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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Beautifully said, Mark. Every sentence rings true to me, every point is well-taken. Sadly, I fear you are preaching to the choir. So many people who need to understand this, already have their own "facts" and agendas and will choose not to engage with your post. And an astronomically large number of voting people are under-educated, and simply do not read. I see little hope, but I am old and tired of the struggle, I guess. Keep the faith, my friend! Someone has to.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thank you, Sharon, for your thoughts which brought a chuckle before all of my tears. I BTW am so kidding about the tears part. First, I definitely agree with everything you wrote as well. I do realize it is an uphill battle.

Part of my motivation for this detour from my usual focus is that I've been reading articles from both the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defense Fund. What I've been struck by is the complexity of global warming and climate change. My intent is to break down components into bitesize pieces and give examples of where there is some forward motion . . . and Hope. Regarding the "old part", I may be old too, but I'm not dead yet.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Not dead yet. No, you sure aren't, Mark! A very Monty Python-esque statement. Keep hanging in!

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

PS - Monty Python-esque statement - Ahhh.

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michelle  svo's avatar

Awesome Mark

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Karen Kenworthy's avatar

Mark, you caused me to wonder about Al Gore! I googled him, and he seems more in the background but still active on the environment, he had two recent tweets on the environment, one is about a conference on the environment. I’m not on X/Twitter any more, but that seems to be a place to find his good thoughts.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

I, with your indirect coaxing, just googled him also and he certainly doesn't appear to be the mover and the shaker that he once was. Frustration fatigue may have gotten the better part of him.

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michelle  svo's avatar

Mark you are so awesome. Thank you for your thoughtful posts. Amazing really

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thank you Michelle

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

I am currently reading a book my husband was quite impressed by. The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. I didn't like the writing style at first but I am finally getting into the story, which is a kind of cautionary tale about climate change set in a very current time frame.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thanks, Deborah.

That's an intriguing title. Sometimes fiction can be far more engaging. I recently started reading - "Under the Sky We Make," by Kimberly Nicholas, PhD and it's chock full of interesting and concerning information - definitely not a fast read for me. I'm trying to digest small doses. She's setting the stage before she digs into what practical things we can do about Climate Change, so we'll see. Take care and Happy Reading.

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

The book I am reading is my "bathroom" reading for when I don't have a current magazine I need to digest. LOL I read these in small doses as well but I get through a lot of books over time that way. I fear the only strategy for Climate Change left is adaptation.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Oh ye of little faith. My intent with "Climate Change and Hope" is to highlight where people are starting to make a difference. They're slowly pushing a small snowball toward the edge of a frigin mountain!

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

Time magazine often features groups of people doing real and beneficial things. It always gives me a lot of hope.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thanks Deborah,

I'll have to look through some issues at the library. I know those stories are out there - unfortunately they don't typically make our news feeds.

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

I am glad they do this. It is usually some number of people being highlighted for some reason or other. The Time 100 Climate was just last November 2023.

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Alyssa Sugar's avatar

I think most people know that it is real now; and you look like a fool if you don't think so. There is PLENTY of evidence. Too bad Al Gore wasn't president back when he should have won. He knew it a long time ago. (On a side note whenever I go to make a comment on one of your stories it makes me go back to my email and get signed back in and sometimes I just don't have time for that so don't do it!). Have a nice day.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Hi Alyssa - I do appreciate your thoughts and wish it weren't so cumbersome. I'm assuming the reason you have to do the sign in thing is because bots can't do that, but they sure can wreck a website.

I was just talking to my lovely bride earlier about how Al Gore has slipped into the backfield which is such a shame but for that matter, so has GW Bush. Maybe the two even things out.

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