Scared? Then Act!

I was supposed to watch November 22 screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” at Megamall. Greenpeace gave away free tickets to the screening and I got myself two reserved tickets. It was quite unfortunate that I had to cover an event in a school in Mandaluyong. Hence, I missed the free screening. But thanks to torrent, I was able to watch this eye-opening documentary of the “ex-future President of the United States” Al Gore.

Thanks to De Quiros’s Commentary. I was moved to watch the documentary. And I think, I'll follow his advice to have this documentary as present to friends this Holiday (if I get the CD Burner working).

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If I’d rate the level of my contribution for environmental issues (and Science), from 1-10 (1 as the highest), I’m at level 5. The rating doesn’t mean that I careless about the environment. It’s just that I feel so helpless about the issue and I find it “too scientific” to actually participate in issues like CO2 emissions etc.

Admittedly, I’m one of those ‘skeptics’ who think that “Well, we’re all bound to an end. Maybe, the earth also has its end.” Then again, it’s quite a very apathetic and self-centered thinking. How the hell could I enjoy life when there’s a looming danger (50-70 years from now)? How the hell could I just say “so what?” if the coming generations will be the one suffering from the atrocities and carelessness of earlier people?

Well, my generation is already suffering the results of this carelessness. Thirty years ago, Manilenos could still enjoy the clean Manila Bay. In fact, some doctors advised asthmatics to walk by the bay early morning to inhale the fresh air from the water. Now, I’m so sure that no doctor would advise that. Inhale the air from Manila Bay and you’ll die!

It’s just an example of how people have become less-anxious about the environment.

In Al Gore’s documentary, he discussed Global Warming into a “more understandable” (I'd have to commend Al Gore’s Power Point Presentations and cartoon animations as well as his “theatrical” way of lecturing) and thought-provoking way. The idea of Global Warming is very simple: “The higher the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, the warmer the world gets.”

It was explained that the warmer temperature causes formation of stronger storms. Al Gore Associated the Hurricane Katrina (that killed lives in the US) is associated with this Global Warming. This leads me to thinking that the “weather irregularity” and the attacks of “super typhoons” in the country may also be associated with Global Warming. If that’s the case, this phenomenon creates looming enormous deaths world-wide. Maybe, it could be ala “The Day After Tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the phenomenon of Global Warming may not just cause environmental tragedies (storms or hurricanes, etc.). The re-occurrence and even development of new deadly diseases are associated to this phenomenon (dengue, SARS, etc.). This is primarily due to the displacement of organisms like rodents and mosquitoes.

I am one of those people who hate ‘alarmists’. I hate people telling the whole world that the end of the world is near and that we have to pray and prepare our souls. For some, the concept and issues on Global Warming raise the idea of end of the world. But it isn’t actually about alarming us that the world is near to its end and let’s prepare so we may all be save.

“An Inconvenient Truth” may appear to be a terrifying movie but its intention (I think) is not really to scare people. Its intention is to make the people realize that each of us has a responsibility in making something to prevent this “horrifying thing” to happen. It’s not just about caring for the environment but actually doing something to show that care. It’s easy to say “I care for the environment” however it takes effort and political will (as Gore said in the movie) to confront the challenge of Global Warming.

Watch the movie and find out what we can actually do in battling Global Warming.

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I hope that Filipinos who could afford will purchase hybrid cars and replace their gas/diesel run cars. On the other hand, for people who couldn’t afford this kind of vehicle, we should have the initiative to use fuel alternatives/enhancers with the aim of lessening the CO2 emissions we’re causing the environment.

We should not wait until the President signs the Biofuels Bill. Time is a crucial element in this struggle.

And should the President sign this bill, we must be ‘disciplined’ in following this mandate.