Re: Earth Day Essay: Space program may allow climate repair/defense

On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 14:14:07 +0000, Jim Oberg wrote:


> On the occasion of 'Earth Day', this essay of a year ago suggests some
> attention be paid to
> the possibility of deliberate climate modification to counteract
> damaging trends and hazards,
> both of human origin and far-more-dangerous natural causes. This is a
> controversial point of view --
>
>
> Consider cosmic view of Earth Day
>
> http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-04-21-oberg_x.htm
>
> USA Today, April 22, 2004
>
> Alcestis "Cooky" Oberg and James Oberg
>
>
> Yet, even if arresting environmental harm through individual effort
> alone were possible, it would be a mistake to focus merely on
> human-caused problems.


This is probably the point, we as individuals can do our own small part to
reduce our impact on the environment. It's just one of the "bigger" pieces
of the puzzle. Trying to add too many mixed messages to an event like
Earth Day, just jumbles the message. There are plenty of things
individuals can do to reduce their own individual impact on the Earth and
continue to improve their own lifestyles.


> One example of the misplaced emphasis on solely the human role in
> environmental problems is climate change. Many experts believe that if
> humans control emissions from cars and factories, then Earth will
> naturally be restored to some healthy, stable balance.


True, CO2 is a plant fertilizer. Increase the partial pressure of CO2 and
plants grow faster. Faster growing plants would actually increase food
production. Some global warming and extra CO2 could actually cause a
greening of the earth, plants will like it. Increase the CO2 beyond a
certain point, 2-3 times normal, and the fertilizer begins to burn the
leaves. But this is one very small aspect of what we are doing to the
environment, and still a debatable one.

It's the other things we are dumping like sulfur, mercury... At some point
we need to quit treating the atmosphere and oceans as some sort magic
pollution sink. The stuff we dump into them we have to breath, eat and
drink.


> Other worlds show us the bigger, truer picture. We've seen the
> dusty,
> frozen expanses of Mars, where life may have started in large oceans and
> then fizzled. We've seen the baking hell-planet Venus, where oceans once
> rolled, too, before rising temperatures boiled them off, likely choking
> any life that may have formed.

Yes, Earth is a very special place, unlike any place in our solar system.
It's just the right distance from the Sun, in the habitable zone. It has a
liquid core and a nice dynamo to protect us from the Sun's harmful
radiation. Pointing a finger at other planets around the solar system and
saying, "look how bad they have it", isn't justification for your own lack
personal responsibility to do your own little part to preserve this very
special planet.


> The main lesson these new discoveries force us to face is that
> humans
> are not made safe by changing a few emission laws or even in enacting
> the Kyoto accords aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions on a global
> scale. Climate change and occasional climate catastrophe are the norm,
> not the exception, in the solar system.
>
> That has been the pattern, not the aberration, on Earth as well and
> involves little-understood processes that go far beyond human activity.
> The geological archives of Earth are revealing that all life on this
> planet endured frequent catastrophes and occasional near extinctions in
> our 4-billion-year history - long before the appearance of humans, with
> their cars and factories.


And, hopefully we are more intelligent than a rock, tree or dinosaur.
There is a big difference between a natural disaster and supposably
intelligent beings causing a massive extinction event here on Earth. If
you haven't figured it out yet, it's the life on this planet that
keeps this planet livable. It's why this planet doesn't look like Venus,
Mars or one of the other inhospitable places that you mentioned. Life is
the control system that moderates climate changes. If we destroy lifes
diversity, we destroy it's ability to control or respond. Replacing mother
nature's control system with our own ignorant control system seems like a
bad proposition. Looking back in history, just like looking around the
solar system isn't justification for the total disregard of your own
personal responsibility to do your own little part to preserve this
precious place.


> Future planetary exploration allows humans to see Earth as part of
> the
> fabric of sibling worlds in the solar system, subject to the same forces
> that shaped them. With this knowledge and the power that space
> technology promises, earthlings may see a way to achieve genuine climate
> stability. So while Earth Day activities aimed at local cleanups, tree
> plantings and conservation lectures are useful in their limited way, the
> perspective of the nation, indeed the world, needs to become truly
> planetary.
>
>
Limited, Not.

That's why something like Earth Day is such a good idea who's main theme
shouldn't be diluted or obscured with mixed messages that someone else or
some other group should fix the problem of our own excessive consumption
of natural resources. Consuming massive quantities with wreckless abandon,
while pointing fingers elsewhere.

Everyone's personal choices are important and can have a much larger
impact on the environment, more than just about anything else. After all,
that "is" what all this technology, development and industry "is" all
about. It's about producing the things that we want and need,
consumption. So, the simple fact is that if we consume less, we produce
less. This doesn't mean doing without, or accepting a substandard
lifestyle. It means going about it smarter. Do you really need a huge
house with air conditioned rooms that you haven't seen in years. Or, get
an even bigger house because you've filled the one you live in with stuff
you never use. Do you really need to mow your lawn instead of creating
diverse natural micro ecosystem that adds to the diversity of your local
area. Is it really necessary to have the biggest SUV to drive around in.
Are you purchasing disposable items, or ones that will last
many years.

Limiting one's personal recurring costs (ignorant consumption) with a
large initial up front cost (smart consumption) can be good for
environment, improve your lifestyle and eventually even improve your bank
account.

--
Craig Fink
Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@xxxxxxxxx
.

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