Global warming. Can we afford not to listen?

I have been wondering why it takes a catastrophe to get people’s attention, are we so short sighted in see the benefits of listening to people who know what they are talking about when it comes to global warming and use common sense to avoid the people who try to discredit them. By now we all know about the Haiti earthquake, when they were warned about the impending quake they did not listen, then thousands of people died because of someone’s arrogance and greed, thousands of lives could have been spared so why did no one really listen? Could they really afford not to listen?

Can we afford not to listen, I have noticed over the past seven years that the weather in my country – South Africa – has changed substantially; the summer’s are hotter from an average of 28°C to 31°C and 31°C being a heat wave at that time; to 29°C to 37°C and 40°C being a heat wave. The winters are also colder and this past 2009 it actually snowed the one night in Johannesburg which does not happen in this country, the last time it snowed was in the eighties. The weather is changing and you cannot tell me honestly that no one has noticed – snow storms that the United Kingdom has never had, heat waves in Australasia and rain in winter – so I pose my question once again, can we really afford not to listen?

Greed is the downfall of all, because of the greed for money and power – both of which cannot get another planet – we will all be suffering and most importantly our children will have to sit and try sort out our bad decisions, why do we not listen? I do not want to wait till it is too late like the Haiti people then site with something that could have been avoided had we listened. If you had a look at the climate talks in Copenhagen everyone was concerned with the money of sorting out the environment; now do not get me wrong, I understand that it takes money to restructure but it is “everyone’s” responsibility because we all did this together; yes one more than the other but I feel why are we squabbling about petty cash when no amount of cash can buy another planet. Why do we not start placing a type of tax on salaries and wages that is solely used for the improvement of the planet and make the governments pay for the poor?

In the long run our children are the ones who will be suffering, I personally would not like my child to suffer in any way and if I could I would totally avoid any suffering for them. We all need to start doing our bit even if it is recycling, keeping an area or park clean, reusing grey water on our plants something that assist the planet. I know that some may ask, “but I am doing my bit, but my neighbour is not so why should I?”  or “It is expensive, I cannot afford it.” The answer is that, you are the only person who is in control of you; you are the one that will be teaching your children better values, the one that will be making a difference in their lives; in the long run you can speak to your neighbour but overall they will need to make their own decision. And as for affordability, making a plant to have the funds to go greener can only be beneficial money and living wise– see it as an investment into your children’s future.

 I do not have all the answers all I am merely saying that no amount of money, oil and power can buy a new planet, this is it we either change our ways now or we are ultimately sentencing our children and their children’s children to death. We only have one planet so can we really afford not to listen? Thank you for reading this article.

published 1 month ago

Elouise

375 points