How much do we really understand the effects of natural disasters and global warming?
Through experience, the human race understands the present effects of natural disasters and global warming. I believe that we do not grasp the scale of the future effects of natual disasters and global warming. We seek to understand the causes during and after we have experienced the effect, which captures the media spotlight. After we have addressed the immediate effect, we tend to lose our interest in preventing the next disaster until it is upon us once again.
I remember taking an Environmental Issues class at Berkeley in 1988. Global warming was discussed at length. Once I left that classroom, I heard very little about global warming until Al Gore's movie gave rise to heated debate between groups of my friends.
The geologists, chemists, and biologists who are among my friends have expressed no uncertainty about the effects of global warming and the need to take action. On the other hand, the majority of my friends who lack science backgrounds have been skeptical about the Al Gore movie. In fact, some of these people expressed outrage when their children came home from school talking about what they had learned about global warming.
I remember my parents reacting with the same skepticism in the late 197o's and early 1980's when I came home from school convinced that we needed to rely on alternative energy sources, particularly solar power, instead of petroleum. The economic incentives for using alternative energy all but disappeared during the Reagan era and have not re-emerged yet in any meaningful way.
These experiences have led me to conclude that there is no shortage of understanding in the scientific community about global warming; however, many of us hear what we want to hear, and we don't ask questions when we suspect that we won't like the answers. Our difficulties are not in failure to understand, but rather, in our failure to accept and act.
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4 comments:
Oooh, I love that last sentence. So true. Yes, we need to accept responsibility and polluters need to be held accountable!
Hi Lisa,
I agree with your viewpoint on global warming. It's been clear for quite some time now that we need to shift over to alternative sources of fuel. It shows how much power the mega-corporations can have when they use their money to try and persuade public opinion. They really have created much confusion on the global warming issue. To me, it's really obvious that the current lifestyle that is encouraged or glorified in the 'modern' world is in no way sustainable. Not only do we need sustainable sources of fuel, we really need a shift in our ethnocentric modernization concept. As much as these are trying times, it's all part of the expansion and contraction or yin and yang of the universe, and I imagine that consciousness and perception will move on to new levels through the difficult times we are living in.
I appreciate the comment on my post about controlling pharm. companies. You do have a valid point that it's generally not a great idea to try and ask the Gov't to regulate MORE for us... It's a great challenge and opportunity to try and help educate our communities(and ourselves.!.) on ways to get back into harmony with nature, including through treating our bodies as the living-breathing microcosms of the universe that they are!
I am amazed by denial, it is such a powerful psychological mechanism; I wonder how it relates to organ qi in our bodies?? which organ(s) manifest denial?
I love the idea of investing ourselves into ourselves and the rich community of people and resources around us. I see it happening in various places around the world and I imagine/feel it will continue to grow grassroots-style from now on, especially if things dramatically shift to become challenging in the United States; we will have to support each other.
What do we do about education and acceptance of reality?
How do we deal with complete and emotional denial of the situation we find ourselves in?
I often feel resigned to letting people figure it out themselves, knowing that the more I am willing to flow with the shifting tides, the more enjoyable and easier it will be. I can only lead by example which is part of my reasoning for coming to study TOM at school. I want to become a leader in my community and accrue some power to steward minds and hearts towards more holistic and unifying visions of themselves and the world.
How do we control a dragon (Big-Pharm)? Do we want to control it? Do we want it around? Or would we rather it go back to its island in the sky or circle in hell where it came from?
I agree with acceptance and action. I find so many people just shrug their shoulders and say, well the developing world isn't going to curb their consumptions so why should I?
Frustrating!!!!
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