by Trisha

Created on: April 22, 2008

Is global warming a hoax? I don't think so.

First and foremost, what exactly is global warming.

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. This is a hot debate these days. Some think the earth is actually getting cooler. Some think that the changes in Earth's atmosphere are man-made and others insist that it is a natural cycle.

It does not matter whether we all agree that global warming is a clear and present danger or assuming that man is the significant cause that global warming exists, or just media hype.

The important questions are:

1. Why do we keep polluting the environment?
2. Why do we we consume our resources at such a high, unsustainable rate?
3. Why must I drag a useless back seat, and an extra half ton of sheet metal
around with me all the time when all I need is two seats?

No matter what we do with any energy source, we will affect some aspect of our planet, perhaps using many different ways of generating energy will minimize the impact.

We need a national, practical, energy policy, or at least a proposal to guide the process. At the present time the Department of Energy is guiding nothing, and is probably more of an obstacle to progress than a help.

If we are to address any of the problems, all parties need to look at the issues without preconceived notions. For instance, if we try to resurrect nuclear power, is there a way of making it practical and safer?

There is no magic wand, even fusion produces radioactive components.

Overpopulation needs to be addressed.

Instead of just screaming against any proposal, we need people (including environmental groups) to propose solutions and discuss them rationally.

Environmental groups, utilities, and especially the Department of Energy, and Congress need to start a meaningful discussion of the energy problems without any preconceptions.

All of a sudden in the last days of his administration, President Bush is poised to change course and announce that he wants Congress to pass a bill to combat global warming, and will lay out principles for what that should include. He should have signed the Kyoto Protocol years ago!

What kind of planet are we leaving our children and grandchildren to inherit? All of us need to think about this!

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