Global Warming with Tom Brokaw

It’s about Global Warming…….

We face a threat that weaves terror into the fabric of our lives and airport security check points will not protect us. By the end of this century, New York could be under 80 feet of water and its’ vaunted subway system, flooded; the countries of the world are facing record flooding and record droughts. The coastal cities are in danger of flooding, even disappearing. The only thing, it seems, that will save us is ourselves – or so say the scientists. 99.9% are agreed – it is not a fallacy or a theory of the” tree huggers”. Global warming is the danger. It’s here – now. That is the conclusion of the scientists interviewed in the documentary, sponsored by the Ecospirituality Committee and shown at St Joan – Global Warming with Tom Brokaw, “What you need to know.”.

Watching the movie, watching and listening to Tom Brokaw in his maturing years is reminiscent of hearing Walter Cronkite – the voice that told us how things were in the 70’s and 80’s. Now Brokaw is telling us about a situation of world wide concern – the results of global warming

Brokaw traveled over this country and around the world to tell the story of world wide global warming. One of the most compelling features of the documentary was hearing the scientists tell the facts they knew and see the look of consternation and concern on their faces. It was serious people talking about serious things.

The story started in Patagonia located between Chile and Argentina. Stephen Harrison, a Glaciologist says it has lost 10% of its mass in the last seven years – a historically fast rate.

In the United States, Glacier National Park, formed some five to seven thousand years could “vanish in my lifetime”, says Brokaw.

Michael Oppenheimer, Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University says these are dangerous days. Chunks of ice the size Rhode Island are falling into the sea.

Don Nepsted calls the rain forests the “lungs of the universe.” He climbs the trees, tests the leaves. He excavates 30 feet below ground to find the root systems. He sees the rain forests changing.

Another scientist swims along the Great Barrier Reef of Australia and shows the coral ridges, stark white. Gone are the colors created by living organisms. They are gone now, leaving the white skeletal forms below the water. The ecosystems are in danger. The water is heating up and as it increases in density, it increases the amount of CO2 being released.

Coastal areas of China are drought stricken leaving the earth dry and ridged – leaving farmers with land that they can’t cultivate. The scene hints at starvation, decreased food supplies. The migration of people.

A house of a typical family of four in this country– plus two cars and a dog – is introduced and a black cloud hovers over the house. It indicates the amount of CO2 being released into the air as the family goes about its daily business.

There is hope. There are things we can do. We can opt to sign up for wind power. We can use light bulbs that are energy efficient. We can set the heat lower on our thermostats ad wear more sweaters. We can find pamphlets that give us more energy saving ideas. By visiting the Green Power table at St. Joan after the masses, we can educate ourselves.

I am not a scientist. I am overwhelmed by what I saw in the movie – Global Warming with Tom Brokaw. I am just trying to share the things I saw and the impact it had on me. If there is any way you can find this DVD, do so. Run, don’t walk to your video stores or call the local TV stations. Find out where and when and how it is released. Share it with your family to start discussions of what steps you can to change the rampaging rush of climate change.

Ronnie Angelus says: "There are three things that make my life work: Talking to my daughter who opens vistas to me and makes me laugh; being in the circle of the Divas, my writing group, who shout "go girl" and give me standing ovations with their smiles and tears; sitting next to Mary and Claude Paradis during Sunday Mass at St. Joan of Arc, which is as close to pure goodness as I will know in this lifetime."

For years I have heard the rumors and debates about Global Warming. Now I see – graphically and in living color that it is happening NOW. This is our chance to take action. The time is now. There may not be much more time.

The Ecospirituality Committee will be showing an updated version of the documentary Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore narrating. The date is Friday, December 1st. The time is 7 pm, pre-show music by Larry Long at 6:30. Put it on your calendar. Bring your families. Bring your friends. Regardless of your personal politics, recognize that this is not political. It is the story of our world –right here. Right now. It’s a rare chance to get an objective view of what global warming is doing to the planet Earth,. Don’t miss it. See you there.