the earth system

THE EARTH SYSTEM

It seems to me that we might have a better chance of seriously addressing environmental problems-- especially climate change-- if we started thinking of this planet as a congeries of interlocking systems-- the climate system, the food system, the energy system, etc.

This would be a different approach than the 'Gaia Hypothesis,' which is a kind of romantic biological metaphor of 

planet Earth as a living organism. Given that our species seems to have this technological bent, thinking of it as a kind of ubersystem might have more appeal.

We know that human activity takes place on such a scale now that it can have significant effect on these different systems. We affect the climate system by throwing all these greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere; we affect the food system by driving some fisheries-- cod, tuna-- to the brink of extinction; etc.

If we got into the habit of thinking all these related systems as part of an 'earth system,' then we could use systems analysis to 'tweak' it toward better 'performance.' This would become a habit of mind that would then drive public policy.

bumper sticker

There is only one 'Job Creator':  DEMAND.

we built that

The new New Orleans levees, with $15 billion in federal money.

denial central

"President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans . . ."
[Laughter]

". . . and to heal the planet."
[Laughter]

"My promise is to help you and your family.”

As far as I can tell, this is the only reference-- and a rather oblique one at that-- to climate change in the entire 2012 Republican convention and platform.

This denial of reality continues apace. One can only hope that the subject somehow raises its ugly head during the debates.

the big issue

The more I think about it, the main thing that bothers me about America-- that takes away from its first-world status-- is our utter inability to undertake meaningful action on climate change.  We have one major political party that is in complete wilfull denial on the subject, and the other is too cowed to even bring it up.  People may talk about 'clean energy,' but they never say why we need clean energy-- to bring down greenhouse-gas emissions.  It's shameful that this subject isn't even being discussed during this election season.

The two main people-- nonscientists-- that I look to on this subject are Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein.  I think I posted a link to McKibben's most recent article in Rolling Stone.  Klein's cover article in The Nation, "Capitalism vs. the Climate," http://www.thenation.com/article/164497/capitalism-vs-climate is quite insightful, and I understand she's working on a book on the subject.

climate change

For your perusal, Bill McKibben's recent article in Rolling Stone on the culpability of the fossil-fuel industry for the paralysis of serious action on climate change:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719

Quoting Naomi Klein:  " . . . [W]ith the fossil-fuel industry, wrecking the planet is their business model.  It's what they do."

The only country I can think of that has anywhere near this kind of organized opposition to action on climate change  is Australia.  But there, it's in large measure because the Australian government is actually doing something about it!  They've actually instituted a carbon tax (and refund), which is making the coal producers extremely miffed.

In this country, on the other hand, we have one of two major political parties who are simply in complete denial of the science on the subject.  (But then, they're in complete denial of the science on evolution as well.)

How to change this state of affairs is a conundrum.  But McKibben thinks that identifying an enemy-- the fossil-fuel industry-- could be a powerful catalyst.  He likens their denial and  obfuscation to that of the tobacco industry back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  And he also suggests that a disinvestment campaign, a la the one waged against apartheid South Africa in the 80s and 90s would be an effective weapon:

the enemies of first-world america

These are the enemies of first-world America:

.Evangelical Nutcakes
.The Evil Rich and the Evil Poor
.The Showbiz Dumbers-Down

I'll discuss these at greater length later.