APRIL WRITING CHALLENGE
The Truth About Climate Change: It Scares Me
Will humankind grow beyond the need to continue killing this planet?
In the back of my head, I’ve always known climate change was real. I didn’t know how real it was until I watched “Chasing Coral.” Between 2014 and 2017, scientists witnessed a massive coral bleaching event brought on by higher temperatures.
Coral reefs provide 25 percent of the food fish need to survive in the ocean. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, are essential to indigenous people, and provide recreational opportunities.
“They are also a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling on and near reefs add hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses. The net economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated to be nearly tens of billions of U.S. dollars per year.”
In 2022, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, fires in North America burned 7,534,403 acres. California once had a fire season lasting a few months. Fires burn so often now that it’s no longer considered a season.
Reuters reports the world could breach a new average temperature record in 2023 or 2024, fueled by climate change and the anticipated return of the El Nino weather pattern.
Florida has experienced once-in-a-lifetime flooding, while parts of California are also underwater.
Meanwhile, House Republicans, led by Speaker Kevin “Charlie” McCarthy, have proposed legislation that would roll back federal spending passed since 2021, including $370 billion to address climate change.
McCarthy claims the bill would “end the green giveaways to companies that distort the market and waste taxpayers’ money.”
Instead, Republicans would rather see more money go toward hiking fossil fuel efforts by loosening permitting requirements for pipelines and refineries and would repeal a fee for leakage of methane — a potent planet-warming gas — in oil and gas infrastructure.
What the fuck is it about global warming Republicans don’t understand? Oh, wait — campaign cash. How silly of me to ask.
Democrats, while doing their fair share of hand-wringing, haven’t exactly been helpful. Granted, from one administration to the next, or as majorities change in Congress, previous legislation or executive orders are often revoked or overturned. But that doesn’t mean Democrats have to roll over, which they inevitably do. They need to learn the game of hardball. You only have to look at the make up of the Supreme Court has changed over the last few years for some examples.
I wasn’t planning on writing just yet, but when I read Keeley’s latest challenge, I had to open my pie hole and speak up.
Adrienne Beaumont, Keeley Schroder, Randy Pulley, Dixie Dodd, Nevena Pascaleva, The Sturg, Autistic Widower ("AJ"), Brett Jenae Tomlin, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Harry Hogg, Tom Owens: How I REALLY Feel!, Terrance Mac Earlyn O'Domhnaill, Karen Schwartz, Karen Hoffman, NancyO, Julia A. Keirns, Marlana, MSW, Paula Shablo, Pluto Wolnosci, Susie Winfield, Misty Rae, Ruby Noir, Brandon Ellrich, Ray Day, Michael Rhodes
If you’ve read this far, thank you for stopping by.
More stories from Bruce Coulter.
