Earth Day 2013
John Kerry says climate change is the most serious
threat to national security today. He is right, but not for the
reasons he states.
Climate change belief has the potential to drag the world back to the
stone age. That constitutes a serious threat to all of humanity.
We enjoy a standard of living people in the Dark Ages could not even
imagine. Humans feed, clothe and house 7 billion of their
own. Hunger and lack of services are often due to
politics—oppressive governments, wars, etc. Third world nations
are rising up out of poverty and joining the US, Europe , Canada and
others with warm houses, plenty of food, and a high standard of
living. India and China are catching up to the US with their
industries.
Lifespans are long, diseases can be vaccinated against, medical care
handles complex surgeries and organ transplants. We have very
fortunate lives in comparison to past generations.
All of this comfort and gains are the enemy of the climate change
promoters. Modern life, based on fossil fuel usage, is killing
the planet. Some say it is too late—but wait, it's too late to
avoid all climate change but we can limit it. We just need 90 mpg
cars (remember when Ralph Nader lamented selling of dangerous cars like
very lightweight, high mileage cars? Not anymore—now it's save
the planet, not the person), wind turbines, solar panels, water
rationing, less consumption of goods—you get the idea. Radical
activists go so far as to say humans are a blight upon the earth.
The major component for fixing climate change is money—billion,
trillions of dollars redistributed by the UN most likely. Kerry
says the US needs a carbon tax (one supposes he does understand what
damage this will do to an already weak economy but does not
care). Money—that's how we fix climate change.
Considering the astronomical cost of wind and solar, and the physical
limits of such power, a loss of industries and home electrical use is
the inevitable outcome if these methods are continued. Wind and
solar are variable at best. Storage is being explored, but has
not been successful large scale. There are no replacements, short
of nuclear power, that are practical to replace fossil fuels.
Ending fossil fuel usage means ending modern society, unless a
reasonable replacement is found very, very soon. Currently, there
is mostly a push to use the marginal wind and solar and live with
limited power.
Many will argue such drastic measures are not necessary—moderate
changes are enough. This does not go with the climate change
apocalypse predicted by Hansen if we don't take drastic action
now. It seems drastic change is our only choice now. Hansen
is again saying Earth could end up like Venus if we don't take drastic
action.
Whether or not ACC is “real”, current calls to drastic action represent
a far greater threat to humans than climate change itself—or at best,
the prospects for good resolution are equal for both ideas.
Driving the world down to pre-industrial levels will be
devastating. Massive wealth redistribution will be
devastating,. Will waiting be devastating? Maybe, but it
seems less dangerous than applying the “cure” of stopping fossil fuel
usage completely. Humans have been remarkably adaptable for
thousands of years and will continue to be.
We have an obligation to use our resources wisely and to keep our
rivers, forests and land in the best condition possible. This
does not mean declaring resources off limits or preserving huge chunks
of land free from human habitation for posterity. We are part of
the earth, not a parasite that needs to be destroyed. We are
adaptable and resourceful. Trying to destroy the gains made by
technology won't save the planet nor the human race. The nobel
savage was never truly noble. Celebrate Earth Day by being
thankful for the world we live and thrive in today.