"Have a Hot, Dry, Stormy Life, Kid"

[GreenPartyVoter]

Ottawa (Canada) -- My wife and I recently became empty-nesters. Our children moved out, and we began to think of downsizing. But climate change is forcing us to reconsider. My children may need shelter yet.

The thousands of delegates who attended the United Nations conference on climate change in Montreal, which concluded on Dec. 9, reinforced the fact that after some 20 years of debate, the threat of climate change is indisputable and pervasive.

To be sure, climate is not static. It has always changed over time. But this is the first time that humans have been the principal drivers of such change. In heating our homes or propelling ourselves across our planet, we are contributing to the rate of change.

And because there are so many of us, we are now using energy in unprecedented amounts. We are converting carbon stored in coal and oil into atmospheric gases, and the increased carbon dioxide along with other gases in the atmosphere traps heat. The conveniences we use today have serious consequences for our children and grandchildren.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1214-28.htm

[jus_the_facts]

1. In the early 90's after reading "Our Angry Earth" ~ Isaac Asimov...

....s'when I decided permanently that I'd not leave any children behind to live on what's left of this earth.....130% added METHANE now than in the last severl hundred thousand years....we're already drownin' ourselves and our planet with our SHIT....literally can't *conceive* it. :(

[MountainLaurel]

2. That's a huge issue

As my husband and I determine whether or not to have children.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I hope you can work it out. At the very least think about adoption if

you want kids but are uncomfortable about bringing a new life into the world.

[Yollam]

4. I'd rather live in a polluted earth than not live.

I had kids betting they would feel the same way.

Everybody wishes they could live the easy life by an idyllic Walden Pond, but that's the breaks. There is still a lot of good things in life.

Besides, if progressive-minded people don't reproduce, the only people raising kids will be the rapacious consumers and the right-wingers. What could be scarier than a future with no progressive kids?

[jus_the_facts]

6. NO progressive minded people can TEACH others....

....instead of exacerbating the problem! :think:

[Yollam]

7. Who did you listen to more in your teens and twenties?

Middle-aged dorks sermonizing about... whatever, or your peers?

For most of us, it was our peers. I'm very happy to be raising 2 kids - enough to replace my wife and I, and I'm sure as hell not sorry for it. They are happy, great kids, and they will help to make the world a better place in their own ways someday.

[jus_the_facts]

8. Great...whatever works for you....

....I have another opinion...is that OK?!

[Yollam]

9. NO! SUBMIT TO MY WILL!!!!!

AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!


:P ;)

[jus_the_facts]

10. Ooo would your wife approve o'this....

:evilgrin:

on edit...I highly recommend the book Our Angry Earth...should be required readin' for progressives IMHO! ;-)

[jeanarrett]

5. Heard on the Today show this morning. They had a segment

about how much we are warming up--there was a claim by some scientist that by the middle of this century, the earth may be 50 degrees warmer and that the earth hadn't been that warm in a half million years.