My friend Carolyn asked me for my thoughts on the recent weather happenings, so I thought I’d answer this way.
There’s no doubt that we are well into climate change. These weather patterns are not normal, not what’s expected for the various seasons, and becoming more and more unpredictable, here and around the globe. Scientists have been saying for years that the earth will experience more and more severe weather events and storms. We are certainly in it now.
For instance, Cincinnati has always been predictably wet in spring and fall. Yet we had a nearly a year-long drought 3 years ago, and a months-long drought late last summer into fall. This spring, water from the sky has been nearly continuous. And instead of our normal day long rains, we’ve had vicious downpours.
And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that the last 10 years have been the warmest decade ever on the planet. Period. With melting sea ice already raising ocean levels and beginning to affect the coastlines of America, not to mention all those paradises scattered in the Pacific. And that warm weather is affecting crop production for the increasing population.
I’d be perfectly happy to let the climate deniers stew in their own juices (many of them, according to polls, are in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and the South), except that their Republican senators and representatives are denying the rest of us the changes we need to make to insure the future of our kids and grandkids.
Meanwhile, China and now everyone else is beating us in new green energy industries, while we are still whining about drilling for more oil here. And about how we should shift to natural gas fracking, which will destroy our water supplies. Toxic cancer-causing chemicals show up in the water wherever fracking happens. Another additional cost to the public in health services.
I am expecting folk – even Republicans – to wake up. But this much climate change has already cost us a lot of money in a lot of ways, while they complain we can’t afford it. We can’t afford not to treat Our Mother Earth with respect and love. We need to work with Her, not against her. And we each need to do what we can to change this picture.
p s How about picking a small thing… maybe no more plastic bags? maybe planting your own veggies, without chemicals? maybe getting a smaller car next time? You can always rent a truck when you actually need one! xoxox