EXTREME WEATHER : OUR FAULT OR NOT?
As the Gulf Coast of America counts the cost of two hurricanes it’s worth remembering that while Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may have grabbed the headlines across the world, America is far from being alone in counting the cost of natures fury.
Just days before Katrina caused so much devastation in New Orleans and surrounding areas, Romania, Germany, Austria and Switzerland were hit by the worst floods ever known in that part of the world. Vast areas were under water, highways became Amazon like rivers and huge mud-slides destroyed hundreds of homes. Insurers say the economic cost of the flood in Switzerland alone could be 1bn Swiss Francs. Though interestingly such is Americas media saturation, one could be forgiven for not even knowing about the floods in Europe.
It would seem that 2005 has seen some of the worst weather related disasters in recent years. The recent floods in Europe and Southern India, as well as the hurricanes in America and Typhoons in Japan have lead some people to ask why it is we are experiencing such extreme weather patterns.
Global warming has already been named as the prime suspect. More and more evidence is would seem to prove that freak weather events are increasing both in number and intensity due to the excessive burning of coal, oil and gas, and also intensive agriculture and forest clear-cutting. Scientists have long warned that failure to act now will simply increase the instances of freak weather events and global climate change and if we look at what happened only in America in the last few weeks, this would seem to be a chilling prediction of what may lie ahead.
But will the recent freak weather events change the way we live our lives and cause us to look at the question of our individual responsibilities in regards to these environmental issues? Like all of us, Jan Kowalzig from Friends of the Earth was moved by the human tragedy that unfolded in America, but he called for President Bush to look again at the question of global warming.
“President Bush must rethink his stance on global warming. In the face of mounting evidence of rapid climate change the US President has so far downplayed the scale of the problem and refused to take action to tackle it. His Administration has worked tirelessly to derail international agreements on climate change and sought to put narrow US economic interests above global climatic stability. The price to pay is too high, as we learned from this disaster, which is a taste of what we will have to live with if we continue to pollute the atmosphere.” Said Kowalzig.
Of course, as people come to terms with the devastation wreaked by the recent hurricanes in America, the question of global warming and our reliance on fossil fuel is certainly the last thing on the minds of those affected. Bringing this issue to the table now may indeed be seen as insensitive and badly timed. But when exactly is it a good time for us to question the damage that we all continue to inflict on not only the environment but also the future?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 6:34 am
I was chatting with someone the other day who said that as much as we as individuals can do, we can’t really do enough. Real change has to happen on a huge scale. Our governments need to make real commitments and put into action processes that will affect change. Over here in the UK for example I think that recycling should become mandatory. For ages now I have wanted to recycle my plastics but there simply isn’t anywhere local that enables me to do that.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 7:14 am
The fossil fuel industry is largely to blame. There are alternatives out there, but the research and development into them in not as lucrative as simply guzzling more oil. If I ever have any kids I would fear for the world they would grow old in.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 4:50 am
I agree. I know when we have our next election I’ll be thinking more about some of the issues that I normally don’t think about as much.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 1:41 pm
Glad ‘y’all’ like my new profile pic. I threw it in there to see if you were paying attention :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 7:02 am
The environment is never far from my mind and the issue of global warning has certainly crossed my mind in relation to these hurricanes and natural disasters. Obviously I am not the only one who has had these thoughts. It grieves and saddens me to see the affect of our lifestyles on our environment. I feel helpless to change it – it’s hard to turn back the clock and undo society’s “progress” – new solutions will have to be found, surely sacrifices will have to be made. Nobody wants to do that, though.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 7:54 am
Do you know the oil companies have in past years made a practice of buying the patents for hydrogen or electric cars so that they would not be made? The industry has far too much power.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 4:14 pm
An Englishman line dancer. Who’s ever heard of such a thing!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 4:18 pm
I don’t even know what dip’n snuff is. It sounds bad though. Heck I’m not bad enough to be a real cowboy. I don’t smoke and I like a nice cup of tea for goodness sake! How many non smoking, tea drinkin(g) cowboys do you know :-)
As for the snow and global warming would you believe that it is indeed all part of the same problem. I watched some TV show about it the other day and they had a little bit about how the term ‘warming’ was somewhat misleading. It snowed in India this year too. So bad in fact that the thaw caused huge floods.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 4:56 pm
I’m trying to go ‘girl-free’ for a while. Not doing a great job it has to be said, but I am at least having a jolly good go at it. So pass me that snuff there.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 10:58 am
I would like to say that I read your post, as I am sure it is thought provoking, but the truth is I couldn’t stop looking at you in the hat…and that expression. What the hell, Hoss?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 11:31 am
i have to agree with buyit ! that profile pic is hilarious! xx
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 11:32 am
I can’t bring myself to say what i really want to say. But i will say that until there is a global ‘UN’ of sorts to deal with pollution this will get worse. Perhaps so bad that there will be no remedy for the problem. Sadly I don’t see it getting any better. What future is there? We are incredibly helpless to stop it.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Now Simon we need to get you a pair of ropers and teach you to line dance. Nonetheless you can catch many a blonde if you know how to two step!!! I’ve seen that with my own eyes. Take it from someone who has two left feet!! All ya’ need is a little corn meal!! :)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 2:54 pm
BTW, I did not catch my wife with my dancing!! She took pitty on me!!! :)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 3:49 pm
One of our local weather experts stated last year that we would see a trend of “extreme” weather. We did have snow here on Christmas eve…and we’ve certainly had record high temperatures lately. Now I’m not sure if I could blame global warming for the snow we recieved…but who knows.(are you dip’n snuff now too?)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Any Native will tell you line dancin’ is not, I repeat, not, a Texas thang. Two-steppin’ is though. But we do it on sawdust, not cornmeal, in these parts.Snuff is shredded tobacco leaves that are placed in between the cheek and gum. To “dip” means to dip the tobacco out of the container and place it in the mouth. But, ain’t many a gal gonna wanna kiss a mouth full of that.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2005 at 11:54 pm
Germany has been flooded just a few years ago, in 2002. The Semper Oper in Dresden was under water! It’s sick what natute is doing to us! But I guess it actually is our fault!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2005 at 11:26 am
Unfit to date. LOL That sounds like something one might be arrested for.Girl-free means I am going to try and be a little more reserved on the girl front for a while. What with Pam and all, I kinda feel like I’ve been living in a candy store for a while. I need to eat potatoes and greens for a while I think :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2005 at 5:20 am
Most of the time I hate my country for our arrogance. I love America, but with our current government as completely horrid as it is – I’m ashamed at the way we tend to act as though we own the rest of the world, when we’re a swiftly sinking ship these days. I’m ashamed to say that I wasn’t even aware of the devastation and flooding in other parts of the world – it’s near impossible to get any coverage of things like that in the US.
That said… nice hat. And ick, I agree with buyit, – snuff (or chewing tobacco) is the fastest way to turn off a west-coast girl. ;)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2005 at 10:32 am
Great site. This is one of those sites where i have to muster brain cells to write something intelligent. I’m working on it. Thanks for stopping by and fueling my xanga experience. How did you find me?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2005 at 11:13 am
“girl-free”, is that some new PC thing I am out of the loop about? or is it a parallelism about the weather entry? or have you just had your first fling with the apple snuff and now you are just unfit to date?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2005 at 12:18 pm
Veggies fresh off the farm. You really are becoming rural aren’t cha’!!! :)