So we’re ending the second warmest January on record. And while our gas and electric rates are way up from last year, that’s almost been balanced out this month by the warmer temperatures. The coldest two weeks of the year are usually the middle two weeks in January. The only cold we’ve had so far this winter has been the extended and unusual stretch in early December. In my memory, usually the major shift from fall to winter, weatherwise, happens the week between Christmas and New Year’s, give or take a few days. Somehow the shift happened early this winter – and then shifted right back!
We are obviously enjoying the short term benefits of global warming. Benefits for us – but the nation of the Maldive Islands in the Pacific has already lost a good portion of its habitable land, due to the small increase in sea level around the planet. And don’t forget these kinds of changes are geometric progressions, not arithmetic. Not 1 plus 1 is 2, but 2 x 2 is 4 x 4 is 16….
It’s time for us to get serious about recycling, conserving, walking more and just plain loving the planet we’re on.
While we’re at it – I do not understand why stockholders own our energy companies (called Cinergy here in Cincinnati), so that the profits go to investors and investment funds all over the globe. The profits should go to help keep us and our neighbors warm, particularly in this wacky and unpredictable weather. The notion of doubling gas bills for the poorest of our neighbors, and then cutting off their supply when they are, as is easily predicted, unable to pay is public and institutional cruelty. Most cities used to own their own public utilities – now Cleveland is the only major city to do so.
If we want mercy from Mother Nature, let’s extend mercy to our neighbors.