(Pict Courtesy - http://alternative-energy.everything-fine.com/)I watched the National Geographic documentary series Six Degrees Could Change the World. Like everything else in Nat Geo this was very graphic and reached out to me at a personal level like nothing else I have read or seen about Global Warming ever did.
On the first episode I watched the melting ice in Greenland.. slowly melting away and if the global temperature increases they could start melting at a faster pace! Later that week I watched another documentary on Antarctica. (I can't seem to remember on which channel that was) In the documentary a researcher on the base station in Antarctica spoke in a matter-of fact tone .. "When I came here a few years ago, there was Ice everywhere and I could not imagine a ship coming here " (Pointing to the ship that brought in the explorers - oh yes an antarctic expedition no less). "Choppers landed where the ship stands today he said". This was like a Deja Vu for me.. and fear gripped my heart!
I also watched the part about the Australian corals getting bleached.. no more Great Barrier Reef.. and this is true too.. In 2002 the Great Barrier Reef experienced the worst coral bleaching on record.. about 60% in Australia alone.. The cause a rise in the water temperature ..the result of global warming.
Today it was talk about a disappearing Ganges... the sacred Indian glacier.. The Glacier Gaumukh above the Gangotri where the Ganges starts has receded by about a kilometer in the past 20 years or so... So what happens if the glaciers disappear? What happens if Ganges disappears.. will this mean an end to the Spirituality of India as we know it? Ganges is believed to flow from Lord Shiva's head after all.. in an effort to stem the force of her flow from heaven to earth. So what will happen to the culture that stems from this belief?
Ever wonder what happened to the Dinosaurs? The end of the cretaceous era .. Either by a meteorite or huge volcanic eruptions..resulting in global warming, acid rains, reduced sunlight and finally ice age! How did the earth bounce back? All the carbon from the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans and the plants and the soil. And the air was good to breathe again. The irony? We burn the very same fossil fuels today and start the cycle yet again!
Do watch the series Six Degrees Could Change the World on National Geographic. This is based on the book by Mark Lynas - Six Degrees. Its alarming to say the least and hopefully will awaken us to the effects of Global Warming.. What can we do to help? Recycle, burn less fuel.. car pool, walk, cycle... and lend your hand!
Like the trailer says "Global Warming isn't out of control but it soon could be. Warning signs are all around us. " It is up to us to take notice and be forewarned!
13 comments:
oh yes.. it is VERY scary!! i was watching this doc on polar bears recently... and i cudn't help but wonder if what we do - each of us - can really help...
i try doing my bit... cloth/canvas bags for groceries, i don't use a hair dryer, i plug off appliances once i'm done using, vin takes the bus... dotmom had done a piece on this sometime back.. picked some valuable tips from there as well...
Am listening to State Of Fear by Crichton and am finally understanding a little on this subject !!
Rayshma - I read that post by dotmom too.. this series on Nat Geo is so alarming.. do watch it!
TAAMommy - I love Crichton.. have to get hold of that book though :)
If this qualifies you to be a geek then I'm on board too. The only time I'm convinced I dont have ADD is when I watch the Discovery and Nat Geo channels.
Actually Im guilty of not really doing anything to help the situation but after reading ur post I think I might just start in baby steps. Cloth bags - hmmm we were doing it right in India...
can you believe there are still people out there that do not believe in this? incredible. i know of two persons who believe global warming is mumbo-jumbo and a lie. this kind of thinking worries me because if I know of two who think this way, how many more are out there that think the same? we all have to do our share in preserving this planet....otherwise, the consequences will be monumental.
Nat - the tip of the iceberg if you may.. I am still pretty cool though :P Join the club and yes do your bit.. we all need to.. about time
Rebecca - For some a simple push is all it takes.. for others they need to be alarmed.. and Six Degrees is doing just that.. your friends need to see that.. seeing a sinking Manhattan might reach out?
Hey, Can you give the air time of this show...
Watch "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore which gives you similar shocking information.
Balaji - I am not sure when it airs again.. I think the series is over.. however you can check in the National Geographic website for the TV Schedules.
will check it for sure... just on friday, we had some frenz over..a couple... and he said that global warming is "US-invented marketing crap"
i was SO pissed off! i mean why do people talk if they don't know! and of course, i proceeded to enlighten him. even made him watch one of the documentaries we had! i'm guessing it wasn't a very nice friday evng for them! but heyy, high time they woke up & faced facts!
fact: the earth has been experiencing a warming trend since the last ice age. there really is no proff that human activity may have been the precipitating factor in this. The science is fuzzy. Had written a post on this a while ago-
http://thekarmacallingblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/greener-than-thou.html
yes knowing anout global warming is too scary actually. i already do my bits in planting small things around the little space i have in the flat. taking bags to groceries, seggregating garbage and talking to people about it to see and make some change. i want to do something big but don't know how to do it though :(
After working for a about a year and a half at a conservation organization, I couldn't help but get involved after seeing such genuine passion!
I do whatever little I can - baby steps!
oh yeah! this is another thing that needs our attention.. my oh my! look at all those things that need our immediate responsible action - too many to list rt.. god sure does have a grt task up His sleeve! n to think it has only been few million yrs 4m dwapara yuga n millions more for kali to end.. we sure do need an awakening..
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