Saturday, September 29, 2007 1:13 AM CDT
Our View: Whether we believe in global warming of no import
By the JG/T-C Editorial Board
editorial@jg-tc.com
We know what the earth looks like — a wondrous blue diamond, glittering in the face of the sun, the orb’s background deep black, endless space.
We know what the earth looks like. It’s our home, the singular spacecraft in a solar system hawking planets, near-planets, moons and other seeds of the Big Bang.
It’s a spaceship dealt many blows over billions of years. The moon bluntly testifies, bearing craters stark. On earth, natural forces and life gently softened their outlines, slowly filled their curves.
We understand earth may be the only body in the solar system giving birth to life — but, we don’t appreciate it. We take this beautiful planet for granted. Mankind takes lot of things for granted.
Whether you believe in global warming or not is of no real import. The question is: Do you believe man is the planet’s caretaker, the one responsible for protecting and nurturing earth and all things living?
Few would deny it.
No other creature possesses the power, or inclination, to destroy or protect earth.
If we want to make it a garbage dump, wipe the blue from the sky and shade it with man-generated pollutants, dispatch to extinction creatures unique, we have the power to do it.
If we want to melt the ice caps, alter the earth’s weather system and the ocean’s currents, we have the power to do it.
The experts debate how serious pollution is, how soon — or if — mankind will have to deal with the effects of a global greenhouse.
There are, however, certain realities invoking consensus. One being the fact our organic resources are finite. Oil and natural gas gone in decades. The earth’s vast store of coal following suit.
Yet, the demand for oil and gas and coal rapidly rises as nations like China and India crank up their industrial engines.
Not too distant, we will be forced to change our ways in order to sustain our economy. This we must do whether or not we believe in global warming.
Going green, the cliche of the day, promises mankind an alternative to dimming lights and polluted skies and rising oceans and seas and declining life.
There are other ways to power our homes, cars, manufacturing plants, businesses. Alternatives real and alternatives yet discovered.
Science, technology, imagination, innovation are all the fuel we need to make the debate over global warming moot.
It is the genius of man to adapt. We have done it well; that is why we have survived, multiplied and prospered.
Our “Go Green” section in Friday’s newspapers highlighted ways that we all can help reserve energy so generations to come can thrive.
Whether we believe in global warming is of no import.
We are the caretaker of the blue diamond.
JG/TC Editorial Board
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