I posted these words on Facebook earlier today. I encourage anyone not interested in climate change to stop reading and continue about your day . . . for as many days as you have left. (Yes, that’s a joke.)
Cool. If you are still reading, thanks. I especially want to thank my international blog followers. Though you don’t live in the United States, this issue effects us all. Furthermore, I’m sorry for the disruption we’ve caused the entire world.
I decided to publish this message on my blog because (frankly) I have a much bigger audience than on Facebook. I don’t spend very much time on Facebook but have been posting a few articles the past few days. I’m trying to share articles of a more uplifting nature than some of the other postings I’ve seen.
I made it clear back in November that I did not vote for Trump, but this is not about the election or HRC. This is about where we are today and where I hope we are headed.
I know everyone is either sick of posts about the new administration or they’re frightened because of changes in the making, whether short or long-term. I am not here to attack your right to your opinion or your choice. I am here because science is the equalizer.
Science may not sound exciting or sexy or even interesting. You wake up, take a shower, eat your breakfast, get in your car and drive somewhere – to work, to school, to a shop. You don’t care where the electricity comes from to run your alarm clock. You don’t care where the water comes from to wash away the sleep. You don’t care where your food comes from beyond the nearest grocery store. You don’t care where your car was built or even how it works as long as it gets you to where you need to go.
Maybe you do. I don’t know. I know I care about these things to a certain extent – mostly when it’s convenient to think about them. Still, I believe I think about it and do more than most of the people around me (strictly through observations). I recycle. Recycle. Recycle. I try my hardest not to waste water, fuel and electricity. I care about my carbon footprint because it will probably be the only thing left of me after I’m long gone.
It’s easy to live in the now. What difference will your choices make in the future if you can’t put food on the table this week? I look to the “survival rules of 3” for the answer:
- You can survive 3 minutes without oxygen
- You can survive 3 hours without shelter in harsh conditions
- You can survive 3 days without water
- You can survive 3 weeks without food
There are no alternative methods of survival. Whether unclean air makes it impossible to breath or there is no safe shelter or water is plentiful but not clean enough to drink or food shortages turn populations into warrior tribes, it only takes one of those to lead to real carnage.
I’m certainly not trying to be overly dramatic, or maybe I am. I think we’ve all become desensitized to what’s happening to our planet. We’ve certainly become desensitized to what’s acceptable behavior toward one another. If our so-called leaders (and I mean all of them) can’t treat each other decently, perhaps “We the People” need to show them the way. But that’s a whole ‘nother post.
It may or may not be too late to reverse the damage done to our planet (I’m no climate science expert), but hopefully it’s not too late to stop the carnage in its tracks. It may be the measures currently being taken are not enough, but that absolutely does not mean we should not try. A small change made by everyone in our daily lives can only help.
Well, I probably lost half of you half way through this mini-lecture, so let me leave you with this. Please simply think about it. Changing our priorities is never easy. But I believe in this great nation and that we will continue to be a leader in many ways, especially in the fight against the erosion of our environment.
Thanks for reading. You can learn more about global warming and its impact on the planet and our lives below:
Candida's Musings 
Thanks for bringing this video to my attention. I was a biology major in college and that was my big picture, Population control which is also a huge factor in Climate change. It breaks my heart to see my formerly progressive country try and kill Planned Parenthood and Family Planning which was their big claim to fame years ago. The hard right has made a good program into a pariah when it is not. Things like birth control and other things. Women’s issues are Human Issues as they Women’s March pointed out. Love your blog Candida….
Thanks, Ellen. Indeed. There are many sad things happening right now, I think all for the wrong reasons. Have heart.
Hi. I loved your post and read it through a few times. I’m with you on all fronts. I’m not an American. I live north of the border in Canada and in fact in Alberta which gets a lot of bad press from US and other countries coming to assess how horrible we are when it comes to climate change and in particular the oil and gas industry. It’s tough to reconcile that my kids and grandkids rely so heavily on an industry that is badly portrayed by media. I don’t know what the ‘right’ answer is. I suppprt the industry and at the same time abhor the supposed damage to our planet. I personally do care very much and try my best as one human to do what I can every dat to mitigate my personal footprint. Sometimes that feels like a waste of time. But I truly believe that every little bit matters. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Thanks for allowing me to express mine.
Thank, Lisa. This is a very tough subject. We are used to living a certain way but it won’t always be *this* way. But because we are – let’s just say it – a selfish society, we are making things harder for future generations. It would be so great if we could make a real transition using more sustainable fuel sources. Alas, here are we fighting the same fight taking two steps back and one step forward.
Thank you so much for your words.I wish more people would take climate change seriously !
Absolutely! But I believe more and more people are waking up to the dangerous decisions being made in Washington. Be sure to speak up, too!
I could not agree with you more! What is happening is frightful and it makes me crazy that people are denying the scientific proof of it. I find it abominable that this new administration is doing more that will hurt the earth with the fracking, the oil movement across out lands, etc. For gosh sakes look at Flynt, Michigan. They won’t even fix the problem there and that will keep happening more and more. We should value the earth an treat it like the gift it is. Thank you for expressing so well that I can’t.
Thank you, LCPrincess, for your support. Be sure to keep spreading the word! Make people listen!
I agree 100%. You go, Girl!
Thank you, Kathryn. Let your voice be heard, too!
One of my late husband’s proudest accomplishments was having been part of a team that created the EPA, as a Democrat working in the Nixon White House, no less. I’m reminded that John Connelly of Texas was a supporter of that creation, – helped get it passed. I see little chance of such bi-partisan possibility these days, and mourn the conditions under which so many agencies are being stifled. Hope for this earth, for coming generations must ride with voices of respectful protest… I’m grateful to you post. Thank you.
Thank you, Laurene, for sharing. I firmly believe the misguided, wanton, unbelievable measures being introduced have woken up most Americans. This is a good thing. More people than ever care what is happening. A sleeping giant has awoken.
Thank you !
Sent from my iPhone Cindy Modlin Adams ;•)
>
You all are making me paranoid. 😂 Who is Beth?
Haven’t lost me either Beth – with you all the way. Has always been something that is important to me. People take what they have for granted here in the U.S. My husband and have traveled some the past 5 years since he retired, and it’s amazing to see how other people are living. Some conditions are quite harsh. So keep on, keeping on my dear. Barb
You haven’t lost me, Beth. Keep advocating. You are good at it.
Not sure who Beth is, but “I” will keep advocating!
Sorry! I typed too fast.
I’m from the Land down-under and there is so much high level denial here. God forbid that we should leave that coal in the ground. Nobody seems to want to do much about it I think. So many people don’t believe it. After all our country has always been hot. I think I saw that we had one of the hottest years on record last year. Keep up your good work.
Thanks, Judy! I spent three months in and around Alice Springs, 2 weeks in Sydney. Love Australia. Can’t wait to go back.
I couldn’t have said it any better, thank you for caring and having the good sense to say so. I enjoy your blog, I commend your dedication and I especially applaud you for having the guts to speak your mind. Thank you
Thanks, Busygranny. I hope others join the fight.
Thank you so much for this site. We try to reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, redo, renew, etc – – small steps but they can make big differences if we all do our part! I will pass this on.
Thanks so much, Terry! I appreciate that.
Thank you, Candida. I admire your way with words and the passion behind them. I look forward to more of them. I’m behind you, 100%.
Thanks for your support, Karen. These are certainly trying times. I am trying very hard not to spread divisiveness and cause others not to read what I have to say because I don’t support or agree with “their” beliefs and/or choices.
You say that you don’t want this to be political, but it is because one group of politicians is denying climate change or that it is caused by man. This same group is stopping all progress on research of Climate Change. We are now going to increase oil production, fracking and coal mining. No progressive ideas for alternative energy.
The man in charge is saying it is a hoax and to stop dwelling on it. He has cut off all communications from the departments that are charged with keeping the public informed.
Maybe people in the USA don’t think Climate Change affects them. Perhaps they have not noticed extreme climate events in the USA. Stronger storms, tornadoes happening out of season, drought followed by flooding and the sea water level rising. Perhaps they think that the rest of the world (Paris Accord) is delusional.
Here is a fact. The sea level is rising to such an extent, it is causing drinking water problems around the area of Miami. The land was higher than the sea level, so water flowed west to east or from the land out to the sea. The water flow has reversed. Water is flowing east to west, affecting our water table for drinking and consumption. Billion dollar project underway to try and put a fix to this problem, but it is happening faster than it can be fixed. The problem has moved north to the area of Deerfield beach. This means safe drinking water will soon not be available in these areas.
EPA and other scientific departments have been muzzled and not allowed to communicate with public or press.
We are well past the stage “small change made by everyone”. It is time for people to communicate with their representatives. This is more important that corporate profit. and campaign donations. Now is not the time to be apathetic.
Thanks for your message, Nadine. I agree with you, but people are so angry right now – no one wants to listen to what the other side has to say, especially if the message is delivered in a hyper-critical way. I feel your anger and confusion and am trying very hard to stay level and positive. I can do what I can do and I hope others will join in.
Climate change is paramount on my mind these days and what’s happening at the EPA is absolutely terrifying. I have nothing but admiration for the staffers who must find a way through these impediments to try and do their jobs, if they’re even allowed. This crucial problem isn’t getting the attention it deserves among all the detritus this administration is spewing, and I truly appreciate your efforts to keep it in the public eye.
Thanks, Janice. I agree. I think there’s a lot of deflecting going on. We were divisive before. Now it seems a strategy to keep everyone distracted with our attention divided on different issues. This will remain my main focus because the damage is irreversible.
‘From an EPA staffer:
“So I work at the EPA and yeah it’s as bad as you are hearing:
The entire agency is under lockdown, the website, facebook, twitter, you name it is static and can’t be updated. All reports, findings, permits and studies are frozen and not to be released. No presentations or meetings with outside groups are to be scheduled.
Any Press contacting us are to be directed to the Press Office which is also silenced and will give no response.
All grants and contracts are frozen from the contractors working on Superfund sites to grad school students working on their thesis.
We are still doing our work, writing reports, doing cancer modeling for pesticides hoping that this is temporary and we will be able to serve the public soon. But many of us are worried about an ideologically-fueled purging and if you use any federal data I advise you gather what you can now.
We have been told the website is being reworked to reflect the new administration’s policy.
Feel free to copy and paste, you all pay for the government and you should know what’s going on. I am posting this as a fellow citizen and not in any sort of official capacity.” ‘