I'm having CCC: climate change confusion

Where are we with this issue of global warming? After viewing reader comments on the Post-Bulletin's website, one would think that climate change is some far-fetched idea — a conspiracy, even — with little scientific proof.

Of course, such confusion has occurred many times before in history. We know that people clung to the notion that the Earth is flat.

The part about current events that scares me silly is what's at stake. There is a significant number of very intelligent, informed people saying that we — all of us who live on the planet — have a very serious problem on our hands, and that human action (or inaction) may change the course of events.

Even if a person doesn't believe that global warming has anything to do with human activity, if there are many well educated, reasonable people who have studied this subject and do believe it, then whose side do you want to err on?

Meanwhile, there is a "noise" going on in the background that seems to drown out the importance of this message. This noise has a million different sounds — but ultimately it is just one big vague thing. This noise is media.  The convenience and amount of information and entertainment is overwhelming our ability to awake to serious issues and take clear, unified action.

The price at the pump is important. But what is more important: the price at the pump or the strong possibility of species extinction, epic flooding, and droughts that may lead to mass migrations and deaths? (Some would say this process is already well underway, with Hurricane Katrina being a prime example.) But, what is the media talking about here, day after day?

News media in the United States was once tied in to the concept of debate and getting information and ideas "out there" so people could make informed decisions. But modern media is now about anything that will get eyeballs to stay on a screen or a page — or a billboard or bus — or even sky-writing from an airplane.

Ah, maybe that's the ticket. What if thousands of sky-writing airplanes take off at once and send a message to the world?

On second thought: too much pollution from those planes.

But how do we take on this issue?

Comments

[Mick]

I wouldn't have said hurrican Katrina was the stimulus. I'd say that tsunamis that hit were it. Of course, there is probably some scientific connection between the 3 events (3rd would be the earthquake...)(that caused the wave)

Take on the issue? First you have to identify what issue...you mentioned about 17. So. First...you post regularily to your blog. Second, you cut back on stuff. Third, you come shingle my house on Monday.