Interesting that there’s been little mention of global warming during the Presidential campaigns.
The greatest threat facing mankind today, has seemingly taken a back seat. Voters are clearly more interested in more immediate threats, such as being able to feed their families. This is completely understandable, however, I hope that whichever man wins on Tuesday, will bring this issue back to center stage. I repeat, it is the greatest threat facing mankind today, and the fact that it has taken such a back seat in the past 2 years, is very scary.
It’s funny that the most overwhelming threat that we face as humans, is the one that we tend to either deny, or pretend doesn’t really exist. I totally understand because I live in Los Angeles, where most of us live in denial about the fact that a mega-earthquake could take out most of the city…at any moment. Sure, most of us have earthquake-proofed our homes, and some of us have earthquake preparedness-kits in our garages, but it would be too scary to have to live with this in the forefront of our minds everyday – so many of us, myself fully included, live in denial. I think it’s the same with global warming. The hard science has now proved that it is happening at an alarming rate. Moreover, the sudden warming trend is most likely caused by human activity. Sure there have been warming and cooling trends for millions of years, but the exponential temperature rise of the last 100 years is an anomaly, which can really only be explained by the greenhouse gasses that we are currently blanketing our precious planet with.
James Balog, an Internationally acclaimed environmental photographer, who conducted The Extreme Ice Survey, has seen the evidence first-hand. The result of his work is an incredible documentary called, Chasing Ice. This film has won over 20 International awards, and is both visually stunning, as well as disturbing. Balog, himself, believes that the problem with global warming denial, is one of perception. He feels that it is vital for the public to really understand on a visceral level what is happening. His film clearly depicts how the ice cap that used to make up the Arctic, is soon to be no more. National Glacier park will have to be re-named, “No Glacier Park.” And when all this ice disappears, the sun can no longer be reflected away from the Earth. Instead, it is absorbed by the darkness of the ocean – and thus global warming. I plan to take my daughter to National Glacier park before its too late.
I highly recommend you watch Chasing Ice with your family and friends. It’s particularly important for children to see. The makers of the brilliant movie, The Cove, made this documentary, so you know you are in very good hands. Both The Cove, and Chasing Ice are a welcome slice of pristine reality, during a muddy, and often ugly campaign season. Well worth cleansing your palate!
