Global warming and the planet's popluation
The global ice caps are melting. The farms and cities of Bangladesh and other low-lying areas are already under water. And yet we have people going around claiming “global warming is nothing but a joke.”
The tobacco industry spent billions on lobbyists and publicity to convince us that puffing their products was not harmful to health, but now they are paying more billions for judgments instead. Similar faux science is now being spread by the big oil and “clean” coal corporations, claiming their brand of smoke does not cause global warming. One oil giant is working both sides of the street; their ads on PBS tell of things they are doing to reduce greenhouse gasses.
A hundred years ago, scientists predicted that the average global temperature would climb one degree in the next century, and then accelerate rapidly to increase the temperature five degrees in the 21st century. Right now, that prediction is exactly on target.
Many complex issues are involved in considering global warming. Yes, there is the possibility that the earth is really in no danger from overheating due to greenhouse gases. But what if that possibility fails? Would it not have been more prudent to err on the side of safety?
However, both sides of this argument should agree that planet earth is in serious trouble due to all sorts of problems caused by human activities, problems that need to be addressed immediately. “Clean“ coal has been scarring vast areas of mountaintops, muddying up the waters in the valleys below. The ‘clean coal” fuels power plants that belch out pollutants into the atmosphere – not good whether or not It contributes to global warming. The supply of oil is finite and has peaked, but there appears to be little reduction in the number macho pickups and other gasoline powered toys. We talk a lot about fowling up our environmental nest but do little about it.
Finally, even if we could immediately bring the amounts of greenhouse gases down to safe levels, all such efforts would be negated if the population of humans on the planet is not significantly reduced to the point where life on earth can be sustained in a healthy environment and using the available resources.
Population control is a complex and probably divisive issue, but it is imperative that it be addressed. Considerations include:
n Religious imperatives — Bible, churches, etc.
n Economic forces — consumption, growing GNP, etc.
n Social desires — large families, biological urges, personal responsibilities, etc.
n Political resistance — family planning, abortion, sex education, etc.
n Manpower needs —– military, farm labor, replace possible deaths, etc.
Resolving the population issue will be difficult, but it is necessary to be included in any meaningful effort maintain human life on earth.
Joseph Henry Wythe
Sandpoint