Date:         Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:53:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Williams <williams@FIRE.BIOL.WWU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Williams <williams@FIRE.BIOL.WWU.EDU>
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I used to think that humans were rational creatures and would take care of
problems as they arose.  It''s now apparent to me in my dotage that humans
display very little inclination to err on the side of caution with respect
to environmental problems.
Our drinking water situation in the city of Bellingham Washington is a
metaphor for global warming.  This lake (Whatcom) serves as a water source
for 80,000 and yet we have done little to preserve it.  We build around it,
piss in it, swim in it, boat in it, you name.  The data on various
contaminents show it is declining in quality.  There are also powerful
economic interests that seek to continue the status quo (new subdivisions
and shopping centers in the drainage).  And the epithets that they hurl at
those who are opposed is that they are socialists or communists or silly
environmentalists  or worse.  The part of Human nature that is such a
powerful defeating force is self-interest and it will never be
contravened.  We (Bellingham environs) will all be drinking bottled water
in 10 years or so and pissed off that we didn't do something earlier.  We
just can't make the behavioral adjustment to admit that certain issues need
attention now.



 > >>> >> Global warming is not scientifically PROVEN, and
 > >>> even if it is happening,
 > >>> >> so what? We have NO idea why it's happening.
 > >>>
 > >>> >Not altogether true. Just like in plague times,
 > >>> there were people who knew.
 > >>> >they just didn't have the political voice to
 > >>> convince anyone who mattered.
 > >>>
 > >>> The ones who claim to know are rarley chalenged.
 > >>> They never admit that they
 > >>> are wrong and when proven wrong, they can only
 > >>> resort to name calling.
 > >>>