Bill Riddell

Screw the Planet, Save the Humans

Today is Earth Day and it seems to me like people have blown this whole global warming caper right out of proportion.

In fact I think it is a load of rubbish. Feels good to admit it at last.

Don’t get me wrong though, the climate is changing.

It does everyday, week, month, year, 4 year cycle, decade, century … I think you get the point.

Climate Change? Oh My God!

We have different seasons each year (say them with me kids – summer, autumn, winter, spring). We also have different climates around the world (from tropical rainforests to harsh deserts and even our icy cold north and south poles) – thats change.

More importantly over the course of history (not just the last handful of decades where ’scientists’ have ‘accurately’ measured a few things) there have been ice ages and there have been heat ages (or something like that) and many things in between.

Climates come and go. With each climate some species thrive and some species dwindle, more importantly some evolve drastically and others become extinct.

And this is where the current climate change/save the planet crusade comes in.

What are we really saving?

It should be blindinglly obvious that we are trying to save the human race.

But I guess that isn’t a very easy idea to sell, it sounds selfish and is not a very sexy. So instead we talk about saving the earth and the polar bears – they are sexy.

We should fear that if climate trends keep going in the current direction, perhaps in a few centuries, the earth will start to become a more hostile place for human beings. Eventually we may face major population decline and extinction.

Maybe. Or things might start sliding back towards the more human friendly side of the spectrum.

Many other species will face the same possible demise as us humans, but there will also be a lot that will buck the trend, surviving and thriving. New species will also emerge. Go read up on some guy call Darwin.

What do you mean?

We are just desperately trying to keep the planet as the prime environment to give life to humans.

Sure we probably have contributed to climate change. However the wheel of change was already turning, it’s the nature of the universe, we just gave it a little lubrication.

People are talking about the collapse of ice shelfs as if it’s the end of the world. I can’t help but think they must have skipped those lessons in geography about all the countries, islands and continents once being one giant land mass. It was changing long before we got gas guzzling cars, lightbulbs and aerosol cans.

The planet is not what people are trying to save, instead it’s the human species.

Unconventional Ways to Save Yourself From the Apocalypse

If you want to save yourself and fellow humans here are few methods you might care to try.

Forget buying that Prius, keep your old car, drive it less. When you do drive make sure its tyres are inflated correctly, keep the aircon off, windows up. This will all save fuel and emissions. By not buying a new car you will avoid your old one landing on a scrap heap and save more resources from being ripped from the ground to build another car – I could go on and on about this.

Plant trees. Aside from filtering all the nasty carbon monoxied we spew forth into the atomosphere they are also very cool and look great.

When you switch off your lights for Earth Day or whatever global day of propaganda you chose to observe, don’t light your candles, that’s pollution too. Instead go to bed, shut-up and feel smug that your really making a difference.

Just do less – cut back on talking, skip your workout and try a quite bar instead of that rave or nightclub. The more energy you use the more food you will need to consume. Food comes from animals and plants (or at least it is meant to). Animals are the biggest polluters on earth, if we all halved the amount of beef we eat less cattle would be bred to meet that demand and pollution from their gas would massively reduce pollution. Also sadly most of those fruits and veggies are sprayed with chemicals and covered in fertilisers from animals or minerals ripped out of the ground – not great for the environment either.

Also buy less stuff. Dont rush out to replace that old TV. Just watch less and put up with it until it dies – then if you really have to replaces it with a fancy digital one. Sure those new lightbulbs are great, reduce your powerbill and emmisions, but dont replace your old light bulbs until they reach the end of their life.

Use less. Dont spend as long in the shower. During the day open the curtains rather than turn on a light, better yet go outside in the shade when possible.

If you chose not have kids that would be superb as well – less consumers means less pollutions.

I do think we should do our part to make the world a better place for humans and all creatures, polar bears are awesome. Also our earth is an incredible thing, celebrate it rather than creating this mass hysteria. Do your bit to lesson your impact for the people you love, future generations and the polar bears. The earth will outlive all of us – it is an amazing thing.

Extra Reading & Writing

This post was inspired by the always inspiring Tynan and his Thoughts on Saving The Earth.

Also Hubert Den Draak’s post The Big Misunderstanding: Why We Don-t Need to Save the Planet on Green by Design.

It was not inspired by Al Gore and Michael Moore.

I’d appreciate it if you shared your thoughts on this whole situation and what steps you are taking to help save yourself, those you love and the polar bears?