Pizzaonian National Flag, courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
As we watch the world with some trepidation from a Pizzaonian perspective, we seem to be witnessing the world’s inability to deal with the impending disaster of very real climate change. It should be clear to anyone who wishes to know, climate change is a serious problem the world is facing.
What is disturbing is that climate change, regardless of how acute the threat actually is, has become a wedge issue that special-interest use to increase their power.
No one seems interested in seeking solutions. To do so would end the conflict, a conflict the adversaries need to keep themselves in the limelight. What you get are polemics and accusations that make it impossible to find answers to this pending dilemma.
Is the climate getting warmer and would continue to rise slowly regardless of what additional pollution your way of life contributes to your already contaminated atmosphere? Probably.
Is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by your industrial civilization contributing to the problem and speeding up what may be a natural process? Probably
They are not mutually exclusive, as the proponents of each side would like you to believe.
Both are plausible probabilities that most rational people could agree on – but as stated before, finding solutions is not what the arguments with all of their polemics and posturing are intended to do.
One item everyone should agree on: the way industrial societies produce energy must change. The end result, if change does not occur, is not an option for sane societies. The question is always, how?
An issue that should be obvious to the proponents of climate change is that the fossil fuel and coal industries are currently necessary and any transition to new energy sources is going to be slow. What should be equally obvious is these industries have a huge hold on the economies of the world.
There are billions of dollars involved with deeply entrenched industries. These industries also support thousands of jobs and a lifestyle that much of the world already enjoys, or aspires to reach, which makes any attempt at change a political minefield.
Simply preaching, “The world is ending, the world is ending unless you repent” falls on deaf ears. Before change is possible, the political leaders of the world, particularly the United States, must find a fair and equitable way to make change reasonable for those who will bear the brunt of the pain. No solution is possible unless this reality is successfully negotiated.
This must be done before the inevitable becomes reality.
Sister Veronica
opd 12/12
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