Are Global Warming Naysayers Committing A Crime Against Future Humanity?

In order for us to believe the legitimacy and accuracy of hard-to-digest information, it makes perfect sense that human beings require visual and scientific proof. Even with difficult-to-challenge evidence in front of us, we still tend to err on the side of caution by questioning what is being presented to us. Such was the case in ancient Greek times when Pythagoras verbalized his theory that our planet was spherical rather than flat. Up until that time, everyone from the Egyptians and Babylonians to the Chinese embraced the concept of a perfectly flat earth. The famed philosopher and theorem postulator suggested that planets and other heavenly bodies must actually be round since that type of geometric solid form was the most abundant and commonly occurring in nature. Backing up his simple theory, he added that the curved appearance of the Moon's terminator could be observed as it went through its orbital cycle, lending more weight to the notion of the Earth being spherical in shape. Other notable scientific minds such as Aristotle and Plato felt that the curved appearance of lunar eclipse shadows and the sea horizon gave weight to Pythagoras' theory and a bona fide fact was born.

My, how times have changed -- the innocence of a flat or round Earth pales in comparison to our acceptance or denial of the global warming theory that we are currently grappling with. Who really wants to believe that the slow yet steady temperature increases that our planet experienced throughout the 20^th century and the anticipated 2 degree to 11.5 degree Fahrenheit increase that scientists believe will occur in the 21^st century are both the result of human influence? Can any of us really wrap our brains around the idea that activities such as chopping down trees, burning fossil fuels, mining, converting open fields into agricultural zones and engaging in industry could really be responsible for the decline of our planet? Is Mother Nature really even suffering to the degree that the press suggests, or is it a convenient marketing strategy used to push a new generation of green products? Why should carrying reusable bags as opposed to their perfectly plastic counterparts really even matter? Clearly, we human beings have lots of questions that need to be answered, but while we're busy scratching our heads, contemplating where we stand and what we will personally do to either alter or embrace our lifestyles, our planet could possibly reach the point of no return.

And therein lies the problem. We can choose what we want to believe, but if there's the slightest possibility that global warming is an actual phenomenon with devastating consequences to lifeforms on this planet, then turning a blind eye to it (by failing to make even minor lifestyle alterations) would be a crime against the future of human kind...and animal kind...and any other "kind" you want to imagine. Who actually wants to risk exacerbating the situation by continuing to indulge in selfish consumerism...or would we really prefer to just take the easy way out by pointing the finger at someone else and playing the blame game, instead? Some feel that's precisely what happened at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change conference with respect to the overall failure to set a binding agreement regarding emissions limits, global temperature rise or establishing consequences to nations that fail to comply. Appropriately, noted British graffiti artist Banksy created a piece of COP15-themed street art on the Regent's Canal in Camden, north London following the negotiations (depicted in the two photos above) which perhaps sums up the pervading attitude of policy makers and far too many global citizens. Who out there is actually a believer...and why? If you count yourself among the global warming naysayer set, what factual data is necessary for you to finally alter your lifestyle habits and general level of consumerism? Wouldn't you rather make a few modest changes now instead of finding out in two years that our planet has reached the point of no return?