[Sosfbay-discuss] [Fwd: The moral climate]

[Gerry Gras]

A good (IMO) article about climate change and morality.

Gerry


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: The moral climate
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:08:17 -0800

To: Gerry Gras <gerrygras at earthlink.net>



http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/3260/

Of all the psychopathology in the climate issue, the most
counterproductive thought is that solving the problem will require
sacrifice. As though our wastefulness of energy and money is not
sacrifice. As though war built around oil is not sacrifice. As though
losing polar bears, ice-dependent penguins, coral reefs, and thousands
of other living companions is not sacrifice. As though withered
cropland is not a sacrifice, or letting the fresh water of cities dry
up as glacier-fed rivers shrink. As though risking seawater inundation
and the displacement of hundreds of millions of coastal people is not
a sacrifice—and reckless risk. But don’t tell me to own a more
efficient car; that would be a sacrifice! We think we don’t want to
sacrifice, but sacrifice is exactly what we’re doing by perpetuating
problems that only get worse; we’re sacrificing our money, and
sacrificing what is big and permanent, to prolong what is small,
temporary, and harmful. We’re sacrificing animals, peace, and children
to retain wastefulness while enriching those who disdain us.