Revolution Watch----Climate Change

Now and then there are meetings or presentations on the big issues that are affecting us today. Yesterday there was a get-together in Stevens Point reviewing the issue of Global weather change. The presenters were all academics and one local city manager. All great folks and all well informed but reluctant to let fly for one reason or another---understandable.

It was aptly pointed out that global weather change was a fact, as was the issue of it being anthropogenic. It was for real, and it was a big problem. Nothing that hasn't been known for at least 5 years by anyone that has paid attention---which in this country is less than half. I would suppose that is why they reviewed the case, restated it, let's say. I mean, even George Bush said it was for real. The weather is getting warmer---just a set of statistics, math really.

There was a review of the possibilities of what this could cause to our living condition and this too doesn't really need much explanation as all one has to do is look at major weather events around the world to see dead people all over. There was some implication of the idea we have seen nothing just yet, because if this keeps up it will only get worse.

There was no real mention of top NASA climatologist James Hansen and his very dire predictions but still there was a real effort to get the message out.

So then it moved, by way of questions, to what could be done to mitigate the situation. Mostly there was talk of adaptations, of getting ready to deal with it implying the mitigation part was off the table or hopeless. I felt it was rather like, we all know the river is going to rise in the spring so jack your houses on stilts or fill some sand bags. I found myself at a loss for of a number reasons.

While the problem was stated, I don't think anyone really gets the seriousness of the issue. It was if we can just change our light bulbs to LEDs, drive electric cars,  and insulate our homes, slap up some PV panels, and things will work itself out.  Maybe most folks just think, I will do my part as best I can (and most of the folks there were from the choir) and not worry about what is out there---like going on in the entire globe. In the land of the swimmers below, they are bringing on line 1.5-2 new coal fired plants every week. There are 1500 power generating plants (mostly fossil fuels) in the planning stage right now world wide! And we are adding LEDs for mitigation, right!

I didn't feel that people are looking down the road to their kids and grand-kids. It was as if, I will take care of what I can do here and now, and the rest of the world will just have to slug it out. I couldn't detect any real urgency. I didn't sense any attempt to look at the world situation, to analyse this thing beyond our immediate lives. I am puzzled because, in truth, nothing we do makes any difference. All of the real issue are external of our lives here in the upper midwest.

Here is why. All of our problems are due to too many people using too many natural resources. The world population is expanding exponentially at 75 million more humans every fricking year. The GDP growth, or economic growth is also expanding exponentially at rates even greater than the population because everybody wants to be like us. This is a finite world. You can't do that. It would appear it makes no difference what we as individuals do unless growth rates of GDP and population are brought to a standstill. Nothing we do can keep up with exponential growth. I can easily give example after example of efforts being lost in the rush of massive population growth. (Boone Pickens failed 640 unit wind farm good for 1 million homes completed in 5 years---we have close to a million new homes every year for 3 million new US citizens)

Was there one mention of this growth situation at the gathering? Absolutely not. Totally forbidden. The issue disturbing to me is there are things that CAN be done. Remember ZPG? What about stable state economics? Growth Busters? It is out there and there is talk, but more and more, I  am now hearing writers simply saying, "You better dig in, because we will have to let nature sort this one out and she is not going to be nice about it".

If this meeting is any indication where folks heads are at, better learn to live close to the land and know your neighbors real well.