Joe Woody's Inner Monologue

A few weeks ago, I got into an Internet-version of a shouting match.  I commented on a YouTube video, many people commented back, I responded, they responded… and this went on for pretty much the entire day.  The argument dealt with global warming and other environmental issues.  If you know me, you know where I fall on the side of the argument: Anything we can do to help the planet is a good thing.  We’ve literally and figuratively destroyed so much so I think it is time to change the future of our country and humanity as a whole.

The people whom I was arguing denied that global warming either existed and/or is man-made.  They think the entire “green” movement is a scam to make money (yes, right, as opposed to the poor oil companies that have existed nearly entirely without regulation in order to maximize profits, it’s a small start-up solar energy company that is greedy).   They even think that compact florescent light bulbs are harmful (a quick Google search debunks this in literally seconds).  I always knew people of this opinion were around, but this was my first true face-to-face (well, not literally) confrontation with them.

At first, it just pissed me off.  With the hundreds and thousands of independent studies and, in some cases, concrete factual data, how is it possible that anyone could deny global warming exists?  They all spouted the same “climate-gate” scandal over and over.  I argued that while some shady business did seem to occur, it cannot negate all that we now know about these environmental issues.

When I finally took a step back, I calmed down a bit and thought, Do these people have a point?  Is it valid to just say that climate change doesn’t exist by just saying (or wishing) that it doesn’t?  If there is record snowfall in Washington DC, how could it possibly be warming?  These people kept stressing using common sense to me over and over.

My common sense, however, leads somewhere entirely different from theirs.  It’s simple. My common sense tells me that humanity has grown in unprecedented ways in the past century or two.  There are more people on this Earth then at any point during human history.  Each person uses a certain amount of energy/oil and produces a certain amount of garbage.  Thus, due to the large number of people on Earth (or if you just want to think of the USA, the argument still holds), we are using the most energy and oil and producing the most amount of garbage in human history.

The question this leads to: Can the Earth handle this immense use?  To take one small, tiny example: The more people there are, the more housing we need for them.  That means wood for building which leads to increased deforestation.  That means the oil used in shipping the building parts (not to mention the oil used during transportation).  That means the energy used to light and heat the house.  And that is before people even move into the house.

My common sense tells me that no, eventually the Earth won’t be able to handle it.  Natural resources will dry up.  There won’t be any more forests to cut down.  There won’t be any more fish in the sea (we are already getting near that point for many bodies of water).  And what happens when we run out of oil?  Our entire economy and thus our entire life is based around the use of oil.  Look around your house: oil was used in the creation and in the transportation of every single good in your house.  Every piece of clothing you own.  Every piece of food that you have in your fridge and pantry.  (I challenge you to find one item in your house that you can track from pure creation to your house.  I have tried to find something and failed many times and I buy as organic and local as possible.)

My common sense tells me that if I can do anything to lessen my tax on this Earth then that is a good thing.  Using less energy.  Buying vintage instead of new.  Walking instead of driving.  That doesn’t mean you have to live off the grid, because common sense tells me that I still want to live my life: I still want my MacBook Pro, my iPhone, my Xbox 360, my Netflix, my Trader Joe’s hummus… I don’t want to give any of that up.

My common sense tells me that arguing with people about climate change is futile.  If you want to deny it, fine.  You are wrong, but fine.  However, common sense should tell you that if you are alone in your home, you don’t need every single light on in the house.  Plus, you’ll save money.  Which is probably/unfortunately what it’s all about anyway.