Here is a fact that I do not believe anyone can successfully argue against: There is NO WAY for humans to minimize our impact on earth.
Why do I state this? Every choice we make, to act or refrain from acting, impacts the earth. We have no way of knowing the eventual outcome of any act or abstention from action, we cannot successfully predict the long-term effects of anything we do or don't do.
As...I can't believe you would even make a statement like that! Of course we know the impact that man's actions have and will have, to say otherwise puts us back in the ape-class. It's called "reasoning", common sense (which has long been forgotten), etc. Thank goodness there are scientists willing to put their minds to work and come up with plausible ways to minimize environmental mistakes.
There are many nations around the world that are seeing the impact that bad decisions are causing in their countries and globally. It saddens me that the U.S. is one of the main last hold-outs. I put us in the same category as China or Russia. Australia even made the statement recently that the U.S. should and could be using other fuel sources and not be so dependent on oil...Brazil has weened itself of oil dependency, but supposedly the smartest country in the world can't figure out how to do it!!!
So for all of those that can't see or agree with what is going on around the world and choose to close your eyes and ears, I feel sorry for you and future generations.
If my health problems weren't so bad, I'd jump in and become an advocate for pushing my state and country into designing better environmental laws. I have written letters to congressmen and signed petitions, etc., but it's depressing to me to be in the condition where I can't actually get out and actively pursue these issues.
I hope that those of you that COULD have an impact on our lives aren't sorry later that you didn't at least try when you had the chance.
One thing that I do plan on doing is to vote in the up coming elections. I am starting now to find out what the representatives ideas are regarding environmental and other issues and I hope to be ready to cast my vote for the most competent...irregardless of party lines! Just as we made an impact on the drilling for oil in Alaska issue, people can have a say in what is done in this country. Our REPUBLICAN senator voted AGAINST it due to the huge numbers of calls his office recieved!!! (Shortly, thereafter there was another terrible oil spill in Alaska...which you can google and see the amount of damage that was done, by the way! That sure was swept under the rug and got very little mention in the media...wonder why?)
Here is a good site for news on global environmental issues that are affecting the world:
http://www.baselpretoria.org.za/News.htm
Swalker
