Don’t you think that this is a very simplistic phrase to refer to such a serious problem? I mean the consequences are so huge and yet when you hear the phrase global warming or climate change your thought doesn’t immediately go to all those potential tsunamis, floods and other disasters.
But anyway, on a more serious note, at the end of the day it’s not about what we call it, it’s about what we do to make it stop. And to be honest, for many years I wasn’t really motivated about this topic until I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is really passionate about saving the environment. And the idea that changed my perception of the problem was that this is not about saving the environment or saving the earth, it’s about saving humanity. This is a humanitarian issue in the same way that war is causing all those humanitarian issues.
If you think about the consequences of climate change on certain parts of the world, you will soon realise that in a few years certain areas will be inhabitable. People will have to move to other areas in search for a safe place to build their homes and raise their families. We are talking about millions of refugees, being driven out of their homes because of floods, rising sea level and other catasrophic weather effects.
And the question is, what is going to happen to these people? For how long will countries accept these refugees when they already have problems with all the other illegal immigrants crossing their borders? Who is going to provide jobs, food and financial support for these people?
In a war you more or less know who is to blame for the consequenes. For this humanitarian disaster I’m not sure who to blame or who to hold responsible. Or maybe I know and Im just ignoring it. Maybe its me and my lifestyle. Maybe if I change some of my daily habits, a few people around the world might have a better future. At the end of the day it's a simple idea. Just think about other people....
6 Response to It's a simple idea: Just think about other people
Nice post Andreas. I totally agree with you..
Changing our lifestyle might be difficult but there are some simple stuff like recycling, unplugging devices we do not use or switching off the lights witch are easily adoptable and can reduce our daily carbon footprint.
For a permanent solution though, governments have to take action in order to reverse this effect before it is too late.
Unfortunately the most pollutant countries were expecting not be affected (or to be the last to suffer). This in my opinion is one of the reasons that kept them reluctant of taking action earlier.
I agree with you both, Andreas thanks for the post, but Neo, I think that the effect cannot be reversible anymore, but maybe we can stop it from becoming worse.
Also, it is kind of sad that the people you are talking about in your post, Andreas, include us. Cyprus is already facing problems with increased temperatures, water supply, and vegetation dying due to the lack of water and invasion of insects.
Desertification is a serious problem that we could be faced with, as the Mediterranean ecosystems are very fragile and susceptible.
I really hope they can all agree to some good policies this time, because as you said, it is both an environmental and a humanitarian issue.
Water shortage and increased temperatures are not a new phenomenon in Cyprus.. It is our modern lifestyle that made it worse.
The rain we have been getting has been more or less the same (i guess). It is the increased consumption and human activities that altered mostly the cyprus eco system.
on the desertification i would like to see something. do you have any data about the spreading of the sahara desert? I have been getting some info from here and there that deserts expand and that in Cyprus we might face this sometime but i did not see any official report or research on that
yes i agree with you, on the modern lifestyle. i dont think my grandparents had golf courses!
as for the desertification, i will try and get some data for you, my flatmate was doing some research on desertification in cyprus last year, i remember seeing some official cypriot government documents on the matter dating from back in 1998 even, so there must be loads of stuff out there.
But you will have to be patient with me and wait until the 14th...for the moment I can only give you all data on evolution and on neglected parasitic diseases (any takers?) :p
hehehe I prefer to stick with my "energy saving" high voltage power electronics and wait until the 14th!!! heheh
am.. good luck with your.. ..parasitic diseases :P and exams :)
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