An Inconvenient Truth

Right now, there are only 2 general areas that I am interested in spending my life on. One is public health and the other is the environment. These are two things that keep me up at night thinking, contemplating, and agitating me.

I have always been interested in the environment, and when I saw An Inconvenient Truth, it fueled my curiosity. If you haven't seen it, I suggest that you do. It is well done and does a good job of laying out the facts. And they are astounding. This is my convoluted, hasty summary and reflection on the movie.

The average US citizen doesn't really think about the environment. We go about our daily routines without thinking about the resources and energy we consume, the trash we throw out, or the pollution we exude. And if you stop and consider the 6.2 billion other people on earth, it's horrifying. How long can the earth possibly sustain our lifestyle? How long until we start seeing drastic environmental changes because of how we live?

We push for democracy in developing nations, which often results in economic growth and development, which requires greater resources and results in greater pollution. This is particularly bothersome as China and parts of India begin to develop. Can the environment sustain the development and modernization of the most populous places on the globe? But then, it isn't fair to limit their development.

Our earth is rapidly changing because of the pressures we are placing on it, and the US are the leading culprits. Yet, our goverment remains relatively unconcerned with environmental issues. We are much more concerned with "terrorism" and our own interests in foreign countries.

Consider that the United States puts out over 30% of the global CO2 output and compared with our relatively small population, you will find that our CO2 output is far greater than any other country. Then, consider that we have the technology, the information, and the resources to limit this output, but as of yet, we have done virtually nothing. In fact, the US was one of only 2 developed countries in the world who did not sign the Kyoto Protocol to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

The media has downplayed or skewed the facts about global warming, however the scientific community has time and time again researched and proved it's existence and effects. Rapid changes have already started and will have drastic results if something is not done.

I don't expect everyone to become a tree-hugger, but I do wish that the general public would have a knowledge and awareness of what is going on. Right now, we posess everything we need to limit, and even reverse, man's affect on the environment.