|
WHAT COLOUR THE INK
Monday Nov. 30, 2015
How bad is it?
I mean our climate.
Are we done, doomed?
Going to develop green skin and resemble Iguana’s?
First, I believe climate change has been around forever on this planet and I don’t see that changing. I believe we had ice ages. I believe the dinosaurs died off. I believe our arctic was once sub-tropical. Fossil records and scores of scientist teach these things – I’m a believer.
Second, I believe we should stop polluting our soil, water and air. I support efforts to fix that – stop us doing that, and where possible to take steps to clean up or reverse the damage we’ve done. On that, I believe most of us agree.
I’m sure our friends in China, India and the United States – our worst polluters, would agree, it is time for demonstrative change on those issues. Scientists maintain they are ‘telling it like it is’. Environmental lobbyists, some of them, are making it sound worse, far worse, than all of that.
Remember replacing or upgrading software, and hardware, because we feared Y2K?
I’m glad we are all paying attention – glad too that world leaders are leading, or attempting to. Cynic in me recognizes it is about optics as well as substance, direction and attention but with some misdirection too, because each one of them has to go home to their own politics, their country’s agenda. Elephants in the room are China and U.S., their coal-fired power plants the world’s key culprits, yet Paris conference will focus on renewables and new science, nuclear and everything else except two things leaders of China and the U.S. are powerless, or unwilling, to change – they lack the power, or the will, or perhaps both to make any commitment at a negotiating table that would bind them, or assure anyone …
Is this really a global crisis, or a moment in time where our attention is focused on some compelling news coverage during what is otherwise a slow news period …
In the sci-fi movie, aliens are coming. Or an asteroid. Or a plague. Whichever scenario, the hero saves the day but not before we’re all scared out of our wits that doom is imminent, that life as we know it will change. This dramatic technique is the suspension of disbelief.
Magicians and illusionists entertain us, make things appear and disappear before our eyes – convince us that things we just saw actually happened. This dramatic technique involves misdirection.
Can you combine suspension of disbelief and misdirection?
World leaders, UN officials – touting best intentions – warning us in terms normally reserved for predictions of sci-fi-esque doom, to save our planet. Leaders, and media accomplices, mongering fear. Do you buy what they are selling? You need not travel to Paris. CNN et al bring it to your living room – and print media will use plenty of ink. Green ink. Plenty …
Mark Kolke
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -7C/20F, clear and fresh, light breeze and humid .. mild day ahead; Gusta, who was looking ill yesterday seems perkier today (she’s licking her chops, as am I, from fish chowder last night); we did a long walk on bare/dry walks, our non-slip days of good traction are numbered …
Reader feedback:
BEST BEFORE
Hi Mark. How’s the knee? I was just catching up on emails...reading your musings (enjoying your thought process and insights)...and wondered about your knee. Did it completely heal giving you back all your mobility? No pain? I have been struggling with my knees, and legs so I would sure love it if someone else was successful in their endeavor to resolve 'the ole aging process better. Your trip home sounds really lovely. A few nights ago I too saw a moon to swoon over, SF, Lethbridge, AB
| 
