Climate Change
Climate change Climate change disasters are nothing new. Weather related catastrophes have been plaguing the planet for millions of years, if not billions. Scientists have uncovered evidence of various natural phenomena labeled as extinction or near extinction events. The Permian-Triassic Extinction Event occurred about 252 million years ago and is often described as “The Great Dying,” this event caused the extinction of nearly 96% of marine species and 70% of land animals. It likely came about due to great volcanic eruptions, which led to significant climate changes, including global warming and acidifying ocean water, killing most marine life. Well known is the Jurassic era global wide extinction of dinosaurs when a huge asteroid collided with the planet. It did open the door for small early mammal species to proliferate and evolve into today’s life forms, including humans. Reptilian forms of that era did not have telescopes to offer early warning of a comet or asteroid en route, nor the means to divert an incoming destructive mass. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) about 56 million years ago produced conditions that brough on a period of fast warming. The earth’s temperature rose 5 to 8 degrees within a few thousand years which brought notable changes to ecosystems and the extinction of many deep-sea species. The Younger Dryas about 12,900 to 11,700 years ago. Melting ice sheets disrupted ocean currents which led to a period of warming followed by glacial conditions. More recently there was The Little Ice Age (approximately 1300 to 1850 AD. This event affected only the northern hemisphere, causing shorter growing seasons and colder winters, affecting farming and social activities. The events came about due to natural events such as volcanic activity, unusual solar radiation, and the shifting of the planet’s orbit. The situations listed above took hundreds, thousands and even millions of years to take effect and in some cases creating near total extinction. Today’s problems are more the result of human activity especially the abuse and over dependence of fossil fuels and deforestation. These problems have developed and harmed the environment in less than a century. The level of danger rises each year, and it may continue until we reach the point of no return. There is still time to slow the process of environmental decay and even repair some of the damage done. The biggest problem now may not be the prevention or remedying of the relentless increase of global warming catastrophes. The biggest dilemma is convincing those in power and businesses who contribute to the worsening causes that climate change is not a hoax, nor a figment of scientists’ imagination. A ridiculous example of unexplainable ignorance was watching a senator (James Imhofe, Oklahoma) on the Senate floor holding a snowball as a prop to argue against the scientific consensus on climate change. His ac suggested that the presence of snow in the US Capital negated or disproved global warming. The senator’s display was heavily criticized by scientists and climate experts “…as it oversimplified and misrepresented the complexities of climate science.” Chat-AI What can be done? There are several reasonable steps that can be taken to slow down or mitigate climate change. Here are some key actions: Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: This can be done by transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, and by improving energy efficiency in homes, buildings, and transportation. 2.Reforestation and Afforestation Planting trees and restoring forests can help absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Protecting existing forests is equally important. 3.Sustainable Agriculture Improving sustainable farming methods can reduce emissions from agriculture. This includes techniques like crop rotation, and organic farming. 4.Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Minimizing waste through recycling and reusing materials lowers the amount of waste that ends up in landfills thereby reducing methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. 5.Develop more Public Transportation Urging the use of public transportation, cycling, and walking will reduce the number of polluting motor vehicles, adding more EVs which will result in less emissions. The reluctance of most politicians, aside from the cultish spread of conspiracy theories, misinformation and widespread ignorance is the factor of cost. Converting to renewable energy sources and promoting other changes may prove to be an expensive proposition. However, making the right moves as soon as possible may turn out to be profitable in the long run. The current unprecedented frequency and increased fury of storms, tornados, droughts, floods, fires and more, causing much greater destruction than ever before lead to expenditures in the billions on a yearly basis. This is not counting the invaluable suffering and grief with the loss of lives and property. What is spent now on a regular basis to repair, restore, recover, replace, and rebuild can be dramatically reduced by PREVENTION. Natural events cannot be stopped; however, the frequency and ferocity, however, can be diminished. Hurricanes, for one, appear to occur more often and are more severe than in previous years. Forest fires, especially in California have become habitual. Droughts are historically causing more damage. If by taking steps to ease global warming, storms’ severity is lessened, there will be less damage. A category two hurricane is more manageable than a category 3, 4, or 5. A forest fire limited to a hundred acres is easier to control than one covering several thousand. Imagine the destruction avoided, money and lives saved if steps taken now prevent or weaken one or two hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, droughts, floods. On a lesser scale, imagine how much money can be saved on HVAC services needed if temperatures return to previous normal levels, what about levels of discomfort avoided? One step that deserves consideration is to elect representatives who will pay closer attention to scientists and experts who are better qualified to offer facts, not un-educated conspiracy theory proponents. There are two possible outcomes: Do nothing to try to reverse global warming and watch in agony as we reach the point of no return to normal. Do something to help the planet return to a semblance of normalcy, breathe a sigh
California Fires
California Fires – Cause and Effect It is somewhat disturbing to read comments on Facebook, X, and other social media platforms that seek to place blame for the catastrophic fires in California on a variety of sources other than those which are the true cause. The first batch of idiots have chosen to blame mayors, state and national representatives and senators along with those in charge of the various government and public service organizations such as fire and police departments, and utility commissioners, who the accusers suggest were hired because of DEI, (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and are therefore not as qualified as Caucasian hires. Another group blames voters for electing the wrong party. The loudest complainers are right wing, conspiracy advocates and Climate Change deniers. The fault, according to them is the failure of the elected to work at preventing the problem while ignoring the fact that no politician can stop droughts, high winds, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, tsunamis, earthquakes, or any other natural hazardous event. Most of these events are the result of climate change. The primary exceptions are earthquakes, caused by tectonic plates shifting, and the tsunamis that often follow. A third group of senseless commentators is the religious type who are overly eager to praise and thank God when events or results are pleasing or successful but utterly refuse to blame the Almighty when things go awry. It is amazing how thanks flow incessantly proclaiming a miracle when a baby survives a plane crash that was not a miracle for the 180 who die in the same air disaster. He had no problem ordering a 40 day-forty-night rain to flood the entire world and kill every man, woman, and child plus and every living creature on Earth, except those sequestered in Noah’s Ark; yet could not order a two-to-three-day storm to help douse the fires over Southern California. If He could part the ocean and open a path for Moses and his people to escape the Egyptian chariots, why could not he part the flames so that Angelinos could escape to safety from the inferno around them. There is no way to prevent hurricanes, floods, blizzards, droughts, forest fires, or other natural disasters. The majority scientists agree that while natural disasters cannot be prevented, their numbers can be diminished or their ferocity lessened. They will continue no matter what we do, but instead of spending billions repairing after the fact, why not invest a much lower amount reversing the effects of climate change with sensible efforts. In conclusion, it is estimated that the world is approaching the point of no return to stop or slow down the destructive force of global warming. The time is near that naysayers will realize that they were wrong, and the damage will be near impossible to repair. It is up to the scientists to continue their research and to inform those who have the power to demand positive action. That power, in a sense, belongs to voters who can elect representatives and senators who are better informed and will act accordingly to do what is necessary to slow down and perhaps reverse the flow of the ever increasing danger of climate change or, if you prefer global warming. Time to evict fools such as the Representative who walked into a Congressional session carrying a snowball as “proof” that there is no global warming. The world cannot depend on conspiracy theory adherents in government and even less on heavenly intervention. Help will come only by our own efforts and sensible action. Jaime Reyes jreyesauthor.com