Is it possible for a global warming skeptic to be a champion of the environment?
By koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
Canada
June 21, 2016 1:23pm CST
I have a number of good friends who are very vocally contrary when it comes to the subject of global warming or the rephrased version climate change. They will dispute the science and the statistics very loudly. Here's the rub though. Every single one of these people does their level best not to pollute and makes choices that reduce their personal carbon footprint whenever possible. One of them is actually building a home out in the country with a goal of minimizing his family's impact on the environment. Can they be skeptics and green at the same time?
Personally I don't have the time to wade through all the science. I am highly skeptical of the politics surrounding global warming. For starters what little respect I had for our politicians has really taken a beating over the years. I also see clear partial solutions that wouldn't cost people a lot of money being ignored. I've also seen in the news consistent examples of the government interfering with people trying to live a sustainable lifestyle.
For the record I'm against pollution whether it causes global warming or not. I have minor asthma. Do you think I want to breathe polluted air? I have no desire to poison myself or anyone else in any way either.
8 people like this
11 responses
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
Feeding us what they want us to hear and our media is in full cooperation.
3 people like this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
@JudyEv I think in general Canadian media is a great deal better than our poor friends south of the border. I can only stomach so much American news programming. On the other hand in New Brunswick our media is a de facto monopoly. The same people who run almost all of the province's large businesses own all the newspapers of any consequence. It is one family and they have every politician in the province in their back pocket.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342179)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun 16
@koopharper I think the media are worse than the politicians sometimes. They just get hold of something and write about it until it becomes true.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
22 Jun 16
think we have already gone too far - we might slow down the warming by being greener but it is happening
3 people like this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
We're doing what we can but our impact individually is very limited. While the government makes a big show of being green. At my level I think they are doing more harm than good.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
@coffeebreakwhatever I agree they won't really do a thing. I just know that by the time they finish with it, I'll have less money and less say in how I lead my life.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
@coffeebreakwhatever I'm clearing out a lot of brush and am expecting them to eventually come and have a long talk about what I'm doing back here. Fortunately I have the full support of the local community. I just want to make agricultural use of it for my own family.
@springs (923)
• India
22 Jun 16
Global warming is a major issue, but it was kept aside for years. We would have changed it with few measures but that is not possible now. We have to change our complete lifestyle go keep the earth safe. Most people wants the filthy money and they are polluting the world.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
I think it's being used to distract from a lot of other important issues. I think it's being used as a catch all argument of convenience. You wouldn't believe all the ridiculous things that are being blamed at least in part on global warming.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
9 Mar 17
When it comes to media hype and business opportunities, nothing is more popular than the topic about climate change. Even beauty contests has jumped on the bandwagon vying for Miss Earth, who cannot even distinguish earth from sand, or planting a tree or two just for publicity, that includes politicians too. However, every time I throw something away, I always make it sure it does not end up in the sea because I am an avid seafood eater, raw or cooked. I also love the outdoors, going directly to the back of the house from the office to rest my eyes on the greenfields and getting a chance to breath non-recycled air.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
12 Mar 17
It has become big business. Glad you enjoy the natural world enough to try to take care of it.
@Wordly1 (470)
• Kingston, New Hampshire
22 Jun 16
Climate change is real. It's a fact of life. Has been since the creation of the Universe and there is nothing we can do about it. But pollution is indeed 'man made' and it does affect us negatively, whether it's the air we breathe, the water we drink or the environment in which we live. We don't need the government legislating every aspect of our lives. All we need is to clean-up after ourselves.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
We definitely don't need them running our lives. I like the fact that we are generally left alone where we live. I know my agricultural efforts are going to warrant an eventual visit from the authorities but hopefully they're only interested in whether I'm growing pot or not.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
23 Jun 16
I applaud your friends for lessening their foot print. We sure have less snow and warmer winters than in my childhood. the glaciers we go see in the National Parks are certainly a LOT smaller than when I saw them 50 years ago. I don't really need science to make me want to think about climate change.
Too bad the government has obstacles to people living sustainable life styles.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
23 Jun 16
It is too bad that government seems to be working against people trying to live a sustainable life style. The thing that bothers me the most about it is that it is getting worse. Suspiciously they seem to always favour big business.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220299)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Dec 16
The short answer to your question is "yes." At least I think so. Most people who claim to be global warming skeptics OR supporters don't understand the science and are just basing their opinions on those of their favorite talking heads de jour.
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
21 Jun 16
Nobody likes it. But, unfortunately everybody is subject to face it unknowingly. This is totally weird.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26779)
• Singapore
22 Jun 16
It resonates in a way with whether an atheist can be morally upright!
I also do not have convincing answers either way, but I feel we are responsible to live sensibly - treat others like we want to be treated and they include those that impact us starting from the very basic - nature.
If we are kind to nature we beget its kindness manifold - siva
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jun 16
I would consider myself to be like your friends. I don't believe in global warming and climate change is a natural thing in nature happening since the planet was created. But I try not to pollute the environment and waste energy and resources and recycle.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
21 Jun 16
I think your position makes sense. We may not be able to do anything about global warming/climate change but we can stop polluting, wasting energy and resources and we can recycle.
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 Jun 16
I'm very sorry that we are poisoning our environment. I do what I can, but that isn't nearly enough. Our forests are dying and our oceans are polluted. We should have programs in place to try to reverse the damage. Our children and their children will suffer.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
22 Jun 16
We should be trying to repair the damage. The garbage patch in the northern Pacific comes immediately to mind.
