Psychological Filters of Climate Change

by Scotland Willis
Whether you are a believer in climate change or not, the intensity of your belief passes through many filters.  This is one of the many things preventing the kind of progress which advocates for climate change would like to see.
Opponents, on the other hand, lack research infrastructure, attempting to manipulate and falsely extrapolate intensely researched data from climate experts- not advocates.

Researchers from Yale University published a book titled Global Warming's Six Americas.  They examine varying degrees of individual's perception on climate change.  More extreme views for immediate action(which might include shutting down all coal fired power plants,) make up a small percentage of environmental activists.  You could easily put Jim Hansen in this category.  Though a renowned scientist, he is becoming increasingly recognized as an aggressively staunch environmentalist, rather than scientist.  But like many people, Hansen has likely become frustrated with the tree sap pace implementation of legislative, social, and industrial (policies, lifestyle and operations) respectively, and the commitment to reversing human induced climate change.

Opponents of climate change concern's have a line to tow, depending on the degree of opposition.  Even starlet opponents such as Bjorn Lomborg, who lead a study sponsored by Copenhagen Consensus funded by the IMF, to address what the most pressing issues are facing humanity and how to prioritize them; Lomborg noted the environment is not a priority in his comments.  Claims by legitimate scientist counter Lomborg's opinions as fabricated and deliberately distorted.  Lomborg lacks fundamental insights to science and is not qualified to contest the evidence put forth by most climatologist; and as the evidence mounts his opposition continues to wilt.

Because human activity on the Earth is also directly related to conflict on the Earth(environmental, social, economic and otherwise) setting priorities will grow increasingly difficult- but making the right choices is paramount.  In a recent discussion with a friend who had come up with a model for saving polar bears that are dying because of melting ice caps; he asked for my opinion.  I was forced to ask him a series of provocative questions challenging the invention, for which he was not prepared to receive.  As it turned out he neglected to consider a number of ecological unintended consequences.  Opponents often don't support their arguments with hard data because of such oversights.

Heavily disputed IPCC's work happens to have 831 scientists and researchers in the fifth climate report they will generate.  For whatever data they omit from their report, we still have to recognize the strength of the caliber of talent this body is made up of.  If the strongest argument for opponents of climate change is  that data was left out; which it was, there arguments will continue to fall apart.  It is important to understand that government leaders specifically asked that IPCC research include significant data that might present insight to the most challenging environmental issues.  That would imply that some pressing matters may not take priority over others- report back to us on those matters.  Also universities, and other governing authorities as well as the National Academy of Sciences verified that the work was not compromised in terms of ethics or procedure and is in fact valid.

Ultimately individual people will have to amass enough knowledge to influence government to set environmental policies.  Knowledge helps to persuade government of a matters significance.  And because of the force of lobbyist against climate change policies, consumers must be able to consistently present formidable arguments capable of becoming mainstream thinking- but that requires a change.
Our perception of the cost of goods is skewed in the United States, resulting from a long standing feeling of entitlement.  Cheap fuel, merchandise and taxes all make the United States very appealing but we have a lot to learn about the impact of our amenities.  When we learn to adapt to a higher cost of living for the resources we use we will become a nation of advocates and revolution will be a mantra that is not as painful as it is in its current form.

Thomas Friedman author of Flat Hot and Crowded suggests that we are not even on the cusp of an environmental revolution; in a real revolution there are winners and losers.  That means no cheer leaders, society is much more sophisticated than that.  An environmental revolution will set policies that say either you get on board or get in the water and hope for the best.  There is no compromise . The environment is not going to wait and give us a few more years until we get our house in order.  Friedman was right when he said, the dot com revolution created leaders and those who got left behind- you got it or you didn't.  We need an environmental vision that powerful.

There are very specific reasons we are going to experience what I call Climate Strange, because the climate will always change; but the strange occurrences will increase in frequency.  This is a broader topic I will address in the near future.

Each of us needs to get out of our comfort zone and do something to advance a reversal of our carbon footprint.  There an abundance of evidence and numerous experts indicating the urgency of climate change.  If we fail to acknowledge as a nation the matter before us in the environment; and if we don't make it a national priority(which means creating jobs, investing in research and development and positioning the United States to be a leader in the industry of environmental products and innovation)  we will no longer be identified as a leading nation among our global counter parts.

Scotland Willis is an environmental strategist, lecturer and advocate.  He is currently a dual Masters candidate at Tufts in Environmental Engineering and Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning.  He is a management consultant in systems and large scale change and is a columnist/ photographer for environmental issues.

Human Activity ...In Flames

Not far from the Caspian Sea lies the crater the crater 328 feet wide.  It is the result of gas exploration in Turkmenistan during the early 1970's.   Incidence such as this are a stark reminders that can penetrate psychological barriers that block understanding of the need to protect natural environment.  Here we see evidence that indicates the prevalence of poor judgement, detrimental when exploiting the natural environment.

Located Near the village of Derweze in the Karakum Desert, it is an easy reminder that we need more foresight when embarking on new "oppotunities" so that we proceed with the proper amount of caution.  There is a balance to preservation and the impact of human activity that will allow us to avoid leaving disasters such as this in our wake-- Deepwater Horizon is a reminder of that as well. This particular incident, has  been exacting its revenge for nearly 40 years now and continues to burn today.  This incident occurred near a 350 person village of Derweze and the risks associate with that population are no in my perview as of yet.
Location link Derweze (gass flame crater)
video link: Derweze in falmes

Never Before in History

Never before in history have all social components of society been on the verge of collapse. Politics, family, economy, religion, education.  The question we are left with then is what do we do?  Before we decide that it is important to look back in history.  This article simpley acknowledges that we need to address these issues and that we are running out of time.  I can't say that the threshold is but it certainly seems as though we are approaching many of them simultaneously.
Looking at the following list, it is difficult to put them in their correct:  Native Americans were clearly established in North America first, but problems arise with each cultural category where do you place African Americans and Women on a timeline when considering historical impacts and implications?  So this order reflects the experience and when major events occurred in no particular order of significance.  African Americans could have a slave experience and a historical experience based on civil rights.  These nuances would consume too much time and I would lose lots of readers.  So for practical purposes I have just chosen to list them in no particular order.
Native American History American; Explorers- Colonial Period 1772- 1786-; The Revolution 1787- 1820- The New Nation; 1820-1855- Antebellum;  The Civil War Period 1865-1897- Reconstruction and Industrialization  1897-1920 World Stage; The Twenties;  The Depression  World War II; Postwar America 1945-1960; The Sixties and Civil Rights- 1960-1974; ; African American History; America 1975-2010 Women's History.
 If you look back to the Native American period, they had education, agriculture, trade etc.  During North American colonization education, economic growth, religion and family values were prevalent.  Even during the Revolution and Civil War, the family unit was essential; despite the intra-family conflicts that occurred families though fragmented, were bound by the pursuit of freedom, prosperity, and agriculture and beyond.  During the formation of the New Nation people coalesced around the idea of independence from Europe and a sense of determining their own fate-- people in control of their own destiny.  Again during Antebellum people were still heavily dependent on the family unit.  Towns and communities were designed for security and social enhancement.  While more people died in the Civil War than at any other time, in U.S. history, it was also a time of growth from agriculture to war as a stimulus for manufacturing and again families worked to populate those who were sacrificed during the war.  Re construction and industrialization revolutionized the world.  New innovations and some of the greatest minds continued to flow into the U.S.  This was a great period of thinking.  World War I and World War II posed more challenges to the United States but it continued to wield its influence as a new comer to the world state, making a name for itself and creating a real presence as a force to be reckoned with.  African American experience stretches from slavery to Civil Rights and beyond, the same could easily be said for the feminist movement and women's rights. 
 But what lead us up to today where religion is not only disruptive but in deep conflict all around the world.  What is responsible for the world economy collapsing?  Why have our family units been dismantled? Why has faith and trust in politics and government gone by the wayside? And why is the state of education look more like the state of chaos?  One thing I can guarantee you is that I do not have the answer, rather this is a wake up call to everyone.
 No one president, leader, organization or government; religious or academic institution is responsible.  My point here is only that each (politics, family, economy, education, and religion) is on the brink on destruction or collapse a place we have never been before.  We are in need of more than just a change in health care; we are in need of more than educational or banking reform.  Nothing Planned Parenthood or right to lifers can do will change the course we are currently on.  And to top it all off we are destroying the very environment we depend on to sustain human life as we know it.  Don't pray about it, fix it.  We need to do and be something revolutionary that will transform the current conditions we face as a society-- as a human race.  If we do not we will surly perish.
 There is much that has not been captured here but we must begin to look at things differently.
This topic requires a much broader conversation which I embrace; but we have a problem greater than any world leader or president, political party, fundamentalist group.  We need to look upon it that way and fix it not the part of it.  We have our priorities wrong and we are not doing anything to create a holistic change.  We must look at all of these components and begin mapping out a revival plan that is strategic and deliberate.  I am amazed we have not articulated this argument sooner but we need to have the conversation.

...Sky's the Limit

There is no limit to what is possible, an insight into the human mind.  Preserving the environment is no different.  And as long as there is 1% chance I will invest 100% effort.

By far our greatest challenge is preserving the balance between environment and the impact of human activity, rivaling the tragedies occurring in Africa, India as well as other developing nation- humanitarily speaking there is no comparison, but there are many links.  Preserving one can improve the outlook for many.

Fortunately human capacity has the unique ability to adapt and change.  Fraught with compromises, questions and with so many to consider, there is no satisfactory answer for what we face.

World population as of October 1, 2010 6,872,233,191

As I reflect on what my task is at Tufts University I think about the power of the resources at my disposal in Urban Planning and Environmental Engineering.  I reflect on the opportunity as a utility, to apply theory, philosophy, ideology, modeling and structure to produce a transformational strategy to preserve our natural environment-- helping others to understand and improve.  I believe we can learn to help others make immeasurable leaps in faith and progress.  My goal is to produce compelling insights that can move the world-- why not?

Engagement with people from around the world, resembling a United Nations located in a place where  our differences become our indifference-- to barriers.  We to explore the frontier together in order to foster new thinking and energy that makes the planet a more habitable place to live.

Critical thresholds of water resources; debate and dialog on economic influences, health risk factors all leave me capitulating to the evidence that rests before me; knowing that within all of this is not solely idealism that drives my commitment to change, but my unshakable belief in what is possible for humanity to achieve.  People managing scarcity, and transforming it into abundance, implementing strategies around policies and sound planning, collectively represent my drivers.

How much time do we have to achieve all this?

We have exactly enough time... starting right now.

Do something environmental (DSE)

Capital Grille... Glad She's not a Bostonian

Saturday evening I went to the Capital Grille for dinner.  They have great bread and a chowder that is pretty robust as well.  Unfortunately the company that was at the bar was not the caliber I am use to keeping.

A recent graduate from a college somewhere in California(Berkley I think she said) whose behavior indicated that she had a tendency to bloviate ad nauseam, about subjects she had amateurish knowledge about, sat one person over from myself.  Being the social person and after an initial seemingly friendly greeting, I mentioned how I developed a habit of choosing restaurants based on how good the bread is-- and stated that she didn't know what she was missing.

The California girl whom I can't quite consider a lady, challenged me as to whether I actually selected restaurants in the manner I mentioned.  Did she think I was lying?  It is important note that I have been selecting restaurants this way for years and that I catalog them so I don't have to think about them; but she insisted that I recall several restaurants.  I mentioned one in Cambridge.  Unsatisfied she thought she might take a stab at humiliating me- but really making a fool of herself.

She challenged me on whether I had ever been to California; I said I had.  In a immature tone she said where; I replied Yosemite.  Unsatisfied and full of spite( probably remnants from an inadequate childhood up bring); her retort was "Californians do not consider Yosemite a part of California."  Really! I said in amazement.  Now at this point I should have dismissed her all together, but I was far too curious about the extent of her ignorance- and how far it could take her.  Though I might have looked silly responding to her questions but the badgering continued- so I baited her and played the role.

It is virtually impossible to carry on a meaningful conversation with a California girl who has a level of intellect that demonstrates the need for academic reform in order to remain competitive in the free market system; and who holds the belief that Yosemite National Park (one of the most acclaimed national parks in the world, is not a part of California (and meant it in her conviction)- but i did.  And she continued to enervate the conversation- this was going to make for an interesting article.  I could not resist finding out how far this charlatan would allow her self to go.

In the end; she is likely to have very little impact in the world because with that  apoplectic type attitude and statements nothing more than balderdash- people would see right through her. With lesser debate skills than that of Sarah Palin(but similar understanding of key landmarks, possibly publications) she will amount to little more than a widget in anything she sets out to do.

This experience was a solid reminder to myself, why it is so important to spend time with people and in places that are good for the soul.  Funny thing is she probably thinks she really achieved something.  I'll have to thank her for the entertainment.