Almost every daily newspaper includes more bad news about what we’re doing to our planet. Higher temperature records, greater rainfall amounts, an increasing number of tornadoes at unusual times of the year and in unusual places and many other meteorological data prove that we are experiencing major changes. Examples:
- Global sea temps (3.5 to 7 degrees warmer than average this winter) are rising at an alarming rate affecting sea life, fishing results, destroying coral reef life, raising water levels and possibly adjusting the earth’s tilt. It is anticipated that the ocean levels may rise 12 to 18 inches by 2050. Scientists claim that the melting icecaps re-balance the earth because of the weight shift as they disintegrate.
- March, 2023 was the 529th month in a row with temps above the 20th century average.
- Glaciers shrank by more than 51 inches in just one year.
- Businesses are now being affected due to the long term impact. Areas in France where wine was made for centuries can no longer support grape vines because of warmer temps and a lack of rain over an extended period of time. And, for the first time in history, England’s weather allows it to grow grapes and make wine.
- The Sierra Nevada Mountains received over 66 feet of snow this winter versus less than 5 feet last year. Was this a by-product of the “rivers of moisture” that inundated California and Oregon? And why did these “rivers” happen? Is this the new normal? Will Lake Mead be a problem because to too much water in the near future?
- The chemical impact on ozone layer with pollution has prompted some states (California, Vermont, Washington and others) to restrict the use of small off-road-engines or “SORES”. It has been said that the use of a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour emits as much pollution as a Ford 150 Pick-up truck being driven 100 miles. Imagine that as you drive through your neighborhood.
It’s easy to discount all these events as just quirky occurrences and dismiss them as nothing to worry about. But temps, ice melt, pollution growth over such a long and consistent period of time seem to disprove that attitude. This is reality whether we accept it or not.
We didn’t plan ahead to prepare against a global pandemic like COVID 19 and look what happened. Millions died and the impact will be felt for many years to come. Let’s hope we don’t let an irreversible climate change scenario ruin life on earth for ourselves and our descendants. We owe it to those who follow us to act now. We are not owners of this planet; we are custodians.
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