Noteworthy: The proof of climate change is clear (and present danger)

By Bruce Penton on October 23, 2024.

Nobody has asked me, nor would anyone really care what I think, but I tend to line up with those who believe climate change is real, and that the weather-related horror stories we’re seeing and hearing about around the world are the result of global warming.

Seventy-one per cent of the Earth is covered by oceans, and when that ocean water warms considerably, record-breaking hurricanes (Helene, for instance) wreak havoc, community-destroying forest fires (Jasper, Fort Mac) burn out of control and deadly heat waves (as occurred in the southern U.S. this summer) are a result.

The dilemma however, is that global warming is blamed on fossil fuels, and mankind has come to depend on the use of fossil fuels to live comfortably. Don’t suggest to any oil company executive, or shareholder, or politician – especially in Alberta – that the use of fossil fuels should be reduced, or eliminated.

Somewhere though, there’s got to be a happy medium. Whether the federal carbon tax has any positive effect on global warming remains to be seen, but we may get a glimpse of whatever the alternative is when Pierre Poilievre becomes prime minister next year and he axes the tax.

• If the internet didn’t exist, I’d have to guess at the top 10 inventions that have changed the world for the better. My favourite, the flush toilet, didn’t make the list.

But according to a Yahoo.com account, the top 10 are as follows (in no particular order):

– The wheel – more than helpful in transportation.

– The printing press – book and newspaper publishers say thank you.

– Penicillin – Only one out of 10 people are allergic to this drug, which fights huge numbers of bacterial infections.

– The compass – Being guided by the stars was oh, so 2nd Century B.C.

– The light bulb – Artificial light eliminated the dependence on natural light, changing (among other things) sleep patterns of people around the world.

– The telephone – Hello, hello, is anybody there?

– Internal combustion engine – Vehicles, airplanes … where would the world be without this Industrial Age invention?

– Contraceptives – Pregnancy prevention can be controversial, but fewer mouths to feed, says Yahoo.com., improves standard of living for most families. Disease prevention is a great byproduct, too.

– The internet – By connecting computers around the world, billions of people are smarter, and many millions more are much less so.

– Nails and Screws – these simple implements allow for building safer, sturdier structures.

• Great to read about the reduced water consumption by Hatters over the summer. We citizens prove it can be done, so in the event of a future emergency, we’ll all know what steps to take. Interesting to see that the Oldman Reservoir is at 61 per cent capacity this fall when it was at a minuscule 15 per cent at this time last year.

Alberta has long been known as a conservative province, so it’s great to see we’re putting that ‘conserve’ into practice.

• A Noteworthy reader recently took offence to a negative remark I made about one of the candidates in the U.S. election (the candidate wasn’t specified, but yes, his surname rhymes with Dump). The reader said policy is far more important than the candidate’s character and offered a few examples: “Why wouldn’t people vote for more police and safer streets, a secure border, energy independence, which leads to lower energy prices which brings down the cost of everything.” Good points, true, but millions of voters still prefer solid character of our political leaders over policy.

My political knowledge would be enhanced, the writer said, if I quit watching stations like CNN. Other networks offer the real facts, I presume.

• Hatters can certainly do better than Calgary did when they sought out names for its snowplow fleet. “Snowy McSnow Face, Plowabunga and The Plowtypus, all reasonably decent, were three of the winners last year in Calgary. The Medicine Hat version of Name the Snowplows accepted entries until Oct. 11, so the winning names should be announced soon.

• Short snappers: The World Series begins Friday and while the Dodgers and Yankees are usually perceived as two of baseball’s powerhouses, this will be the first time in 43 years that they’ve met in the Fall Classic, but the 13th time overall. Where were you in 1981? … Canada’s top magazine, by circulation, is Air Canada’s En Route. Sportsnet and TSN magazines are second and third. In the U.S., seniors rule: AARP magazines are No. 1 and 2, while No. 3 is Costco Connections. … Kelly-Anne Riess, who publishes the very informative The Flatlander out of her Regina base, says the “Swift Current Windscape Festival brings $3 million to the local economy. Up to 11,000 people travel to Swift Current for the event, practically doubling the size of the small community over two days.”

Bruce Penton is a retired News editor who may be reached at brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

24
-23