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So we've finally seen it. A true polar vortex.
About fourteen years ago, I was sitting in the office of Dr. Robert Watson, then the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Yes, that IPCC. I was putting together a scientific advisory board for my 4-hour documentary series on climate change. (Nevermind that Al Gore stole my idea. Good that he did, actually.)
Bob said yes that day, joining the late Dr. Stephen Schneider, another tireless advocate for climate change awareness, and several others on my team. I still remember the feeling of awe, mixed with utter helplessness, bundled with a deep camaraderie, whenever I sat down with these scientists. When I read the headlines about the bone-splitting cold that hit the US last week, I felt it again.
Fourteen years of talking. Fourteen years of climate change conferences. Zero net effect, in terms of lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
And here we are, witnessing in the frigid flesh all the things the climate scientists have been waving little red flags about. Melting polar ice caps. A disturbed jet stream. Acidifying oceans. Disease vectors moving up. Stronger hurricanes, massive heat waves.
And the likes of Donald Trump tweeting that this "global warming" is nonsense. (He used a less polite term.)
Is it just me or do we humans just not ever learn?
Granted, it's complicated. Lots of people are doing amazing things, in their personal lives, in industries like automotive (Tesla!) and cleantech, even on the corporate level. Somehow, that doesn't get in the mainstream media as much as political traffic jams in New Jersey do. But the climate is a chaotic system, which means you can never control or predict every aspect of every variable that influences it. What you can impact, is the way you live your life.
I'd trade my ordinary human existence for some kick-ass super-powers any day. Just so that I can suck all that excess methane and CO2 clear out of the atmosphere (along with greed, violence, intolerance, prejudice, and other eminently worthless human traits, while I'm at it).
Till then, I'll keep reducing, re-using, recycling, composting, and doing my personal individual best for my family and for the planet. Join me?
~ Birgitte
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I've got not one, but TWO blog posts for you this week! Aren't you loved.
First up, we have the intriguing story of a monumental battle to the death, between me and an unnamed number of tiny assailants (no, this isn't the land of Lilliput, and they didn't tie down my hair).
Then, an exploration of the literary flavors and nuances of weather and how to harness it for and in your writing. Yes, I know. I'm all over (and under) the weather with this eLetter.
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THE WRITE PRACTICE BLOG
Meet me online every other Wednesday for lively explorations into the writer's craft.
Q&A SESSION WITH A WRITERS' GROUP
Saturday, January 25, 8:00 am
(Private event)
AUTHOR SERIES IN SARATOGA
Wednesday, February 5, 10am
Saratoga Public Library, Saratoga, California
This is a free public event. RSVP to attend.
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