groups are now demanding action on climate change. There really is increasingly broad-based recognition of the problem. Still, it's more than a little annoying that media evaluate critical issues based not on the overwhelming scientific evidence, but rather on the proclamations of Arnold and a few CEOs.
But on the other hand, if even USA Today says there's a consensus on climate change, then we're just about to arrive in a brave new world where we can actually begin to do something about it on a large and systemic level. Hold on to your hats: next week we'll find out that burning gasoline warms the atmosphere through something called the "greenhouse effect" ...
Comments
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peaceworker Posted 12:04 pm
13 Jun 2005
"We've probably never had a better situation," Energy Exec said in an interview, predicting that 60 or more new reactors may be built in the United States with several designs finding customers" Quick do a needs vs. wants assessment; do you want a nuclear plant in your backyard; do you need to keep your giant house at 65 degrees in the summer and 79 degrees in the winter
Nuclear still causes environmental disruption before it's spent and eons of nuclear waste once it's spent. Why are we ignoring the critical waste issue as we so conveniently do with most of our garbage; have we lost sight of tomorrow? Some environmentalists are even backing the other nuclear option; maybe they don't want to make any sacrifices either?
Do we really need to feed ourselves mass quantities or drive endlessly in pursuit of the new/ bigger/ better thing? We need to change our personal habits our choices, we must leverage our grateful and responsible actions so we can in turn create, support and implement policy that is responsibly sustainable; we need to require the same of our politicians. Our habits are still stuck in the 20th century; it is time to evolve- it's a matter of life.
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Biodiversivist Posted 8:13 am
14 Jun 2005
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Help acquire and protect ecological hotspots, give to a conservation organization: http://www.saveourbiodiversity.com
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