[OT] Re: Let's make a difference

[Levi Pearson]

On May 19, 2006, at 1:57 PM, Shane Hathaway wrote:
>
> This article makes a fair case for the theory that humans are  
> indeed changing climates and weather patterns.  However, the earth  
> has already proven itself capable of maintaining overall balance  
> over millions of years, even in the face of forest fires,  
> volcanoes, meteorites, and so on.  What makes the scientists think  
> the earth can't correct itself this time, like it has every other  
> time?

I think, among sane people, the concern is not so much for the earth  
surviving as much as it is for the earth remaining in a state that  
allows humans to continue living somewhat prosperously.  Obviously  
the earth is not going to explode or anything thanks to our  
pollution, but it's clear that mass extinctions have occurred in the  
past, and it would really suck for humans to be among the fallen in  
the next extinction event.

But like it's been pointed out before, it's not entirely clear that  
our pollution will significantly alter the course of global climate  
change.  The stakes are pretty high, though, so I think it's worth  
seriously considering.  If changing our pollution and consumption  
patterns added an extra thousand or two years to this habitable  
portion of the earth's climate cycle, wouldn't it be worth it?   
Anyway, I don't expect to see hard answers to any of this in my  
lifetime, so meanwhile we'll just have to debate with estimates and  
projections.

		--Levi