The thing to understand, Can Man, is that most industrialized people, Americans in particular, are only happy if they're crying mea culpa. So, if something goes wrong, and they can't blame themselves, then they'll find a way to make it their fault.

Me, I refuse to take responsibility or blame for something I didn't do.

The global warming issue is a case in point. First of all, there is no clear evidence that it is happening (changing weather patterns and global warming are not the same thing---something the newscasters and doomsday sayers don't understand). But let's assume it is. Fact is, the earth periodically readjusts itself. Notice that in addition to changes in weather patterns there is an unusually high level of earthquake activity; of volcanic activity; of storm frequency and severity; etc. This all happens cyclically. The only difference is that this time we happen to be in the way.

But the idea that we are causing it is sheer nonsense.

But the mea culpa syndrome is kind of understandable. When people can't understand what happened yesterday, the concept of deep time is totally incomprehensible to them. Somebody who thinks World War II was a long time ago is not prepared to understand that we live in a short, inter-glacial period. And that the moving ice is the result of a warming trend in the atmosphere. It's happened like that time after time---when humans weren't even around, let alone producing so-called greenhouse gasses.

The data that supports the grim reality that as Americans we have the lagest footprint in the world, and that we both individually AND as a nation require far more of the world's resources, and leave behind far more evidence of our existance than people from other nations is unsettling. And embarrassing. I'm no tree-hugger and I can't tell ya the last time I ate a bowl of granola but I do think the rest of the world takes this more seriously than we do and they act far more responsibly than we. And I don't quite get where our sense of entitlement comes from. I think it's shameful and arrogant.

If you look at the rest of the world, they by far pollute much more (on a per capita basis) than the US. They also use resources less efficiently.

Either way, there are those who have statistics showing global cooling. I for one am leery of any climate data that is less than 1 million years in the count. Considering the earth has been around for billions of years, it is rather foolish to make such assumptions with only about 100 years of accurate real time data to work with.

Anyway, if the world is on a path of destruction, and if it is caused by humans, history shows that we will all do nothing about it anyway. That being the case, none of it will keep me up at night.

Shame you didn't actually read the information I linked to and spent a moment to think outside the box called our planet.

The things going on (in our universe) places man's influence about the same as a colony of ants running around on the sidewalk. Quite interesting really when one takes the time to research it on the Internet.

RE: "If you look at the rest of the world, they by far pollute much more (on a per capita basis) than the US. They also use resources less efficiently."

Very respectfully Jafo, I could not disagree more. Not sure where you get your data but it's contrary to everything I've ever read or experienced personally. Everything from America's excess in consumerism, to cheap throw-away merchandise contributes in a much more ugly way than I've ever seen elsewhere.

For many years I led mentoring kitchens for Princess Cruiselines in BC and Alaska, where college-aged kids from all over the world worked for summer seasons and I can tell you that their practices of "living small" and "living green" are not just faddish college-aged trendiness, but habits, learned over a life-time. The hundreds of students who I've had under my wing cannot believe the excess, the throw-away and the blatant disregard we as Americans have for the very idea of joining the world in changing the way our offspring are conditioned to view our effects on the planet.

The very most telling sign that better, more responsible living is not an American habit- rather a trendy fad- is anytime it actually does occur, it makes the 6 o'clock headline news, every late-evening hour news program and weekend specials. Behaving properly with long-term possibility in mind is a dream to Americans- not a day-to-day reality like it is and has been elsewhere for decades. We've slowly made changes, but we're still dreadfully behind, as we are on many fronts. Whereas to the rest of the world living with a broader conscientuosness, living responsibly definitely dictates their every move day-in and day-out. The very fact that we are even discussing this in such an idealistic, mythical manner shows that the topic of our attention is clearly not an ever-present reality. We speak of it as if it's something completely unwitnessed by us, first-hand... something to aspire to.

Again, I'm no tree-hugger, tie-dye-wearin', hippy-dude... but we have been absolutely dreadful... and not to acknowledge that is part of the problem. If this is something you cannot agree with, then no sense even in replying, 'cause we certainly ain't gonna see eye-to-eye on it, one l'il bit.

Again, respectfully, if your experience is contrary to mine- I respect that, but not to post my view would be dreadfully misleading to those here who read yours. If there are two views- they must both be made available- and this is mine.