What is the reason?

(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 :-)

Brush with "celebrity"

I know he would by no means consider himself a celebrity, but we had the privilege of meeting Carl Medearis (celebrity to me!) and his wife Chris this week.  They were traveling/touring in the area and stopped here in Muscat for a little over a week.  I happen to be on Carl's newsletter list which is how I learned about his travel plans.

If you don't know who Carl is, he has written a few books, his most notable ones being "Muslims, Christians, and Jesus" and "Speaking of Jesus, the Art of Non-Evangelism".  They are both excellent, easy to read, and to the point books that impacted both me and Colin as we moved here to the middle east.  They also impacted us in how we related to non-Christians and persons from any background, religion, or mindset.  You can check out Carl's website here:  http://www.carlmedearis.com/

I would highly encourage any Christian to read both these books as we live in a changing time where the typical approaches of mission and evangelism don't really work anymore as our country, and world, become more and more wary of Christianity.  It is also a time where there is great misunderstanding between Americans and Arabs, and Christians and Muslims.

Carl and his family lived in Lebanon for 12 years, and during that time, learned Arabic in order to reach out to those around him.  As his bio says, "Through their unique and strategic approach around the Arab world, they encouraged university students, business professionals and political leaders to live their lives by the principles and teachings of Jesus in order to change their societies and nations.  Today Carl spends much of his time working with leaders both in the West and in the Arab world with the hope of seeing the Arab Middle East and the West experience full and fruitful relationships through the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth."

We truly enjoyed talking to Carl and Chris, hearing about their tours so far, and sharing our experiences living in Oman.  They are lovely, caring, and kind people, and it was a true joy spending an evening with them.   

 

Thanks to Aberly for taking this shot of us!

Heatstroke

It's that time of year, and the heat and humidity has arrived.  It came quickly and packed a punch.

We've had a lovely year, really.  The cooler fall/winter made this year much more enjoyable weather-wise, and we even found ourselves getting cold in our house or during certain times of the day outside.  Fabulous! Clothes that normally sit dormant for most of the year got much more wear this year.  We've also had a lot more rain, which made Muscat greener and covered in additional wildflowers and plants.

So, we can't complain much.  The heat was inevitable, we knew it, we just hoped it would stay away a bit longer.

Heat and humidity in Oman means:
-  Going through way more water bottles in your water cooler each month.
-  Watering your plants every day.
-  Your windows (the moisture is on the outside) looking like your shower door does at the end of a hot shower during the early mornings.
-  The water out of your tap never is cold, just tepid.  You turn your water to hot and it's like, burn your hands, don't touch it, hot.
-  The A/C being a on all the time.  You turn it off for 10 minutes and you'll need it back on, especially once your house has warmed up after all day in the sun.
-  You can feel the heat coming through your exterior walls.
-  Staying inside during the midday/afternoon because it's just too hot.  Summer here has the same effect as winter in the states . It's just not enjoyable to be outside very long.
-  Sweat and more sweat.
-  Feeling like you've stepped into a sauna when you leave for work in the morning.
-  Increased time at the school pool.
-  No shoes outside = burns on your feet
-  Trying to figure out how little clothing you can wear out in public to stay "cooler" without offending the local culture.

It also means bored and restless children.  Imagine how your kids get in the states during the winter when it's cold and/or rainy.  It gets stir-crazy!  Parents get grumpy, kids in turn get grumpy.  This is not enjoyable for anyone.  You feel like a bad parent when you are letting your kids watch more TV because your mind says "They should be outside, it's sunny!".  But obviously, it's miserable and hot, and that can't be an option.  You are searching for ideas for fun, which is hard.

So, we are doing our best.  Mornings and late afternoon/evening are outside times.  Luckily we get quite a bit of shade on our side of the unit during the mornings, so being outside is more tolerable.  We get out the pool and fill it with tepid water which the girls enjoy.  We also find that our pots filled with dirt (vegetables are done now) have been a source of great fun.

Here is some of the action from last weekend.  I hope you all back home are enjoying your cool spring although I suspect you are itching for sun :-)

 Happy play partners  (mommy and daddy sat in our chairs watching, 

desiring as little movement as possible to avoid breaking out in a sweat)

"I wonder...." 

(she never got on the way in, but we kept hoping she would!)

 "Cake anyone?"

 Filthy happy!