| Last night, my daughter and I were up until | | | | pollute streams, ponds, lakes, and oceans, |
| 1:15AM completing a chemistry paper on the | | | | the results are the same. Manufacturing jobs |
| arguments for and against global warming. On | | | | are lost, the streams that feed |
| our drive to school, we talked about the | | | | economic-villages collapse, and business |
| emotion attached to viewpoints. | | | | cycles fail where the ocean feeds cities. |
| | | | Solomon's aphorism applies: where there is |
| Debate becomes an "all or nothing" | | | | no money, social structure crumbles, and |
| proposition. One side must be wrong | | | | stock markets plummet. |
| completely with ad hominem invective. Each | | | | |
| side sustains argument with seemingly logical | | | | Not far from where I write is a popular |
| evidence. I suggested to Emily that we fail | | | | seafood restaurant called "Woodman's". Essex |
| to find the middle ground within controversy, | | | | has a few "Yankee Magazine" seafood |
| and we forget the commitment required for | | | | restaurants where fried clams and lobster |
| action-steps by relying on "talking points". | | | | feed salivating tourists every day. Folks |
| Most of us forget that debate is not a | | | | travel miles to stand in long lines for a |
| "zero-sum game". | | | | clam plate with french fries or a one pound |
| | | | lobster with cole slaw. |
| So what about the frogs? | | | | |
| | | | Two men, I know, earn their living preparing |
| Emily writes, "Global warming could possibly | | | | food at one of these eateries, another man |
| lead to the extinction of many species. When | | | | works the clam flats year-round. Whether |
| the climate changes drastically, many animals | | | | global warming or global pollution disrupts |
| cannot adapt…species are lost forever. | | | | their income, the results could devastate all |
| If global warming is not stopped, more than a | | | | of them, and our community. |
| million species worldwide could be extinct by | | | | |
| 2050…." | | | | Former World Bank chief economist Sir |
| | | | Nicholas Stern was commissioned by the |
| Randolph Schmid and John Heilprin in their | | | | British Treasury to study the economics of |
| article, "Over fishing May Harm Seafood | | | | global warming. Stern's credentials are |
| Population" do not address global warming, | | | | impeccable. His rudimentary conclusions warn |
| but their arguments against "over fishing" | | | | governments that global warming must not be |
| are strikingly similar. | | | | debated. |
| | | | |
| Schmid and Heilprin quote Boris Worm of | | | | Any failure of government leadership to |
| Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia | | | | reverse "the trends" could lead to "the kind |
| who says the data about "over | | | | of downturn that has not been seen since the |
| fishing…shocked and disturbed (him | | | | Great Depression and the two world wars", |
| with)...trends…beyond anything we | | | | says Britain's chief scientist, Sir David |
| suspected. At this point 29 percent of fish | | | | King. |
| and seafood species have | | | | |
| collapsed…their catch has declined by | | | | This is a formidable challenge for our global |
| 90 percent…If the long-term trend | | | | political system. In a world where consensus |
| continues, all fish and seafood species are | | | | is eschewed, collective decision-making is an |
| projected to collapse within my lifetime | | | | obligation of every nation, tribe, and |
| – by 2048." | | | | people. Will we see the collective |
| | | | leadership necessary to grapple with these |
| Notice the date? Notice the number of | | | | complexities? |
| species lost? All consistent with the global | | | | |
| warming argument. | | | | Recent history does not encourage us. For |
| | | | example, it would have cost Thirty million |
| So what about the logs (not the ones that | | | | [US] dollars to install an early-warning |
| float)? | | | | system to avoid the 150,000 deaths caused by |
| | | | the Asian tsunami. Prior to this climatic |
| Global warming logs assert that "The average | | | | disaster, governments would not spend it. |
| global temperature has increased by about 0.5 | | | | |
| degrees Celsius over the last | | | | Next April, Emily and I will spend a week |
| century…over half of that increase has | | | | tearing-down and building-up homes in |
| occurred in the last 30 years. Since 1980, | | | | Slidell, Louisiana. (New Orleans is across |
| the earth has experienced 19 of its 20 | | | | the bridge.) Original settlers built ships |
| hottest years on record, with 1998 and 2005 | | | | and manufactured bricks within a farm and |
| tied for the hottest and 2002 and 2003 coming | | | | timber region. |
| in second and third", Emily and I discovered | | | | |
| during our research. | | | | Slidell is now a bedroom community for the |
| | | | aerospace industry. NASA has a computer |
| Carbon dioxide atmospheric levels have | | | | complex and test site nearby. Seafood and |
| "remained constant at around 280 parts per | | | | meat products, furniture, chemicals, boats, |
| million ("ppm"). It is now nearly 380ppm, a | | | | concrete, apparel, and machinery are all |
| level the earth has not experienced for at | | | | produced by Slidell's residents. |
| least 400,000 years." Hence, some assert, | | | | |
| the rising temperature of the earth…is | | | | Nine major industry groups, many publicly |
| driven by the consumption of fossil fuels." | | | | traded companies tied together by grocery |
| Clearly, "This rise in temperature is | | | | stores, barbers, doctors, and movie theatres |
| altering the earth's climate, which is | | | | keep this community intact. As you know, |
| leading to many other problems", writes | | | | Slidell suffered severe damage from Hurricane |
| Emily. We are losing entire ecological | | | | Katrina in 2005. |
| communities! | | | | |
| | | | Corporations and governments must face tough |
| Back to frogs for a moment, "Whether we | | | | decisions or whimper regrets to constituents. |
| looked at tide pools or studies over the | | | | As voters, citizens, workers, and parents in |
| entire world's ocean, we saw the same picture | | | | our local and global economies, we are |
| emerging. In losing species we lose the | | | | obligated to challenge our children to study, |
| productivity and stability of entire | | | | our politicians to plan, prepare, and act, |
| ecosystems," said Boris Worm. | | | | while our religious leaders pray for wisdom. |
| | | | |
| So what about the stock market? | | | | Neglecting these issues imperils the hopes |
| | | | and lifestyle of every earthly inhabitant. |
| The stock market is about money; in fact | | | | Our choices may determine how many more |
| Solomon, an ancient wise man (differs from | | | | generations enjoy the sight and resonant |
| today's "wiseacre") said, "It's ALL about | | | | croak of a rotund bullfrog squatting on a log |
| money" (emphasis mine). | | | | (that floats). How will you help? Our |
| | | | choices could determine the bottom line of |
| Whether we fish to deplete species or we | | | | every portfolio, including yours. |