Global Warming: "That won't affect me".

[Dead_Parrot]

A man stands on a railroad track as a train rumbles closer.

"Global warming?" he says. "Some say irreversible consequences are 30 years away. Thirty years. That won't affect me." He steps off the tracks - just in time. But behind him is a little blonde-haired girl left in front of the roaring train.

Article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/tech/2006/apr/02/040209024.html

The ads: http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/viewads.cfm?source=edhp&linkid=20

Maximum kudos to Jpak for finding this, but it needs more circulation - K&R if you like it, and drop by the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=115">Enviroment & Energy forum sometime if you want to know more... (Warning: We get vicious!) :evilgrin:

[Dead_Parrot]

1. self-kick

someone has to. :)

[highplainsdem]

2. K&R

[skids]

3. K&R but...

...at this rate, a more accurate ad would have had the guy at least lose a leg while stepping off the track.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. K & R and

don't forget to vote for your favorite

[Pachamama]

5. I remember my Dad about 20 yrs ago saying something similar to me...

I love my Dad dearly, but he is a longtime old school GOPer and can say things that I often wonder how I am related by blood to him. I remember about 20 yrs ago having a conversation with him about Global Warming. He proceeded to try and debunk the theories and say that there are always "experts" who can come up with scare tactics of one or another and that he really didn't buy any of that. I then remember saying to him "But Dad, what if its true? What if Global Warming is real?"

He then proceeded to say that if it was real, then it wouldn't matter because he won't be here...I was stunned....I just looked at him in disbelief and then said "What about your Grandchildren?"

He never answered me....

Meanwhile, I read an article a few days ago that I clipped out of the paper and as I did, I felt sick to my stomach. It was about how the "bleaching of the coral reefs" in the Carribean was extensive and massive. There were comments such as at the current rate of this bleaching and death of the corals (not just in the Carribbean, but also everywhere throughout the world) that if someone wants to see them, they better go see them now....

I always dreamed that someday my now 6 year old would be able to go diving with me amongst the reefs. Now I'm thinking all I'll ever be able to show her is the skeletons....

:cry:

[Dead_Parrot]

7. My daughter is 18 months old...

Even though the great barrier reef is quite local (we're in NZ), I'm guessing we'll never see it together. There isn't enough time anymore.

:hug:

[Pachamama]

8. I'm imagining our children aren't going to see a lot of things I just

assumed they would....scary and sad, isn't? And meanwhile time seems to be be going by faster each day...amd it looks like we are running out of time...

:hug:

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Personally, I think we're out of it.

Some years ago I was driving down a lane in the shires in England, where I used to live, and saw a monkjack deer run out into the road in front of me: Not wanting to hit it, and being to late to brake, I steered onto the soft grass at the side of the road intending to go around it.
I couldn't get the steering right, and the car went into a spin - missing the deer, but beyond any hope of recovery: All I could do was sit back and watch the crunch unfold as I approached the trees.

I've got the same feeling now. But this time, I might loose more than a couple of teeth and a car...

And this time I've got a passenger.

[gordontron]

6. the train one is way better

thanks for finding this

[renate]

10. k & r

[roguevalley]

11. google the native village of Shishmaref on the Bering sea. they

are moving it because of this.

[theHandpuppet]

12. I posted this to GD yesterday

Got one reponse.

It would seem that even on DU the topic of Global Warming can't find a pulse. But this is a vitally important issue which people ignore at their own peril, so I'm giviing this thread a kick!

[Tesha]

13. This is a common characteristic for an entire class of problems...

> I posted this to GD yesterday; got one reponse.

This is a common characteristic for an entire class of problems
where we know something awful is going on but we also know that
we, as individuals, are pretty powerless to do anything about it
so we would prefer to ignore it.

Yes, if we *ALL* stopped driving, the problem would go away. But
that calls for collective sacrificial action and the "Tragedy of
the commons" is always the ruling force in this situation, so
we're pretty likely collectively doomed.

Really.

We might as well forget stopping global warming and simply get
on to salvaging what bits of our civilization that we can.

For example, a few months back, I was roundly flamed for suggesting
that money spent on rebuilding New Orleans was money wasted. Many
claimed I'd feel differently if it were Boston that had been wiped
out by a hurricane. But that's not true; I've come to accept the
*FACT* that both of these beautiful coastal cities are goners,
as are most of the rest of our coastal cities. NOLA may simply
have been leading the pack.

We've made our bed, we're now sleeping our way into the positive
feedback regimes, and soon we'll all be forced to lie (die?) in
the results.

It won't be pretty, but reality often isn't. And that's why people
are choosing to ignore all this.

Tesha

[theHandpuppet]

14. Good point, Tesha.

I think you're right, but of course it's a little discouraging nonetheless. I just get the feeling that folks have NO idea how really bad this is going to get and are not making preparations to deal with the aftermath.

It's funny, you know. My partner and I feel like canaries in the coal mine, even though we probably won't be around when things get really bad. You'd think that young folks, especially those with children, would be the most vocal about this issue. After all, it's the future generations who will pay for our folly.

As for our coastal cities -- no flames from this quarter. I posted thoughts nearly identical to yours several weeks ago.

[BoneDaddy]

15. To answer the question that you and

the other poster mentioned on why people don't reply to global warming posts, I think it has to do with what is within their control. We can only take care of what WE do. It seems like an issue that is so far out of control, people don't know where to start and what to do, so they avoid it. I think alot of the most recent info is pointing to the conclusion that it might already be out of our control.

I tend to agree with you though. We should prepare. It's like we are the Noah's of the world, knowing a flood is coming, but no one is listening.

[blindpig]

16. Pay attention! n/t

[dipsydoodle]

17. Yes

K & R