Sweetpea Manor Musings

Hard, sweaty work would be one thing guaranteed to not raise mine.

Something that I always wonder about when the general topic of global warming comes up - do people (and I don't mean only 'us folks', I mean scientists as well) ever take into consideration that a certain amount of what happens to our climate is beyond anyone's control? Yes, of course, we are contributing to global warming - but how much? I guess that is the real question. I've been reading a couple of books lately which as side notes (not being the actual topic of the book) discuss global climate changes over the past 2000 years, the CE era. I've also seen a couple of TV programs which mention these various changes. We have had Ice Ages, Little Ice Ages, and various Warming Ages several times in that time. Although we contribute to climate change, I don't think we have sole control/responsibility, and I wonder why no one ever talks about the fact that a lot of what is going on is just Mother Nature, or whatever. In the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, people blamed themselves (as sinners), blamed God, etc., when the same thing was going on - drastic changes in the weather pattern. Modern man is not a superstitious guy, so we still blame ourselves, but in our conceit, take all of the responsibility upon ourselves. I really wonder just how much of what is going on, in the climate-change front, would have happened anyway, without much of what we are "doing" to cause it? I'm not trying to deny that we are doing Bad Things to Momma Earth, but I just wonder if some of us are accepting too much blame.

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>>>Although we contribute to climate change, I don't think we have sole control/responsibility, and I wonder why no one ever talks about the fact that a lot of what is going on is just Mother Nature, or whatever.

The right-wingers use this argument all the time - they're published tons of books and scientific studies on this, and Michael Crichton's new novel is all about this - but of course they go in the other direction entirely and say global warming is entirely Mother Nature and has nothing to do with human activity.

My belief is this: It's both. I believe human activities are having an impact on global warming, and I believe mother nature is doing her thing, too. We're aiding and abetting the process, but of course there's no way of knowing which way things are going to go.

It would be nice if this was an actual part of the conversation, but the country is way too polarized for either side to acknowledge that the other might have one tiny smidgen of sense.

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If part of it is natural and our contribution is the tipping point, we'll still suffer by dying by the millions. And if we're even more responisble, well, it's Darwinism in action, isn't it? The stupid will die off, taking everything else with them.

I'm glad I don't have children.

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>>>If part of it is natural and our contribution is the tipping point, we'll still suffer by dying by the millions.

Exactly, and it's very possible our contribution will be the tipping point. Human activity is directly responsible for the extinction of many countless species already, and who knows how much of the current epidemic in illnesses like autism, etc., are caused by the high levels of chemicals to which we were exposed?

If human activity causes the water levels to rise even slightly, the island nations will be swamped - they will pay the price for the willful ignorance on the part of the people who profit from the pollutants.

But they'll be like Lex Luthor from that Superman movie, planning his beachfront property in Arizona.

>>>I'm glad I don't have children

I am grateful I don't have children, either, for so many reasons. For so many generations, people have assumed their children will have a better life than they did, but I don't think that's going to be the case for the next few generations. They will be saddled with so many burdens.

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I would never say that it's all Mother Nature, there's too much evidence otherwise. But knowing what we know about the Earth's past, it doesn't make sense to blame it all on mankind either. It's too bad it has to be so politicized, but I guess that's human nature.

Like you, I believe it's both - and I'm not willing to come down heavily on one side either way, i.e. 90% "us", 10% Momma, or the other way 'round. Sigh...

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Believe me, hot sweaty work does not improve my mood, but the mood was so low, it was a step up.

I know there are natural cycles, cycles that can still be cataclysmic for us.

I know that all the concrete and asphalt raise temps in cities, and we don't plant the large trees because they might need to be pruned, so little trees go in. Cities are 5 to 10 hotter than the suburban areas. That's measurable and fact. As to greenhouse gases, I don't know yet.

I've not read up on global warming, but I'm going to see An Inconvenient Truth this week and will read the other side after that. I am tired of the Right ignoring everything that doesn't agree with them, be it Iraq, the enviroment or social issues. They say it's junk science, but I'm going to find out.

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I don't question that we are contributing - I'm sure we are. I just get uncomfortable with the idea that it's "all" what mankind today is doing to Planet Earth. We aren't doing Momma Nature any favors, that's for sure. OTOH, global climate changes have been around as long as Earth has. As

catalenamara says, it would be nice to hear a little balance.

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I think the time for blaming is past, but unfortunately some people are so wrapped up in denying the problem for fear that they might have to change their ways, all they want to do is ridicule the subject. Global warming is happening. First thing on the agenda is what are we going to do about it, can we slow it down or what can we do to prepare for the changes?

Did you see the article about Greenland's ice cap in yesterday's LA Times? It's melting really fast. In the last 5 or 10 years, it's melted more than they thought it could in a century. They had days of melting in December. It's been 20 degrees warmer there than normal. What with what I've read recently, it was very alarming.

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Yes, I did read that article, and yes, it was damn scary, and shocking.

I'd like to think that if anything could, global warming might make us a 'global community' in terms of working together, but I'm also afraid it won't be in our lifetime. I wish it could be, but.....sigh.

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I think things will happen in our life time and people will have no choice but to react. They'll all be a day late and a dollar short, though.

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Huh! My own LJ didn't recognise me. That was me and not some lurker.

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>>>I know that all the concrete and asphalt raise temps in cities, and we don't plant the large trees because they might need to be pruned, so little trees go in. Cities are 5 to 10 hotter than the suburban areas. That's measurable and fact. As to greenhouse gases, I don't know yet.

My family used to like to go to Las Vegas in the 70s. At that time, the corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard was the epicenter of the gambling palaces.

But one block away from that intersection the temperature at night was 10 degrees cooler. The intensity of the lights at just that one area was so great it increased the local temperature by that much.

I found that amazing then; I find it scary now.

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>>>I am tired of the Right ignoring everything that doesn't agree with them, be it Iraq, the enviroment or social issues. They say it's junk science, but I'm going to find out.

It's astonishing and appalling the way the Right manipulates every scientific study and does their best to discredit anyone who disagrees with them. Have you read about all the scientists who, when their work doesn't agree with the Right's preconceived notions, suddenly have found every aspect of their personal lives being investigated?

Scary.

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sheepsclothing.livejournal.com

I do think we have a responsibility to do what we can environmentally, and after reading some articles in a magazine called 'Blue' which did a whole issue on water, I felt similarly depressed. I work with a large amount of people, and I don't think a quarter of them give a flying crap (Ooh, ugly mental image!) about the environment. They want what they want, they have the money, and they're going to get it, whether it be another damn pool, another huge gas guzzling SUV (because they fell 'safer' towering over everyone else) Must keep the kiddies 'safe' you know. Why they can't be safe in a car without a DVD player I don't know!
I've managed to get a few people to keep using the same polystyrene cup for the whole shift (for water) but it hasn't been easy.It's so wasteful not to. As for bottled water...shocking statistics! Two gallons are wasted for every gallon filtered.
I'll shut up now!

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I was reading in the LA Times Sunday edition that the ice cap on Greenland is melting much faster than anyone ever imagined. If the whole thing melts, it'll raise the ocean level by 21 feet.

I know what you mean about the ignorance of people we work with. I won't even talk to some because all they can do is regurg the Right propoganda.

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Santa Monica City Council is supposed to be voting on not only banning styrofoam within the city but also clear plastic containers as well. The hospital has already put out a notice that no styrofoam will be able to be ordered in any form.

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Oh poo, it's not A-Nony-Mouse, it's me!

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sheepsclothing.livejournal.com

LOL! I thought it must be you as the discussion was about Santa Monica. Well, good for them! I wish other cities would follow suit. You know what else would be a good idea to ban? White plastic patio chairs etc. That stuff never dies.
Actually, I just got home from S.M. where i went with a work friend. We were going to visit Whimsicalley, but naturally it was closed! So, then we went to a yarn shop on 14th to pick up a certain yarn I need for a rabbit. Then we went to Lush (of course!) and bought bath goodies, followed by lunch at the Kings Head. This was good (fish and chips) but slow service, due to all the World Cup customers watching the live games. Also, the menu was limited. Still, we had a good meal, shopped for munchies at the Tudor House, and then spent over an hour trying to get home! it was a bit cooler over there though which was a plus.

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That sounds like a great day out. BTW, what's Whimsicalley?

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Whimsic Alley is an "everything Harry Potter" shop on Wilshire in Santa Monica. It's fun.

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Oh. Sounds fun. Thanks!

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