[MD] Clouds

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Dan]
This is all conjecture. No one knows what caused the Ice Ages.

[Arlo]
This is not conjecture. Ice ages are, by definition, the result of magnetic
poles aligning over land. Right now, both our north and south poles are over
land. They won't always be. Dinotopia will come back. Its the "normal" state of
the planet.

[Dan]
But there is no doubt though that the ice caps are melting and more quickly than
anyone forecasted they would.

[Arlo]
You misinterpret me, Dan, I fear. What I was trying to say is that focusing on
the NOW, the clean air and lands and waters today will bring us whatever
time-benefits we could hope to obtain. We have, I believe, the same goals. But
the rhetoric is showing that no one will listen until Mother Earth gives us a
serious smack. And even then many will purport its the fault of homosexuals,
commies and hippies. So, I say, bring on the smack. 

[Dan]
And there's not a thing we can do about that. But we can change our activities
that are leading to the present global warming crisis. And make no mistake...
it is a crisis.

[Arlo]
Either way, we'll get what we deserve.


[Dan]
There are natural cycles, sure. What we're experiencing now is not natural. It
is a direct result of human activity. There is very little doubt about that any
longer. And we CAN affect change, either for good or ill.

[Arlo]
I'm sure you're aware of the garbage produced by NYC alone. How much of it is
dumped into our oceans, and how much is landfilled. We pollute our water, our
air and our land, all because we've lost a sense of being part of the world, in
pursuit of wealth and power. You think that'll change? Spend a day watching the
trash barges head out of NYC, or smell the polluted stench that hangs over the
Jersey shore... visit the outskirts of Tiajuana, or places in India where
companies like Union Carbide discard thousands of barrels of toxins and
chemicals. Spend a day on the shores of Bangledesh among the workers who wade
in toxic-laden mud-filth stripping down rusting supertankers.

You and I can care and do what we can, Dan, but the Money-Beast that creates all
this is going strong (Arlo's feeling pessimistic tonight, it appears). Listen
to the Almighty Profiteers ridicule those who want to protect herds of caribou,
as if WE were the problem. Not the sludge, filth and toxins that industry
leaves in its wake, not the clouds and plumes of toxic smoke that rise above
nations eager to join us in our dash for power and money. No, we, the ones who
want clean forests to hike in, we are the problem, Dan.

So, yes, I agree we should fight for clean commons. But ultimately, I believe,
that the only way the Sludge Monster will be destroyed is by a Big Tragedy (and
not New Orleans, the right-wing can play that off as god pumishing gays). 

[Dan]
Big oil. Short-sighted leaders. Fat lazy people that just don't care. These  are
some of the problems we face. I for one have very little hope that we  can
avoid the worse. I hope I'm wrong.

[Arlo]
Ah, we are sharing some pessimism tonight. Honestly, I hope you/I are wrong too.