Blog Entry 3 - Hot, Flat, and Crowed

The assigned chapters proved to be quite an interesting read. And I believe the author's right when he says that it's going to be impossible to sit back and assume the path we're on won't lead us to disaster. It is important to realize the situation now, and do something to change our ways while there is still time. However, this is not the first time I have heard about warnings like this, and that NOW is the time we should start doing something about it. In fact, I had been hearing about such things for over a decade now. And yet, all this time later, nothing much has changed. In my opinion, no matter how hard activists will try to warn the government and the everyday people, nothing much will probably ever change and we are likely going to be doomed anyway. The problem has to do with the general population, and the relatively small knowledge they have about science and the environment. Most people look outside, see blue skies, green grass, and think there is no problem. They are convinced that the planet is so large, so massive, that nothing we could possibly do could ever affect it. They think scientists and the politicians have some kind of hidden agenda and are trying to sell them a form of "snake oil" in the form of solar panels and electric cars (i.e. things they don't think they need). Others (perhaps a bit more educated) realize that there is a warming trend going on, but believe that it's a natural phenomenon, referring to instances in history where there had been other warming/cooling periods. While the later group of people might not be wrong (there have been temperature fluctuations throughout history), what everyone needs to realize is that all the carbon dioxide and other gases that comes from cars and factories actually goes somewhere and can negatively impact the planet. Just because its invisible doesn't mean it doesn't do anything. I hope I am wrong about this, but I just cannot realistically see a way for most people to change their minds about this issue before it's too late.