...so you'd better get used to it. I had this revelation recently, during my travel to/from England and my stay in a Newcastle student residence. But let me backpedal for a moment.
Until recently, I was of the belief that global warming had to be fought as best we could, being conscientious to reduce emissions by taking transit and conserving electricity. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm still convinced, as are 99% of climate scientists, that global warming is happening and that it is the fault of humanity--the evidence is too strong to believe otherwise.
No, my recent change of heart has nothing to do with the imminent climate changes that are and will continue to assail us. Rather, it stems from a recent understanding of humanity. Simply put, while global warming is happening and the majority agree it is a bad thing, no one is willing to do anything about it, no one is even willing to turn of those lights, or the TV or to use their car less, try taking transit or walk that block to the corner store for their bag of jumbo crunchy crisps. And if no one cares at the level of the individual, why should anyone hurry to do anything at the level of governments? In fact, the last I've heard is that concerned countries have agreed to agree to...something...by 2012. That's four years away, for those who are counting.
So? you say, That should be enough time, no? Well, not to burst your Hollywood watching, last-second-save expecting hieny but, probably no. This is the real world, not Star Trek, McGyver or the A-Team. We're not going to reverse decades of neglect overnight. Especially considering that, not only will that neglect continue until the government decisions (at the least), but that neglect is, in fact, increasing daily in scope and in the damage it causes.
I used to get very frustrated at the lack of concern, the apathy or the intentional ignorance of many people. But now that, as far as I believe, we are past the point of no return, I feel a lightness of being. Like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. There's no reason to worry now, the future is decided. Sure there will be many hardships ahead from rampant destruction by tropical storms to ocean wildlife being threatened and, in turn, threatening humanity as their habitats and food supplies shift or are destroyed, to vast flooding and forest fires. But it doesn't bother me anymore because humanity has made its choice and now we have to live with it.
Which reminds me, I'm moving to England soon and, based on recent flooding and flood scares, I have a feeling in a decade or so, much of central England will be underwater. Perhaps I should start building my ferry company for the United Kingdom Archipelago (seriously, I'm going to take a look at some contour maps of the UK and try and work out my own projection. If I can find the info I need, check back to see the results). Better yet, maybe I'll just move back to Canada. As far as I can see that is one of the only western countries that won't be significantly affected by either flooding or bad weather. If Toronto or Montreal goes under water, we can just move everyone to the prairie provinces, there's lots of room there.
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