I keep thinking about the two old surfer dudes who don’t believe sea levels are rising. And the visitor to this island who said he was a Republican so he did not believe in climate change.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes when I read those letters.
First — the visitor. I have a brother who is a Republican who certainly believes in climate change (and mankind has influenced it.) The Climate Solutions Caucus in the House includes 36 Republican members. Not all Republicans automatically believe Fox News.
Second – I grew up in Del Mar, California. I certainly remember how wide the gorgeous beach was. I have old pictures from the ‘50s. The houses did not have barriers to keep the water out during storms. Now they do. I was in the area in late 2015 for a month and I was shocked by the changes … the beach was narrow. Every house had barriers. Google Miami “rising sea levels.” I remember Waikiki having a wonderful, wide beach. No more, even with sand brought in.
I get depressed about how many people are living in an “information bubble.” Not reading or watching anything that their tribe disagrees with. Hopefully they will broaden their horizon and read other articles and reports, not just pay attention to Fox and Breitbart. I watch and read both occasionally.
Corporations, especially extractive industries and the very rich are running the country. I don’t think we are a Democracy anymore (Plutocracy?) For those who do not believe in climate change, hopefully you will read the links and educate yourselves.
Best U.S government site for climate change reports. https://www.globalchange.gov/
Use this site to search for items of interest such as “climate change,” “biodiversity,” “extinction,” “plastic pollution,” “toxics”, etc.: https://www.ecowatch.com/
Watch the documentaries “The Age of Consequences,” “Chasing Coral,” “A Plastic Ocean.”
Check Wikipedia for “oil spills,” “superfund.”
We are poisoning ourselves and sadly, the earth and all species. Mankind is busily trashing the ocean with plastic (ah, made from oil!), and polluting our soil and water.
“Climate change is one of the great dangers we face, and it’s one we can prevent,” Stephen Hawking said in May.
Gail Jackson is a resident of Waikoloa
