Eco Alert

Given recent events, from catastrophic hurricanes of monstrous proportions to destructive tornados, implacable wildfires and an earthquake in Mexico City that was almost off the Richter scale — the question that stands is no longer whether climate change is real, but is Armageddon upon us? Is it something in the water? In the air? In outer space? Are Martians toying with our ecosystems?! I know it involves some kind of “path” just not the “right path.” I’d much prefer to blame it on extraterrestrial activity than on humanity.
In 2008, there was an alleged UFO crash in Needles, California, causing the military to beef up its presence in the area as the number of UFO sightings steadily began increasing. There you have it, the proof is in the “dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO organic” pudding. Oh that’s another thing, we take such care to eat healthy and yet treat our planet in the most cavalier and careless way. Now back to Martians.
Picture this, the scene out of Tim Burton’s 1996 movie Mars Attacks! The aliens land on Earth proclaiming they come in peace and then set everything ablaze. Scorching down whatever they come in contact with. Far-fetched? Maybe not. I certainly didn’t imagine what’s unfolding now ever taking place. Besides, let’s look at the facts. In 1996, for instance, a team of NASA scientists at the Johnson Space Center, in conjunction with Stanford University, conducted a report that concluded there was evidence that strongly suggests life may have existed on Mars. At this point in the juncture, we’re in a pretty pickle and anything’s possible.
If we look to theology for answers, the world’s major religions have very precise viewpoints on the subject. For Christianity, the Book Of Revelation describes a last battle on Earth between good and evil; it tells of famine, earthquakes and war. For Judaism, the Old Testament refers to a prophet by the name of Amos that speaks to the people about the Day Of The Lord; an event characterized by calamity, natural disaster, and war. Islam depicts the end of the world as The Hour. The occurrence involves Jesus returning to Damascus to destroy an antichrist who has thrust the planet into devastation. Hinduism offers up its version with the deity Vishnu riding a white horse with sword in hand, descending to Earth to valiantly battle the wicked.
All of the previous mentioned topics could very well be playing some part, even if a minuscule one, in regards to what is transpiring in the world, but it’s important to return to science and facts. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the world’s coral reefs are in the process of a global mass die off. The reefs are what provide a barrier to coasts, protecting them from waves, storms and floods. Before the end of the century, the sea level is expected to rise 6 feet. At the pace we’re going with climate change, 25% to 35% of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction. What’s more, The National Academies Of Sciences Engineering Medicine assures us with certainty that climate change is a reality, and that the U.S. is the 2nd largest contributor of CO2 to the planet’s atmosphere, although we are home to only 4.4% of the world’s population. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per capita in the U.S. is 16.4 metric tons.
Award-winning Actor & United Nations Messenger Of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio’s speech on climate change delivered to the UN in 2014 stated it very clearly. He stressed that accelerated climate change is happening now. “Droughts are intensifying, and our oceans are acidifying” he declared. “We are seeing extreme weather events, the west Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting decades ahead of scientific projections, none of this is rhetoric, or hysteria. It is fact.”
We can’t point fingers anymore, or put it off another decade, not another week or even another day. We need to take large-scale action. We need to mobilize. We are slowly, and with determination, asphyxiating our plant. It’s the only one we have. Turn on the news. The evidence is there, images of devastation are everywhere. It’s as if nature is fighting back after all the years of abuse. We are so focused on the economy, our IG accounts and parading our might, we’ve lost track of what is most vital. Our economy and life as we know it will forever change if our ecosystems collapse. And that’s not a world any of us wants to live in.