The Next Guy

 

Everyone's equal -

     some more than others.

Trust a buffoon,

     blind belief,

Leads nowhere.

 

         Recent American politics have been tremendously frustrating for me. When you know what the major problems facing mankind are and what their solutions must be, it is a devastating and painful experience to realize that the right course is not being taken. The political leaders who currently wield power in Washington simply don't understand, or don't want to understand, these problems and the urgency of their solutions.

         There are many reasonably well-educated U.S. citizens who support programs of environmental exploitation. I take my sister as an example. Lu is reasonably well informed; she reads the morning paper, watches TV and has traveled abroad. Yet she is a staunch Republican who supported George W. Bush's election. She was behind the invasion of Iraq. She felt disregard for international law was justified in view of 9/11. And in agreement with the Bush administration's position on environmental issues, she is not convinced that human promoted global warming and environmental protection are worthy of our concern.

         Recently, Lu approached me and said, "Milton, you're a biologist, not an expert on global warming. Why should we consider your views more valid than the next guy's?" Let's reflect on this question. The "next guy," who happens to be George W. Bush, is not convinced that global warming is a reality, and this view has been widely disseminated by the American media. Of course, the opposing view has also been extensively publicized by many members of the scientific community, all less notorious than our President. So what's the average American to think? Should he/she believe a bunch of scientists or the President of the United States? My sister's view is that "we just don't know," so a course of inactivity is justified.

         In attempting to answer her question, I pointed out first, that I have been trained in the scientific method and consequently am in a good position to evaluate the evidence. Second, I read scientific journals in which environmental issues are debated. Third, I turn to reliable newspapers with large staffs such as the Los Angeles Times and New York Times for current developments. Finally, and probably most importantly, I know who the true authorities are and who the charlatans are. I don't have to give everyone who makes a statement equal credibility.

         Recently, I organized a course at UCSD entitled "Human Impact on the Environment." In this course, 18 experts in their respective fields presented views on key environmental issues. They provided extensive documentation for the deleterious effects we humans are having on our world. I diligently took notes, read the relevant literature and led student discussions. By the end of the quarter we had covered topics such as overpopulation, resource consumption, pollution, over-harvesting, habitat destruction, and the consequences of modern agricultural practices. We learned about endangered species and projected rates of species extinction. We heard lectures on the world's forests and oceans and what we are doing to them. We considered solutions such as population reduction, restricting resource consumption and developing alternative energy sources. We pondered the need to take action at the individual, community, national and international levels. We emphasized the responsibility of knowledgeable, well-educated individuals to become active in all of these arenas to the extent possible. We also discussed the strong human forces that oppose responsible action: ignorance, irrationality, greed, mysticism, and adherence to traditional lifestyles in spite of the daunting new challenges presented by our changing world.

And so, dear sister, although not everyone is knowledgeable about environmental issues, there are plenty of experts whose views can be relied upon. Their concerns are real. We cannot ignore them. We must take action at all levels. We must elect responsible, intelligent and knowledgeable citizens to top governmental positions. We must set aside our greedy impulses. We need your help; the Earth needs your help. And when officials are found guilty of dishonesty, corruption and disregard for the law, they must be vigorously prosecuted. We and future generations depend upon a responsible government, and that is something we lack in the U.S. today.