The Hole

I do believe that environmentalism is a system -- one should strive to limit their impact on all natural and man-made systems. Each day I focus on one area or another -- energy, housing, water, food, etc., but on the whole I've tried to do what's right for every component of my environment. I will someday die, and when I do, I will do so with conviction that I've provided for a sustained living environment for every person who follows. This is fundamental in my belief system.

I am a firm advocate of my local environment. The global environment will follow. Consequently, I am not a die-hard champion of climate change. I figure that if we can manage all our local environmental problems, then the macro problems will manage themselves.

Fresno, CA -- if they themselves could suddenly cease all local emissions, they'd still have terrible air quality as pollutants from the Bay Area are carried by the west winds and settle near the bottom of the San Joaquin valley. I find it amazing that there are people who are aware of local pollution problems, but choose to ignore that their emissions also affect other environments. I can understand skepticism wrt anthropogenic global warming, but isn't it at least plausible that it can occur? If a paint manufacturer in San Anselmo can affect the air 130 miles away in Chowchilla, isn't it plausible that it also, perhaps minimally, affects the air in Santiago, Chile?

Isn't it at least plausible that CFCs, emitted locally, can have an effect on artic ozone layers?

I am not a man of traditional faith. But I have to take the science of climate change on faith. I've not studied it personally. I have not taken one single temperature measurement. Haven't seen one polar bear on shrinking ice. But I'm inclined to believe that if there's even a remote possibility (plausibility) that my actions today could adversely affect the environment of tomorrow, as scholared people are indicating, I am willing to do something about it. So I do it locally.

This is the primary reason why I've completely abandoned the Republican party -- the vast majority are unwilling. I have followed with earnest the current administration's environmental policies. These will, in due time, be the subject of many additional blogs. I also understand the complete environmental failures of the previous three administrations. Change won't come easy, especially in my nation of overweight, over consumptive, entitled NASCAR slobs.