There is No Place Like Planet Earth

If you've visited us for some time,

then you will have undoubtedly noticed that I avoid the news, politics, religion

and all subjects that divide us.

That division saddens me.

I have my opinions, and my family will tell you that my opinions are strong ones.

Still... this place is not the platform for those topics.

It is my mission to bring to you a daily escape from those things. 

But, we are friends;

and because we are friends, I must share something that has burdened my heart.

This past Friday, while everyone was still basking in the glow of Thanksgiving memories,

or beginning the rush of the coming Christmas season,

the government released its 2018 Climate Assessment.

This is a report that was compiled by 12 federal agencies and hundreds of scientists,

and it serves us a grim warning.

I urge you to look at it... even if you only read the summary...

or read the section that pertains to the area in which you live.

You can find it HERE.

Life as we know it is changing, and is going to continue to change...

radically.

In my opinion, this is the most news-worthy story of our time,

and yet... so much other news supersedes it.

My fear is it will go un-noticed.

My heart is heavy, not because I am afraid for my own future.

But... because I have three "littles" that mean everything to me.

I want to assure that they are left with a world that is inhabitable.

I want them to have a life filled with opportunity and joy, as mine has been.

And though we have only tracked weather patterns over the past 100 years,

scientists have obtained an accurate history of our earth's climate

by drilling bore holes in the polar ice caps and studying the layers

laid there over millions of years.

The most recent previous period of significant global warming 

happened about 56 million years ago,

when volcanic activity caused a release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The resulting increase of 9 to 16 degrees F. in average global temperatures 

caused a mass extinction of plant, animal and sea life.

In comparison, we are releasing at least 1000 times the amount of carbon dioxide

(35.6 billion tons per year), 

than did the volcanoes.

We are predicted to see an increase of up to 11 degrees F. by late century.

One important point is this:

Weather is not Climate,

but climate affects weather.

I have seen a change in my own lifetime.

Living in the Northeast, where historically we had four separate seasons of the year,

it's been evident in the past number of years 

that we are moving in the direction of only having two seasons.

This past year was a good example.

Summer slid into winter... with one brief week of autumn.

No matter what our "beliefs" are,

it is important that we believe what science tells us.

Science is not a philosophical realm, it is the realm of hard, concrete evidence.

Every advancement in technology and health has been made possible by science.

Do you have a cell phone?  Science.

The internet?  Science.

A reliable automobile?  Science.

Medicine?  Science.

Scientists are the hard-working, little recognized heroes of humanity,

who humbly let go of their own beliefs in search of truth,

without whom, we would still remain in the Dark Ages.

They have irrefutable evidence to share with us and we need to listen...

for our own sakes,

but, more importantly for the sake of our children and our children's children.

I am asking you, because you are my friend,

to read the Summary Findings (the whole report is 1600 pages long),

and think about what you can do to make a difference.

There are things that each of us can do...

and most importantly, we can implore our local, state, and federal governments 

to take the steps that are needed to make the changes that are critical.

Ninety-eight percent of climate scientists and these scientific organizations 

(over 200 hundred of them, worldwide)

 endorse the position that global climate change is the direct result of human activity.

I need no more evidence than that.

Although I choose to look at life with positivity and avoid the conflict that plagues this world,

this is a subject I cannot overlook.

Only a radical change in human activity can save this planet for our children.

Hubbs always says,  

"If there is even a one percent chance that what we do could harm our grandchildren, 

shouldn't we do every thing we can to avoid that?"

It is my hope that the kind of smiles we enjoy here every day,

are the kind of smiles that our children's children will also be able to enjoy!

Thank you for letting me share my heart with you.