(A quick edit from the original yesterday. I truly mean what I say throughout the blog. I'm not angry, but confused and seeking answers. I am not intending to be demeaning to anyone if they don't believe in climate change or that it's man-made. The conclusions below are what I have come to in collaboration with others I talk to here, and I would love to know and understand other's reasons for not believing, or if my conclusions are incorrect. The blog was written in a calm "voice". Thanks!)
If you didn't see it, there was a pretty big story in the news today about the Antarctic. It's not good. In fact, it scares me quite a bit (mostly because it is a major environmental change that has occurred due to climate change). http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/west-antarctic-ice-sheets-collapse-triggers-sea-level-warning-n103221
So this got me thinking and decided it was time to address an issue that I've been struggling with for a long time now.
One of the things that I've found living overseas is that the issue of climate change is not really an issue at all. It's a fact. If you bring it up in conversation, or it's in the news, it's like, "Yes, climate change. Continue." And this is across the board with nationalities. It's not just Americans abroad, or Germans, or Brits, or what have you, it's all nationalities.
You see it in the news and in stories featured on blogs and environmental websites. A refugees from a tiny island near New Zealand trying to seek amnesty there to escape the slow destruction to his native land as it slowly goes under water. A farmer in the Peruvian mountains seeing the rains and growing in her region changing due to climate change. The serious droughts in Syria due to increased temperatures, ruining farms and food production.
But if you look at American news, climate change is up for constant debate. It's a "maybe" and people claim it's based on "psuedoscience". "Not enough proof" or "not sound science". And this comes from people who find science totally reliable in many other areas of life, but for whatever reason, not for this. The 97% of scientists who say climate change is real and man-made are suddenly not credible.
I don't understand. What makes Americans want to deny it when the proof and facts are out there? Why are people so ignorant to it? What is/are the reason(s)? Upon talking to numerous people over this year, here are a few conclusions I have come to.
1. Americans don't want to change their lifestyle. Accepting climate change means having to make changes in your lifestyle to reduce the huge carbon footprint America has. The reliance on fossil fuels, wanting imported goods all year round. Consumerism. Not wanting to change diets and reduce meat intake, as well as many processed foods. Refusing to buy from companies contributing to the carbon footprint. Driving and flying less. Living in smaller homes. Composting. Reducing your households waste. Buy from local and organic farmers. It's a lot to change.
2. Belief it's caused by God. This is not me saying that God is not in control and isn't watching over the world. This is me saying that religious/Christian Americans want to keep world weather issues within their realm of religion. There seems to be a fear in religious communities to accept science at times. They see it as associated with a liberal, Democratic issue, so they refuse to accept climate change because it's not a conservative issue. Or accepting science about climate change somehow means you also have to accept evolution. I still haven't quite figured this one out. I find it odd because God commanded us to steward His creation. So as stewards, we should treat the earth as He sees it. He created it, He loves it, so shouldn't we? Shouldn't Christians be the first to stand up to anything that harms the earth? Pollution, damage to species and creatures, etc...?
3. Lack of impact. A friend of mine talked about this reason today. America is pretty well established and we have a lot of safety nets built in to keep us going "as usual" when tragedies strike. When serious environmental issues happen (increased tornadoes, hurricanes) we have huge support networks to lesson the detrimental impact it will have on "the system". Most of us don't lose water for days. Families who lose homes have places to go. Food is still available in the stores from other parts of the country. Humanitarian organizations come in. In general, our infrastructure doesn't fail. And we're a big country. A tragedy in Florida doesn't effect the other 98% of us.
4. American media/Big money/Big Business. It's no secret (if you look it up) that major companies that stand to lose the most money from changing policies to address climate change have the most to lose. Oil companies, agribusiness, Monsanto.... It's just like Big Tobacco when it first came out that smoking/chewing caused cancer. They fought hard to try to convince us it was bad science, untrue, and wrong. Companies out there are working hard to use shady scientists to say climate change isn't man made or even happening. Our media is constantly flooded with "skeptics" and people with loud voices who have no credible background fighting against scientists on shows. And who do Americans believe? Usually the skeptic because hey, that is easier and safer, right?
Sorry for the crude language at points, but this video sums this up so well (scroll down to the article a bit to see the video): http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-oliver-bill-nye-climate-change
5. Fear. Climate change and it's impending effects are scary. They are. I get anxiety every time I read another report or see another news story. If you read the scientific information and the things that could happen, yes, it can get my heart rate up. Sometimes, honestly, it makes me feel guilty for bringing to children into a world that may get pretty scary for them. I know I'm not the only mom that feels that way (thanks to those of you who have admitted that to me too!). But I would rather know the truth than live sheltered and with blinders on. I don't want to be ignorant. I want to know what I can do to try to make a difference. Because if we all make changes, we can slow this down.
6. Ignorance. Plain old ignorance. Stomping foot to the ground, I don't believe it attitude just because. This one makes me the most mad.
So those are my top 6 reasons. I'm curious to know other reasons if you have them. I would love to understand why America aren't mad as hell about the future ahead for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren because of the way our country, and other parts of the world, are operating today.
I'm not writing this in anger, I'm just honestly confused and exasperated! Knowing why people don't accept it would help me understand how to approach people back home.
P.S. If you are on the climate change bandwagon, I'd love to know too. That would give me hope :-)
If you didn't see it, there was a pretty big story in the news today about the Antarctic. It's not good. In fact, it scares me quite a bit (mostly because it is a major environmental change that has occurred due to climate change). http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/west-antarctic-ice-sheets-collapse-triggers-sea-level-warning-n103221
So this got me thinking and decided it was time to address an issue that I've been struggling with for a long time now.
One of the things that I've found living overseas is that the issue of climate change is not really an issue at all. It's a fact. If you bring it up in conversation, or it's in the news, it's like, "Yes, climate change. Continue." And this is across the board with nationalities. It's not just Americans abroad, or Germans, or Brits, or what have you, it's all nationalities.
You see it in the news and in stories featured on blogs and environmental websites. A refugees from a tiny island near New Zealand trying to seek amnesty there to escape the slow destruction to his native land as it slowly goes under water. A farmer in the Peruvian mountains seeing the rains and growing in her region changing due to climate change. The serious droughts in Syria due to increased temperatures, ruining farms and food production.
But if you look at American news, climate change is up for constant debate. It's a "maybe" and people claim it's based on "psuedoscience". "Not enough proof" or "not sound science". And this comes from people who find science totally reliable in many other areas of life, but for whatever reason, not for this. The 97% of scientists who say climate change is real and man-made are suddenly not credible.
I don't understand. What makes Americans want to deny it when the proof and facts are out there? Why are people so ignorant to it? What is/are the reason(s)? Upon talking to numerous people over this year, here are a few conclusions I have come to.
1. Americans don't want to change their lifestyle. Accepting climate change means having to make changes in your lifestyle to reduce the huge carbon footprint America has. The reliance on fossil fuels, wanting imported goods all year round. Consumerism. Not wanting to change diets and reduce meat intake, as well as many processed foods. Refusing to buy from companies contributing to the carbon footprint. Driving and flying less. Living in smaller homes. Composting. Reducing your households waste. Buy from local and organic farmers. It's a lot to change.
2. Belief it's caused by God. This is not me saying that God is not in control and isn't watching over the world. This is me saying that religious/Christian Americans want to keep world weather issues within their realm of religion. There seems to be a fear in religious communities to accept science at times. They see it as associated with a liberal, Democratic issue, so they refuse to accept climate change because it's not a conservative issue. Or accepting science about climate change somehow means you also have to accept evolution. I still haven't quite figured this one out. I find it odd because God commanded us to steward His creation. So as stewards, we should treat the earth as He sees it. He created it, He loves it, so shouldn't we? Shouldn't Christians be the first to stand up to anything that harms the earth? Pollution, damage to species and creatures, etc...?
3. Lack of impact. A friend of mine talked about this reason today. America is pretty well established and we have a lot of safety nets built in to keep us going "as usual" when tragedies strike. When serious environmental issues happen (increased tornadoes, hurricanes) we have huge support networks to lesson the detrimental impact it will have on "the system". Most of us don't lose water for days. Families who lose homes have places to go. Food is still available in the stores from other parts of the country. Humanitarian organizations come in. In general, our infrastructure doesn't fail. And we're a big country. A tragedy in Florida doesn't effect the other 98% of us.
4. American media/Big money/Big Business. It's no secret (if you look it up) that major companies that stand to lose the most money from changing policies to address climate change have the most to lose. Oil companies, agribusiness, Monsanto.... It's just like Big Tobacco when it first came out that smoking/chewing caused cancer. They fought hard to try to convince us it was bad science, untrue, and wrong. Companies out there are working hard to use shady scientists to say climate change isn't man made or even happening. Our media is constantly flooded with "skeptics" and people with loud voices who have no credible background fighting against scientists on shows. And who do Americans believe? Usually the skeptic because hey, that is easier and safer, right?
Sorry for the crude language at points, but this video sums this up so well (scroll down to the article a bit to see the video): http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-oliver-bill-nye-climate-change
5. Fear. Climate change and it's impending effects are scary. They are. I get anxiety every time I read another report or see another news story. If you read the scientific information and the things that could happen, yes, it can get my heart rate up. Sometimes, honestly, it makes me feel guilty for bringing to children into a world that may get pretty scary for them. I know I'm not the only mom that feels that way (thanks to those of you who have admitted that to me too!). But I would rather know the truth than live sheltered and with blinders on. I don't want to be ignorant. I want to know what I can do to try to make a difference. Because if we all make changes, we can slow this down.
6. Ignorance. Plain old ignorance. Stomping foot to the ground, I don't believe it attitude just because. This one makes me the most mad.
So those are my top 6 reasons. I'm curious to know other reasons if you have them. I would love to understand why America aren't mad as hell about the future ahead for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren because of the way our country, and other parts of the world, are operating today.
I'm not writing this in anger, I'm just honestly confused and exasperated! Knowing why people don't accept it would help me understand how to approach people back home.
P.S. If you are on the climate change bandwagon, I'd love to know too. That would give me hope :-)
