Global warming will bring new challenges and problems.
These include hazardous weather patterns with extreme hot and cold temperatures,
floods and drought, rising ocean levels and population migrations.
George McBean, a University of Western Ontario professor and Nobel prize-winning
climate change scientist thinks that extreme weather conditions will put
Canadians, particularly the elderly and young children, at greater risk of
injuries, illness and mental health problems related to stress.
Major storms can contaminate drinking water, as was the case in Walkerton in
2000 where 7 people died and 2000 others became ill. Living through a terrifying
event can also cause psychological trauma.
McBean hopes that the new funds for infrastructure will include money to improve
emergency preparedness with systems similar in place in some European countries
which post advisories if weather conditions may trigger health problems such as
asthma and migraines.
McBean, however, addresses the effects rather than the causes. While governments
can do a great deal to prepare for the unexpected, citizens, individually and
collectively, need to muster the will, wisdom and intelligence to face whatever
happens.
As Buddha said...In life we cannot avoid change, we
cannot avoid loss. Freedom and happiness are found in the flexibility and ease
with which we move through change.
The climate change discussion is driven by the fear of its effect on humans and
the economy.
We try to conquer the outer world often weakening the inner world.
We are part of nature and we will never be free of global
warming unless we change our relationship with the Earth, including an awareness
of the gross injustice when one life system overwhelms the others.
“Human happiness, true prosperity and joyful living emerge from a life of
elegant simplicity.”
