[SeeGeeWhy]

At least people like Gore have us talking and thinking about the issue.

The worst thing that can happen is to get locked into "analysis paralysis" and end up not doing anything about the environment and our way of life.

Biological systems have a range of conditions in which they can exist in the healthy fashion, and year over year, we are discovering more instances of such systems ceasing to exist. Many such instances (such as the extinction of an animal, loss of forested land, etc) are the direct result of human activity. Indirect consequnces such as 'global warming' are likely the result of many factors, CO2 emissions being just one such factor. The point is that such a factor is one which we can have an impact on, and therefore should be thinking about whether or not it is good for our own survival to be living in the manner that we do.

Will we be able to adjust to massive changes in the environment? Probably, but only to a point. Humanity is like any other biological entity - there is a range of conditions that suit our survivial. I believe that there will be a time when our activities drive us to a point that will witness massive and abrupt change. That is, if we continue to exploit our environment without thinking of the consequnces.

It is hard to argue that dilution is the solution to pollution anymore.

I don't know if we are the cause of global warming, a catalyst, or nothing at all - but I do know that the current lifestyle of maintaining 1st world standards that the West is so famous for cultivating is not sustainable. Certainly not if the entire world expects to live within the same parameters.

Let me pose this question - is it a good idea that we plan on turning roughly 50% of Northern Alberta into either an open pit mine, or a toxic tailing pond? Do you think that will have any sort of impact on the surrounding environment and the sustainability of ANY form of life in that area? Hmmm. While we are sitting here debating about issues such as CO2 emissions, I wonder if we are not seeing the forrest for the trees in many cases.

I have seen Gore's film and it was absolutely frightening. I also find it interesting that the man quit politics in order to make sure this message was being heard from an "unbiased" source.