I’m really glad to be part of Blog Action Day 2009. It’s an honor to be part of such a large movement of folks unified under a single purpose. I must confess I’m kinda scared that with so many people writing about the same thing on the same day that there will be some sort of black hole ripped opened on the interwebs, but let’s just hope my understanding of the physics behind how black holes work is way off base, or we’ll have a larger problem than climate change to address.
I wanted to have a little fun with this post, I think we’re going to get a lot of posts warning us about all the consequences of climate change, but have you ever stopped to think about about how climate change might be a good thing?
No More Baseball
Why: “The ash tree—from which all baseball bats are made—is in danger of disappearing, thanks to a combination of killer beetles and global warming.”
Ever since I was a kid I never understood why people liked baseball. As an adult, I continue to be baffled by people’s preoccupation with the sport. There are three things I look forward to at baseball games; hot dogs, Sierra Mist, and the end of the 9th inning.
Extinction of Birds around the World
Why: “Recent research found that “up to 72 percent of bird species in northeastern Australia and more than a third in Europe could go extinct due to global warming”
Well that’s encouraging, that means if I ever visit Northeastern Australia that means I am 72% less likely to get shitted on. Good because the last time a bird crapped on me it cost me my favorite Cambridge Classics polo and my dignity.
No More French Fries
Why: “Scientists from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research say warmer temperatures are killing off wild relatives of potato and peanut plants, “threatening a valuable source of genes necessary to help these food crops fight pests and drought.”
That’s alrite. Burger King has been blessed with Nostradamus like foresight. The brilliant scientists at the BK Labs have figured out that chickens are perfect substitutes for potatoes. So no sweat off my brow.
No More March of the Penguins
Why: “Scientists blame global warming for the declining penguin population, as warmer waters and smaller ice floes force the birds to travel further to find food. “Emperor penguins … have dropped from 300 breeding pairs to just nine in the western Antarctic Peninsula.”
Ehh, I think humanity can live without anymore Morgan Freeman narrated movies. But what about Mr. Popper? Poor Mr. Popper he’ll have to find 12 other animals to fill his circus acts, Mr Popper’s Portuguese Man of War anyone?
No More Christmas Trees
Why: “The Pine Bark Beetle, which feeds on and kills pine trees, used to be held in control by cold winter temperatures. Now the species is thriving and killing off entire forests in British Columbia, unchecked.”
Thank God, one less thing to have to worry putting up and complaining while I take down during the holiday season. I’m just glad scientists don’t predict that climate change will affect my Christmas presents, unless you were planning to get me a baseball bat or a penguin, then in which case, DAMN YOU CLIMATE CHANGE, DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!
On a more serious note, I think we all understand the underlying danger that looms around the corner if we continue on the same path. There are hundreds of consequences and ways that climate change can radically change the trajectory of humanity, but the one thing that motivates me to do something is envisioning the type of world our children will have to live in if we don’t take action. Our kids won’t be able to know the joy of not loving baseball, or the wonderful taste of Teriyaki Salmon, and they’ll grow up in world where Ondoys and Kartrinas become as common as Southern California wildfires. Climate change is one of humanities’ biggest questions. In the 18th century the big question concerned freedom and democracy, in the 19th century we saw a country divided over slavery, tariffs, and state’s rights, in the mid 20th century we saw civil rights define a generation, and today in the 21st century, it is our duty for our children, to work together to ensure them a more sustainable future.
How are you daring to answer the biggest question of our century?
Note: I pulled all climate change facts from this post by the American Center for Progress. Just to set the record straight, I really don’t find anything positive in climate change, but I do hate baseball.
Photo via focalplane
I wanted to have a little fun with this post, I think we’re going to get a lot of posts warning us about all the consequences of climate change, but have you ever stopped to think about about how climate change might be a good thing?
No More Baseball
Why: “The ash tree—from which all baseball bats are made—is in danger of disappearing, thanks to a combination of killer beetles and global warming.“
Ever since I was a kid I never understood why people liked baseball. As an adult, I continue to be baffled by people’s preoccupation with the sport. There are three things I look forward to at baseball games; hot dogs, Sierra Mist, and the end of the 9th inning.
Extinction of Birds around the World
Why: “Recent research found that “up to 72 percent of bird species in northeastern Australia and more than a third in Europe could go extinct due to global warming“
Well that’s encouraging, that means if I ever visit Northeastern Australia that means I am 72% less likely to get shitted on. Good because the last time a bird crapped on me it cost me my favorite Cambridge Classics polo and my dignity.
No More French Fries
Why: “Scientists from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research say warmer temperatures are killing off wild relatives of potato and peanut plants, “threatening a valuable source of genes necessary to help these food crops fight pests and drought.”
That’s alrite. Burger King has been blessed with Nostradamus like foresight. The brilliant scientists at the BK Labs have figured out that chickens are perfect substitutes for potatoes. So no sweat off my brow.
No More March of the Penguins
Why: “Scientists blame global warming for the declining penguin population, as warmer waters and smaller ice floes force the birds to travel further to find food. “Emperor penguins … have dropped from 300 breeding pairs to just nine in the western Antarctic Peninsula.“
Ehh I can live without anymore Morgan Freeman narrated movies in my life. But what about Mr. Popper? Poor Mr. Popper he’ll have to find 12 other animals to fill his circus acts, Mr Popper’s Portuguese Man of War anyone?
No More Christmas Trees
Why: “The Pine Bark Beetle, which feeds on and kills pine trees, used to be held in control by cold winter temperatures. Now the species is thriving and killing off entire forests in British Columbia, unchecked.“
Thank God, one less thing to have to worry putting up and complaining as while I take down during the holiday season. I’m just glad scientist don’t predict that climate change will affect my Christmas presents, unless you were planning to get me a Baseball bat or a Penguin then in which case, DAMN YOU CLIMATE CHANGE, DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!
On a more serious note, I think we all understand the underlying danger that looms around the corner if we continue on the same path. There are hundreds of consequences and ways that climate change can radically change the trajectory of humanity, but the one thing that motivates me to do something is envisioning the type of world our children will have to live in if we don’t take action. Our kids won’t be able to know the joy of not loving baseball, or the wonderful taste of Teriyaki Salmon, and they’ll grow up in world where Ondoys and Kartrinas become as common as Southern California wildfires. In the 18th century the big question concerned freedom and democracy, in the 19th century we saw a country divided over slavery, tariffs, and state’s rights, in the mid 20th century we saw civil rights define a generation, and today in the 21st century, it is our duty for our children, to work together to ensure them a more sustainable future. A respected friend once told me, “That our lives are defined by not only the questions we dared to ask but also the ones we dared to answer.”
How are you daring to answer our century’s biggest question?
Note: Just to set the record straight, I really don’t find anything positive in climate change, but I do hate baseball.
Kevin is an entrepreneur living in Los Angeles. Founder of 
