Science vs. Politics: The Environmental Challenge

 

There seem to be no end to the cases of science being twisted to fit political views. Since science is supposed to be an unbiased pursuit of truth, it unlikely that anyone is truly using it in its proper form.  That being said, there comes a point when political spin of experiments and reports just scream “Political Propaganda.” Take carbon dioxide (CO₂) as an example; in recent history this seemingly innocent molecule has been blamed for the destruction of the earth. A recent increase in global temperature of late has triggered a host of political action and scientific research.  Many people are convinced that CO₂ is a pollutant that is responsible for global warming.  CO₂ is not a pollutant! It is the product of many naturally occurring processes, and is absolutely necessary for life on this planet.  Plants need CO₂ in order to produce the sugars we need to live. Whether or not CO₂ is a serious problem in regards to global climate change is an issue that other people are debating in great detail; suffice it to say that global warming as a result of increased CO₂ levels is not universally accepted.

When scientists suggest that the earth might be warming up due to an increase in CO₂ levels, the proper response is not to go into a panic and pass a bunch of laws. Before a national tax on CO₂ is instated the positive effects of CO₂ on the plants in our world should be considered. With higher concentrations of CO₂ in the air plants will be at a decided advantage and animals that rely on cellular respiration won’t be inconvenienced. I believe that a Real environmental concern should be that vast amounts of land is logged and not replanted. Deforestation in my mind is a much bigger concern than a change in the amount of carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere.

Qoheleth's story played out in modern time.

       Qoheleth (or the Teacher), wrote about his search for happiness in the book of Ecclesiastes. In his quest for happiness Qoheleth went down the road of material acquisition as a means of attaining happiness. He made his way along this road much farther than I, or anyone I know has been able to, so far in fact that in the end there was nothing that he denied himself. Not a single material thing that was available to Qoheleth in those days was withheld from him......And yet all was vanity.
       An example of a modern day Qoheleth can be found in the story of Aaron Johnson. Aaron Johnson became extremely wealthy running several business ventures in New York City. His big money makers where selling drugs and running prostitutes. In his book, The End of Youngblood Johnson, Aaron tells about having way more money than he could ever spend. He eventually felt God calling to to leave all the wealth he had acquired behind and start a fresh life. In one day Johnson walked away from everything and started over without all the material goods that so many people envy.
       Mr. Rabeder's life also seems to be similar to Qoheleth. Rabeder just recently sold off his expensive possessions and gave the proceeds to charity. He says that “For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness. I come from a very poor family where the rules were to work more to achieve more material things, and I applied this for many years,”  In the end He did give up his wealth with the realization that material goods and all the luxuries that money buys isn't what life is all about.
       I wonder whether one needs to go down the road that Qoheleth, Johnson, and Rabeder went down; or if the warnings of dissatisfied people coming back are enough to convince oneself of the futility of seeking happiness by that avenue?