One of the reasons we decided to start this blog was because of what we call the human scale problem - and the fact that this Pew Research Center Poll says that the "environment" is 11th and "global warming" 20th out of United States citizen's concerns is a good illustration.
First, to clear things up: is the economy, jobs, terrorism, social security, and education important? Yes, absolutely. The point of this post (and blog) is not to suggest otherwise.
But there is no denying that there's a big difference between all of those issues and climate change.
Let's think about it this way. As humans, we tend to think about our immediate surroundings for a fairly short foreseeable future - which is the nice way of putting it. It's basic human nature. We're concerned with ourselves first, then people closest to us, then our community, and so on out in an ever-widening circle. It makes sense, and is almost always a good method of figuring out what's most important.
Except when it comes to global warming.
The simple truth is that climate shift is a huge problem that we have created. It is so huge - built on trillions of decisions made by billions of people since before the industrial revolution - that it almost defies comprehension.
And, correspondingly, the solution will be the sum total of trillions of decisions by billions more people. Us.
The scale of the problem is beyond a single person. It's beyond a single nation. Even if we all become enviro-crusaders tomorrow, the solution would be beyond us.
But we have to start all the same. We have to start making those decisions - and getting more people to make even more decisions - right now. Even if the work takes longer than our lives.
An analogy: we can't see the end of the tunnel from it's mouth. But we still need to step inside - and start walking.
And the sooner we start to see that - the sooner climate change comes to the forefront of issues and our minds - the sooner we'll start getting something done.
First, to clear things up: is the economy, jobs, terrorism, social security, and education important? Yes, absolutely. The point of this post (and blog) is not to suggest otherwise.
But there is no denying that there's a big difference between all of those issues and climate change.
Let's think about it this way. As humans, we tend to think about our immediate surroundings for a fairly short foreseeable future - which is the nice way of putting it. It's basic human nature. We're concerned with ourselves first, then people closest to us, then our community, and so on out in an ever-widening circle. It makes sense, and is almost always a good method of figuring out what's most important.
Except when it comes to global warming.
The simple truth is that climate shift is a huge problem that we have created. It is so huge - built on trillions of decisions made by billions of people since before the industrial revolution - that it almost defies comprehension.
And, correspondingly, the solution will be the sum total of trillions of decisions by billions more people. Us.
The scale of the problem is beyond a single person. It's beyond a single nation. Even if we all become enviro-crusaders tomorrow, the solution would be beyond us.
But we have to start all the same. We have to start making those decisions - and getting more people to make even more decisions - right now. Even if the work takes longer than our lives.
An analogy: we can't see the end of the tunnel from it's mouth. But we still need to step inside - and start walking.
And the sooner we start to see that - the sooner climate change comes to the forefront of issues and our minds - the sooner we'll start getting something done.
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