Radical Noesis - Thinking outside the box

According to an article by Steve Connor of the Independent (7/25/05), the melting of the Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier could result in a 7 meter (23 ft) rise in sea levels which would inundate "vast areas of low-lying land, including London and much of eastern England." While it is expected that a full melt might take 1,000 years, even a rise of a meter "would have a catastrophic effect."

However, melting in the Arctic is happening at twice the pace of the rest of the planet - and it is accelerating. The time line of "global warming" is in flux, but the effects are already being felt around the world. If the warming continues to accelerate in such an unpredictable pattern in the north, then 1000 years could become 500, could become 100. No one knows exactly the time line or the ultimate effects. There are "tipping points" and we are certainly perilously close to (or beyond) them on an array of measures.

Connor rightly notes that two-thirds of the human population lives in coastal plains. That is roughly 4 billion people, and all the associated infrastructure - local and global that goes with them. It includes many of the centers of production, shipping, commerce, and banking. All of which could be under the oceans in the foreseeable future. Island nations are already struggling with rising waters, but may either need to figure out how to float, or move to higher land masses. Either move will destroy the hundreds of communities and cultures.

Meanwhile, "developing" nations fight to increase their pollution levels for "development" reasons, and "developed" economies - the US in particular - can only agree to "talk" about the problem. When will the brilliant leaders of the world realize that global warming and the end of oil present a once in a millennium opportunity to work together to everyone's advantage?

We are talking about the survival of every living thing on the planet - humans included. Is it just "too big" of an issue, or do the elite just not see it in their economic interest to change course? It is clear that it will take the voice and action of the people - not the elite and not the governments - to force movement on these issues. It is our lives and the lives of future generations - perhaps even the next generation - who will pay the ultimate price for this stupidity and greed.