This is my post for Blog Action Day. This is an annual event where bloggers everywhere in the world post about the same issue on the same day to spark discussion around an issue of global importance. This is part of a conversation I had with my 8-year old.
Mama: Do you know what climate change means?
Lucas:I think it means when it is like 90F and it is hot.
And the change?
It's when in the daytime it might be 90F and sunny and hot, and then you go inside for dinner and then right after dinner and it might have dropped to 70F
Well, yes it is that in a way. That describes what is happening in your area, but when people use the term "climate change" they really mean something more global, like affecting climate around the world
Have you heard of the team "global warming"?
And if too much is kept in what happens?
Well maybe the North Pole and the South Pole will melt and everywhere will flood.
That's true and the link between global warming and climate change is that scientists believe that we (humans), are impacting the earth and because of what we are doing, we are causing climate change (we have worse storms, droughts,flooding)
There's more, but that is enough to get the gist of the talk. What I've learnt from our discussion is this:
p.s. Foreign ministers are also posting in response to Blog Action Day!
Mama: Do you know what climate change means?
Lucas:I think it means when it is like 90F and it is hot.
And the change?
It's when in the daytime it might be 90F and sunny and hot, and then you go inside for dinner and then right after dinner and it might have dropped to 70F
Well, yes it is that in a way. That describes what is happening in your area, but when people use the term "climate change" they really mean something more global, like affecting climate around the world
What global warming is that it is made up of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and when they burn stuff the smoke releases CO2 and it's like a blanket covering the earth and if it keeps in too much heat that is bad
And if too much is kept in what happens?
Well maybe the North Pole and the South Pole will melt and everywhere will flood.
That's true and the link between global warming and climate change is that scientists believe that we (humans), are impacting the earth and because of what we are doing, we are causing climate change (we have worse storms, droughts,flooding)
What kinds of things do you think we can do to help our environment?
We could get solar panels and like not use as much lights and don't have the lights on in the day. And if we want to be warm, we could build a fireplace instead of turning on the heat.
There's more, but that is enough to get the gist of the talk. What I've learnt from our discussion is this:
- While it is good to shelter Lucas from the harsher realities of life, it also makes him ignorant of the world around him, so we need to work on our balance and open up the world to him more
- He is a smart child, and understands the mechanics of how and why things may change, but the grand scale connections are missing for him, of both the negative impacts and the potential for positive change. He is still a child and that is to be expected but we could do a better job of linking him, our family and friends, and all our actions to our world
- Where are the specifics? Our ignorance on specifics for how we can change and what we can do is apparent
- As parents, we don't do a good enough job of showing him a good example of taking care of the world, in whatever way we can
p.s. Foreign ministers are also posting in response to Blog Action Day!
Comments
Good your text.
Luiz Ramos
PS. Visit my post on Enjoyment and Writing.
Luiz Ramos
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/
I guess the bottom line is, we as individuals can do something to not adversely impact the earth and our environment. I am glad your post on your blog will contribute in raising awareness of this.
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/
Right now I'm sheltering Elliott. Honestly, this is a lot about self-centeredness. I'd sooner talk frankly about sex, drugs, and violence to my third grader (none of which I'm wont to do!) because those things don't terrify me. Climate change terrifies me. If I talked about it would come out something like: "We're living in this cushy Roman city right under a Volcano that will assuredly obliterate the town, but your neighbors think this is crazy talk and even your Mom's not totally convinced so we're not going anywhere today. Go run and play." Thus, no climate talk in my house around the kids.
I had my "ah-ha" moment on the subject a couple of years ago. Now, I realize that our children, like us, may be one of the last living generations IF humanity doesn't think and engineer it's way out of the problem. And it may yet. It's a crap shoot.
I should just add, to justify the alarmism, that it's not the warming climate that gets you directly. It's what the warming climate does to the oceans. Ocean anoxia is all over the web but the best blogger I know to broach this subject accessibly is Biodiversivist @ biodiversivist.blogspot.com
Climate change is beyond ordinary mortal agency at this point. Only elites matter. Lucas is extremely smart. Eventually, because he is a critical thinker already, he will discern the lay of the land on his own. I can's see a reason to rush it. If he grows up to ask smart questions like his Mother he'll be just fine.
The world view. Agreed. I think society's view of what we impact is changing and becoming more all-encompassing to include the environment and hence climate, and that's a good thing.
Scary, scary climate change. One of the things that dismays me is the lack of urgency to take action. Aside from conflicting information, I wonder if part of it stems from a mindset of "Well, if it was so critical we act now, surely world governments would be doing something about climate change right now."
The future. I am glad that Lucas is thinking about his world, and I hope we are able to continue to nurture that. I hate to say it, but in the event that I am unable to make the world a better place for him, I hope he is able to do it for himself.