Dear Editor,
It was the serious hope still held by many that the recent report of a change in the rainfall pattern over Georgetown [SN 07.11.22] will stimulate more positive reactions by individuals and responsible authorities. An increasing number of concerned individuals may induce governmental activity of a more positive kind than is presently operating.
The weather patterns to which we had grown accustomed have long shown changes, clear manifestations of the scientific predictions which are confirmed by incidents of Global Warming and incidents of climatic change in other parts of the world.
An interesting occurrence resulting from the ‘hotter’ days we now experience is the spread of the men’s ‘fashion’ of having a bald head. In the evolution of mankind in the tropical area of Africa, the simple ‘rule’ of Survival of the Fittest must have allowed only those capable of handling intelligently the multitudinous problems of everyday life to exist and multiply.
This required a well-functioning brain which operated best when at or within a certain temperature range. Humans and creatures whose brain power operated in that temperature range would survive. Only those creatures with frizzy-haired coverage lived and multiplied and this was because the frizzy hair coverage maintained millions of small pockets of air which acted as what in the construction industry we used to call thermal insulation, keeping the skull and its brain content at an equable operating temperature. With man’s migration to different cooler climatic conditions, the brain did not require the same degree of insulation and those with wavy or straight grained hair survived and multiplied.
In various kinds of terrain around the world whenever environmental possibilities for development existed, groups of homo sapiens settled and proceeded to modify their environment to suit their requirements while being themselves made to undergo small changes to conform with nature’s environmental setting.
Having spread all over the world facing different environmental problems passing through different stages of economic and social development, speaking different languages, adhering to different religions and with different political perspectives, all people now forge their existence in the competitive globalised economic system of capitalism.
This system allows the economic strength of one class, usually the property-owing section of a population, to rule, deciding the fate of the rest of the population. In some countries the ruling elite in control of the government maintain a form of slavery, the untouchables and Dalits, for instance, who, as part of the caste system, perform all of the dirtiest, most menial tasks for little or no compensation, while the ruling class enjoys whatever level of industrial scientific achievements is available.
With little or no attempt being made to curtail the effect of Global Warming and Climate Change internationally and the ruling elite in most countries maintaining their profitable social/economic relationships in some countries as is the case in India, the percentage of poor and poverty stricken citizens will increase to unmanageable proportions with crime and corruption dominating in a state of anarchy if the ruling elite were to permit such opposition to exist and increase its influence.
This is a most likely development of conditions that will obtain in territories similar to those in India if the warning given by the social and environmental activist Sunita Narain is ignored. Warning that “only drastic emission cuts will work” Miss Narain, attending the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting here said that a 50 to 80% cut in the emission of greenhouse gases is needed.
There are no prizes awarded for reducing atmospheric pollution. Continued overloading of the atmosphere with carbon dioxide along with the destruction of our forests will certainly confirm the scientific prediction of a resulting climate change. A change in climatic conditions may indeed create conditions inimical to human existence. Totally involved in the pursuit of profit and the almighty dollar all mankind and perhaps all living creatures dependent on the inhalation of oxygen will cease to exist.
Yours faithfully,
Rory Westmaas
