A Planet Scorned

Reading and writing constantly about matters environmental (eradication of species, climate change, habitat loss, invasion of pollutants into all our bloodstreams, etc. etc. ad nauseum) causes a fairly frequent feeling of despair and sorrow in my heart. Imagine then how much worse James Lovelock must feel much of the time.

Lovelock is an environmental scientist and member of the Royal Society. He has just written a book called The Revenge of Gaia, to be published by Penguin early next month. It is no longer a matter of being a Cassandra to call attention to the fate of the planet, to decry the path we are following to an end of civilization as it has been known for quite some time. To speak of climate change is to invite ridicule from some, but look at what is happening now in Europe, and in Asia - winter of a brutal, extreme nature. Here on the East Coast of the U.S. we have experienced a winter of such mildness and warmth that we fear for what may come later, for trees and flowers preparing for spring. Forecasters are already worried about the next hurricane season, after the ravages of last year's.

Can I read Lovelock's book? I really don't know. This article of his from The Independent almost did me in: The Earth is about to catch a morbid fever that may last as long as 100,000 years. Each nation must find the best use of its resources to sustain civilisation for as long as they can. Our nation's Rip Van Winkle approach to what lies ahead doesn't strike me as the "best use of its resources," by a long shot. What will it take for us collectively to wake up?

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