A Layperson’s Take on Climate Change

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Okay, I’ve had enough arguing about whether global warming is real or a hoax.  I’ve attempted to research facts vs. fiction in order to better debate the issue with friends who are staunchly at opposite ends of this.  “The Earth is heating up and we’re all gonna die in 2012!!!” cry some, while others claim, “Global warming is a myth, yet another get-rich-off-scaring-the-bejesus-out-of-everyone kinda scheme!”

Who is right?  Who is wrong?  What do the facts say? Well, that all depends on whose facts we’re reading.  You’d think the science would be clear on this.  But it isn’t.  Articles written for the layperson to understand the science behind climate change can be easily skewed in one direction or another depending on the author’s personal opinion.  We can’t really blame them, considering the sources of facts do not seem to agree with each other.

So, here’s my totally unscientific take on global warming:

It’s freaking hot here in the Northeast in the summer.  True, summertime should be hot, as opposed to cold.  But we seem to be averaging more days at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit than ever.  I know this because I have a thermometer hanging outside my garage that tells me so.  Although, I will concede this past summer was not quite as harsh as previous summers.  So, what the hell do I know?

Fish seem to be dying off in places where they used to thrive.  Have I seen this up close?  No.  But reports from fishing industry people along with video footage provided by investigative journalists are pretty convincing.  And, oh yeah – wild caught fish is pretty freaking expensive!  I’m guessing because they aren’t as plentiful as they once were?  Or is it just another part of the Great Wool over Your Eyes Conspiracy to make us all broke by urging us to eat lots and lots of fish and then raising the prices.  Again, what the hell do I know?

Icebergs….where’d they go?  I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen the photos of the shrinking icebergs by now….if only in the commercial where the poor polar bear is clinging to one tiny piece of ice while the narrator makes us feel bad because we’re not starving to death and it’s our fault the poor thing can’t find food anymore because we drive too many SUV’s around the planet.  Of course, they want us to give money to this cause in order to ‘help’.  I’m not sure how giving money will help the polar bear, but again what the hell do I know?

Katrina.  I don’t think I need to elaborate here.

So, I think we can all agree that the Earth is changing.  The climate is changing.  Weather is downright freaky and unpredictable – actually, it IS somewhat predictable thanks to all the weather satellites floating around the Earth’s atmosphere.  One thing is for sure, if my weather person tells me I should get the heck outta dodge, I’m going!  And, even if we don’t believe the sky is falling, what would be the harm in us all treading just a bit lighter on this planet?  Maybe not buy another gas-guzzler if, for no other reason than because gas is freaking expensive?  Why not recycle the stuff that we already know will not break down in a landfill in our lifetime?  Why not conserve our water usage if, for no other reason, water is freaking expensive now?  Why not at least attempt to buy food that was grown less than 100 miles from where we live if, for no other reason, it just tastes better and might even be cheaper?

Even if you don’t believe in global warming and climate change, why not make a few minor changes in your own life to lessen the impact – just in case the threat IS real?  Would it kill you to try?