I've just finished reading the James Lovelock's book The Revenge of Gaia. A clear and concise explanation of the author's view of the state of Gaia. Gaia hypothesis or theory that regards the earth and the things that live on, in and above it as a single system, or organism - Gaia - that regulates itself.
Cutting to the chase, there are too many of us and we are consuming way too much and contributing to the continued heating of the planet. Therefore heaps of cash and effort are being wasted on comparatively unimportant stuff as we miss the elephant in the corner. Unless we change course quick-smart we are in deep doo-doo and, although some breeding pairs will survive, we are pretty much going to drive ourselves to extrinction. Taking with us pretty much all other life on a soon-to-be-even-more-impoverished earth.
The only way to come anywhere near meeting our current energy needs (let's be honest for a while - energy wants) without overheating the planet is to go nuclear. At least until we come up with something better. Time is not on our side. Nuclear is relatively safe so get over the we're all going to die with two heads! media-frenzy of anti-nuclear hype and just get on with it. The alternative is a huge energy shortfall from the warm and fuzzy renewables, or just keep on with fossil fuels. In which case we are definitely going to die.
So, time to stop ignoring the obvious and tinkering with unimportant shit. Unless we sort this out we'll all die as we go beyond the tipping point of global warming. It's incredible how much money can be found to bail out banks or to fin a cure for cancer or to put a man on the moon or a military force in Iraq. Wonderful. However, unless we sort out the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and arrest global warming we are going to become extinct. We all know it, so how about we start doing something about it eh?
Of course it might never happen. Or there may really be a heavenly eternal paraidise, in which case simply be nice too each other, don't worry about it and wait for your blessed death. Just buy a new iPhone, watch some more cable TV and drink some more Pepsi. We'll be OK.
It is a well written and well thought out book; I recommend it.
1 comment:
When you have a global economy based on growth we are pretty well screwed before we begin. Living on a planet with a finite amount of resources and space logically tells you that businesses cannot grow infinately.
That aside I will live for today, drive my car, ride my motorcycle, use the computer and continue to use energy....ain't life wonderful....hehe
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