My first great-great-grandson was born just one year ago. His family had a birthday party for him. My oldest son submitted a paper for review to a climate committee studying both short term and long term affects to humans on the planet. Brennan, so young, will be impacted by global climate changes and we can only speculate if he will be harmed; if he will have his life shortened and what his economic future will be for him. Lots of questions, but no ready answers. Everyone of us should be concerned for the future and tiny Brennan has not the predictability that I had and most all of us had for our futures.
In my own lifetime weather events were pretty consistent. Oh, we had snow storms and once in a while a weather event that would close the schools. Once in a while we had summers that were warm, but they too were not an issue. The issues with climate change have already made a difference in the world. Parts of the African continent are already feeling the affects of severe drought; monsoon rains that seem only to go on and on. Weather events in this country have crossed over from normal events to catastrophic events.
I personally drive a hybrid car. I fill up at Sam's next to a Ford F-250. My great-great-grandson may not have what is a beautiful country to see, feel and have a future predicated on the wisdom and leadership of governmental leadership. The present administration is putting people in place to begin undoing efforts to mitigate climate change. One inspired message received by the leadership .. bring back coal.. wonderful coal... put coal miners back to work. The affects, medical and environmental are known. Coal burning kills. If you have not seen pictures of Beijing, China please do. Headlights on in the day time. Can't see. Pollution.
Our elected leadership in Congress and the Senate and many of their congressional friends turn away from discussion about climate and instead embrace with palms up accepting campaign money from the likes of the Koch Brothers; from the giants of Exxon, Duke Energy, etc. The brilliant and predictor of gloom, Steven Hawkins, has said in a few hundred years the earth we call home will not be habitable. See if we can to think only of what is here and now to what could be. Our precious planet may be in need of love.
Robert Brooks