Climate Change or Global Warming #endoftheworldasweknowit

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. -Albert Einstein

One of my intense interests is geology. I try to keep up with the latest musings, but there is one thing I remember very well from my studies. Our climate changes--always. It is never static--never at rest. There have been at least five major ices ages in the past where our world has seen a long term reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere. There have been ice sheets, glaciers, and even within ice ages there were periods of warming. In the warming ages there were icy times as well. So when the government starts talking global warming and climate change, I get worried. Why do we always look to the government to save us? Trust me, they are not our saviors and have no business in our day to day lives.

The only way to influence the weather is to start manipulating it. I really don't think that's a good idea. Messing with things like that always brings unintended consequences. I admit we built our cities too close to the oceans, and islands that support life are in the path of a warming age, but that is not our fault. We were ignorant at the time.  Really, stop blaming yourself. Does China need to clean up their act? Absolutely. They are the worst polluters on the planet. Will they? Um, I doubt it.  Will the nation states continue to sign agreements giving them more control? You bet. You see, it is all about power so says my friend.

I have a buddy who is a meteorologist. When I asked him about how global warming had turned into climate change and then climate change was turned back into global warming and what the hell was everyone talking about when everyone knows the climate changes all the time.

He laughed, saying, "They can't predict the weather in the foothills. How the hell can anyone predict what will happen in few years?" Pacing, he continued, "It is the meme right now. It's a great way to drum up money and support and that's why it changed from global warming to climate change and then back to global warming. It is whatever fits the narrative." He finished, "It is all about control."

Then he gave me a dour look that made me shiver. "The oceans under the surface are warming right now while the surface temperature is cooler. Did we do that? Or is something else going on? Our planet changes all the time. Why does mankind have the arrogance to believe it is something we did?"

"But but but," I stammered. "What about California?"

He threw back his head and laughed. "California is a desert! You know that."

There is a ton of evidence supporting a glacial age and a ton of evidence of warm ages. So we know they have existed from the beginning of Earth time. What I hope is the argument, is that we are speeding up the process.

So, I went to class where I learned that the bottom line is, there are too many people on the planet. When that happens you have more people burning fossil fuels which traps greenhouse gases which warms up a planet already warming on its own. This is not to say we are the sole cause, we are but one part of a fully functioning biological planet that has too many people on it. Trees breathe carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. Cut down trees, lose oxygen. It isn't rocket science.

I think the part that's bothering me is that we are asking the government to take care of the situation. As responsible adults WE should take care of the problem. China's people should take care of their problem. Problem is, no one wants to take care of the problem and if we ask our government to take care of the problem we'll have bigger problems in the future than global warming.

Did you see President Obama shaking hands with the Turkish president? Both men were clearly displeased with the other. We have Turkey, a part of NATO going after the Russia/Iran alliance who is helping Assad while we assist El Nursa who is part of Al-Qaeda who flew planes into our twin towers.  Or wait, was that the Saudis? And now I have to read up on Sunni vs Shiite. If you feel like you are back in the dark ages you're probably right. And we expect all these people to come together over global warming?

I wonder if my friend is right. His last words were: There is evil in this world and it has come.

Prayers to San Bernadino.