Quote:
Originally Posted by Tindomul
Ahh, but global warming is so much more than a few melting glaciers. Its an increase in diseases like malaria, loss of biodiversity, its a ...why bother saving the forest if its gonna become a dessert...issue, and loss of potable drinking water (have you any idea how many people depend on glaciers as a source of drinking water?), loss of food crop due to loss of water and adequate habitat, increase in pests, and who knows what else we cannot yet foresee.
I agree Steve, we should put things like reducing pollution, and stopping the destruction of the forests first, and stop over fishing, first. If we can't solve these problems, then what hope have we in the face of global warming (regardless of whether it be caused by man or nature).
One thing I've come to realize since starting this thread is that it doesn't really matter any more what is causing global warming. If it happens (and I see it happening now, every day, every year, you can't deny it!) then we will suffer. I get the feeling that many of the people who have taken the time to read this thread and the articles I've posted think that by proving man innocent of global warming makes everything ok. OK, lets say we are innocent, and we can't make a dent on the earths climate. And its all the sun doing its thing heating us up. The end result is the same, most of the worlds major cities will be underwater etc....
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I just dont see how biodiversity will automatically dissapear if the world gets warmer. I see a change in species composition, but not a loss (with the exception of extreme cold loving organisms). An increase in pests would only be in more temperate climates where the "mosquito and tick season" would be longer, but then that means there is a longer growing season and therefore the potential for more food, rather than less. Fresh water wont dissapear because its warmer, however, its distribution will probably change. All I see from global warming is a change in the earth's composition and distribution of species and a change in the world's weather patterns. Mankind is absolutely petrified of change and the unknown and I see that fear manifesting itself with global warming. We really dont know what will happen or even if it really is happening, and that scares the bjeebers out of most people. That manifestation of the fear of the unknown drives people to come up with all sorts of doomsday scenarios. Why do people focus on glacier melt, increased pests, increased diseaese and famine? Because the fear of the unknown causes people to imagine worst case scenarios. They never tell you about traditionally dry places getting wetter (such as some place in sub-saharan Africa), you never hear about the potential for a longer growing season in temperate areas, or even the fact that hurricanes are more likely to become less intense with a warmer climate (this is because hurricanes -as all wind- is created as the earth tries to balance the difference in temperature between the hot equatorial regions of the planet and the cold polar regions. As the equatorial regions of our planet are not expected to heat up nearly as much as the polar regions, this heat inequality that causes hurricanes will diminish, thus less intense storms). That is of course, IF global warming really is happening!! Again, I want to reiterate that I think environmental causes are one of the most important causes out there, but Im not sold on global warming, simply because there are too many dissenting scientists and not enough knowledge about the climate to fully forecast next weeks weather, much less anything in the next 100 or so years. Not to mention the fact that Im one of those people who when I hear someone yelling at me, I stop listening (not that anyone here on the board is yelling!!!! I enjoy these discussions very much!!) and global warming proponents, in my mind are yelling at the top of their lungs and are plugging their ears when presented with contrary evidence. Im CONSTANTLY looking for concrete evidence to prove my dissention wrong. I WANT to believe and but I have not heard one argument to sway me otherwise. There are simply too many unknown variables to come to a definitive conclusion and/or scenario for the future, especially one as bleak as is usually presented. Im simply not sold on the idea of the earth turning into a desert wasteland full of pests and hurricanes. It just doesnt add up. I would love to believe, but I dont... Wow, I really need to get back to my homework!! I do, however, look forward to further discussions on this important topic!!
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