A few nights ago, I had a dream that I was pregnant. Which is totally not unusual – I have them all the time. I freak out for a few minutes and then not only do I get used to the idea, but because my subconscious (under the heavy influence of biological imperative) is in charge, but I often wake up disappointed that I’m not really in the family way. And so it goes. Only, this time, the dream was disconcerting – at best. In this week’s So You’re Knocked Up, Do You Have Any Idea Who the Father Is? dream, the blessed discovery came when I was five months pregnant. Five months. Five months of margaritas and random cigarettes and the occasional puff-puff-pass. I was beside myself.
“I ruined the baby!”
Dream had turned nightmare. Low birth weight! Fetal alcohol syndrome! Extra limbs! Waking up to the realization that I was still barren – and that I had not indeed ruined the baby – was such a relief. Guilt and shame had defeated biology! Though, I’m sure there will be a rematch.
Fast forward to Wednesday night when Biscuit organized an outing to see An Inconvenient Truth. It’s no secret that I’m not exactly environmentally conscious. I recycle only because it’s the law. I love (love!) paper towels. And I used enough Aqua Net in the 80′s to cause those Ozone Layer guys a substantial setback. But I didn’t have any conflicting plans and I wanted to see my friends, so I went.
And Al Gore scared the ever-loving shit out of me.
“I’ve ruined the planet!”
Okay, not me exactly. I mean, it turns out that my carbon dioxide emissions are way, way below average (even with my love for paper products). Yes, thank you. I try. But in general, we’ve done some pretty destructive stuff and polar bears are drowning. Sure, all that other stuff sunk in, too. Worse things are happening, but it’s the polar bears I can’t seem to get over. Al Gore, you clever marketing beast, you.
It’s all I can think about. The polar bears and the ocean swallowing up millions of people when Antarctica melts because American car companies are lazy and selfish and those beetles destroying forests because we haven’t had a proper freeze. The worst part is, this isn’t something I get to wake up from and say, “Phew! I haven’t ruined the baby! Pour me another.” And I find this very upsetting.
The truth is that I try to avoid caring about anything that I can’t fix all by myself, right this second. Emotionally, I’m just not cut out for having a cause. I guess I lack the practicality to see the small things I can do to impact the larger problem and I get overwhelmed. You know, that whole, think globally, act locally thing. But who says I can’t change? So here’s my first attempt: I am going to switch my energy supplier to a green source and I am going to say, Go see this movie.
Do it for the polar bears.
I have that dream all the time!! Thank god someone else does. I’m 30 single..blah blah, but I’ve had that dream about 10 times …waking up thinking I’m pregnant and I was drinking beer and smoking a joint, huge guilt when I woke up, but relieved and sad as well. Anyway – glad to hear someone else experiences that too!
Al Gore came to my office (I live in DC) about 6 months ago to give his global warming presentation (basically the movie in a suped-up power point format), it’s terrifying! Pretty eye-opening stuff.
Oh, I want to see that movie, I do, I love Al Gore and all his craziness so. But I am concerned I will be terrified and upset afterwards. Thanks for pointing out the site with the helpful take action section.
Yet another reason living in a small Canadian city is NOT glamourous – I could go see the Da Vinci code fifteen times before lunch, but this movie isn’t playing where I live. Sigh. I’ll have to wait for the DVD I guess. I think the secret to not getting overwhelmed with how much you COULD be doing to make the world better is to just pick small things you CAN do. I don’t use plastic bags – very eco friendly PLUS a great excuse to buy cool tote bags for your library books and groceries.
I don’t know whether us humans are the sole guardians of the environment. I was in the Central Park Zoo last week and I swear I saw a couple polar bears smoking cigarettes and eating caseloads of paper towels. Then, they got into their Hummers and drove off.
Wait. Maybe that was all a dream too!
Thanks for sharing, I really want to see that movie too. It’s true what they say – ignorance is bliss (until things get so bad, there’s no ignoring it anymore). From what I’ve learned in my Social Psych course so far, people will do and act in the way they THINK others are acting – so if most of us believe that “nobody else is changing their behaviour on behalf of the environment” (even if it’s not true), then most of us will continue to stay the same, majority rules. Now if we saw more examples of people making changes, more of us might be more inclined… you’ve set a good example by making the first step!
I think your status as a non-car owning/driving Manhattanite cancels out the paper towels. But don’t quote me on that. Especially to Al.
Ha! MetroDad, that was awesome.
it’s so nice to hear that people outside of the typical environmental community are seeing this movie and enjoying/learning from it.
i completely get the same overwhelming feeling you do, and i work in this field! but the thing i loved about gore’s movie is that he says we can change this and we can do it right now. which helps to make the problem seem a little less daunting.
good for you for taking the steps you can to be a part of the change! you may not have even realized but just by talking about the film on your site, you’ve proabably encouraged a number of more people to see the film, and hopefully it will inspire them as well… every little bit helps
Nice juxtaposition. Great post.
It’s not anyone else’s fault that you’re leaving a hot, greenhouse-gassed planet to a bunch of low birth weight crack babies.
Also I think you hate penguins.
Good on ya Fish.
It might be too late, but we have to try. Sure, one person’s efforts aren’t going to fix this but it was one person’s irresponsibility (times a couple of billion) that made the problem in the first place. It’s not unreasonable to think that a little effort from a lot of people will make a great difference.
Compact floresencent lightbulbs, walking or biking instead of driving, buying products made locally (less transport=less pollution) every little bit helps…..
I’m one of those “usual suspects” who chooses to not own a car, never takes a bag at the grocery ect. and well, the view from my high horse is mite too familiar so I’m going to shut up now.
Sure, it might be a “terrifying” movie and even a kick-ass Powerpoint presentation. But is it accurate? Everybody and his mama can roll out a million different climate models and make an argument. Why, didn’t you know the arctic was once just like Florida? Who’s to say Jesus doesn’t want the planet THAT way again?
But you’re right. Gore is a marketing genius with the polar bears thing (too bad his marketing skills don’t apply to, say, runs for political office). Even I get a little worked up over polar bears. And if the sea levels rise? Feh. That’s what boats and houses with stilts are for.
But you kids should remember to keep eating organic … even if it does mean flying in your tomatoes and lettuce on gas-guzzling jet planes from underpaid workers in Chile. Because Wholefoods, my friends, is good for the soul … just not the environment.
And switch to ethanol, too… because using up millions of acres of land to make fuel is far preferable to drilling for oil. Peace… and chicken grease.
I’ve had that dream-where I’m giving my
Nancy Drew all in order to track down the sperm donor.
so what are your suggestions, JD?
I’m with Jen. JD seems to be one of those who would rather tell you all the ways your suggestion is wrong, rather than offer one that is perhaps more sensible or in some way better. I don’t get that. Not at all.
I voted for the other guy.
(OK I didnt. I couldn’t even type that with a straight face.)
Excellent post, Fish. It was very well written. Those of us living in Northwest Alaska especially appreciate your concern for the polar bears. Of course, they’re dead if they come after us.
Just like saving money, every little bit adds up. I don’t consider it being ‘on a high horse’ to give up the car & join a car-share, or to byobag at the grocery. It’s a responsibility. Whatever one’s lifestyle can afford (the extra time it takes to mass transit, the extra effort it takes to separate your trash) it all counts.
For the defeatests out there, even if we can’t STOP global warming, shouldn’t we at the very least attempt to slow it down?
Thank you for writing about that movie… being in a small town means it won’t be coming here anytime soon, but I do hope to see it on dvd or so. The environment is one of those things I don’t really think about… especially because the only time it’s brought up is when people stop me on the street to get me to join their organization / sign petitions / give money, etc. But you’re right, every bit counts and hopefully it’ll add up.
Suggestions? Here’s a suggestion. Nuclear power. Even bonafide scientists, as opposed to hysterical advocates, suggest nuclear power. Clean, cheap, efficient… and statistically safer than the other alternatives.
Other suggestions. Hold China and others to the same standards as, say, the U.S. and Canada.
Come up with realistic plans that can be phased in, rather than pseudo-scientific garbage like Kyoto that–like most of the garbage spewing from the “international community”–penalizes well-meaning countries who intend to play by the rules (like New Zealand) while letting the worst offenders off scott-free.
I could also argue about the very idea of stopping or slowing global warming. The globe has warmed before (and cooled before) without our help.
At any rate, another suggestion is plain old bitching, moaning (but we all have that one down) and hitting the car companies in the pocketbook. People start buying hybrids, they make more. (I’d Also note that saintly Al Gore tools around in SUVs an awful lot.)
That’s a start. Flex hybrids are being sold in Brasil now, for example, at no higher cost than normal cars – made by US car companies, might I add. A sin, pure and simple.
JD, you are annoying.
Love this post
I too get overwhelmed by the big issues (and killing polar bears, oh my!). Sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, it’ll be inconsequential. Kudos on going green though…I don’t know exactly what that entails, but anything for the polar bears.
Check out http://www.recycline.com. They work with Stonyfield (who will take back their product containers and recycle them if your community does not recycle #2 plastic). Recycline makes products from recycled plastic and will send you postage paid, free bags and boxes to return their used items to them to they can re-recycle! I love that mentality.
I agree, JD is annoying.
Wait until you actually become pregnant. Talk about crazy dreams involving the baby. I thought there is no way I can be a parent with thoughts like this in my subconcious, but it is totally natural and common. And you never have a stronger urge for a drink and a puff puff pass then when you can’t have one, so live it up sista while you can!!!! LOL
Diane (or Dianes), nice to see you agree with yourselves.
WARNING. Anita is a spam-bot. I’ve seen that comment all over the place today. It’s for a credit report or something. Kill Anita the spambot.
Also, I hate to point out this other disturbing piece of news, but the polar bears might be more threatened by plain old pollution. I’d read that instances of hermaphroditic polar bears are on the increase and they think it’s due to bioaccumulation … pollutants are in algae, fish eat the algae, fish eat the fish, seals eat the fish, with the polutants concentrating along the way. And we all know who eats the seals. .. Now, that’s just weird.
Thanks for the head’s up JD. Much obliged.
Least I could do.
Re Global Warming. Only the arrival of Aliens can save the planet. We can ask them; “hey when your population reached plague proportions and your biosphere was pushed over the edge how did you stop the runaway climate catastrophe? “
Having babies probably isn’t what the world needs right now, but isn’t that everyones right?
If 5 billion isn’t enough then 10 billion might be, but who or what can draw the line ?
I can’t wait to see this movie. It sounds amazing.
On the dream topic – I woke up in the middle of the night the other night and was totally freaked out when I looked over to find my husband sleeping there. Either I was dreaming I was sleeping alone, or I still wasn’t quite awake and I thought he was someone else. It did make for a good laugh the next morning though!
Best. Post. Ever.
It’s a shame that it -generally- takes some kind of ‘war effort’ to rally people. Otherwise, it takes something personal to get people to react, or better yet, to become proactive.
Does anyone not think it’s preposterous that over the course of the last forty or so years, gas mileage ratings have pretty much stood still? How is it we can have such advances in other areas of technology, but with cars, nearly nothing? (Don’t yell at me, I know the answer. I have on my Mr. Rhetorical cap.)
Up here in Ontario, the government is advertising about nuclear energy, how much it actually provides right now, contrary to common perception.
We are sheeple.
I’m not so sure we have as much ‘say’ in how things proceed, given the amount of power seated in the ‘oil-based industries’. But it would be good if we found the impetus to rally the troops on this one.
Oh, yeah: catch ‘Who Killed the Electric Car?’ too.
According to that website, my household impact is “Much Larger than Average.” And I have a love for paper towels as well. Kinda makes me afraid to see the movie. Ignorance is bliss.
“Guilt and shame had defeated biology! Though, I’m sure there will be a rematch.”
What a great line!
Thanks for the post…hopefully I’ll get to see the movie during my visit home in a few weeks…doubt that it’ll make it over to London any time soon. I do try my bit with taking public transport or walking (lots of walking over here)…pick up food at local markets…etc. Great post!
I should mention that several of JD’s points are refuted, with what I think is remarkable success, in the movie itself. For example, the argument that “the Earth’s temperature is naturally cyclic” is discussed, and while of course this is true, there is utterly terrifying evidence that the past 30 years have seen CO2 levels spiral to ten times what they have ever been, absolutely dwarfing the natural wax-wane pattern. Also, take a look at gas mileage regulations before you assume that *China* needs to be held to *U.S.* standards — and not the reverse. Please, try to be open-minded about this, and actually go SEE the movie before you assume you know better.
I respectfully suggest reading State of Fear by Michael Crichton. Fiction with lots of chronicled facts backing it up. I found it helpful in my struggle to understand what is happening with our environment.
I was at a conference where we got a special preview of this. I work in the field and still find some of it hard to do. We all just have to take it one step at a time. Glad it moved you : )
I am an environmental engineer with about 20 years experience. JD is absolutely correct. We have very little to fear from this so-called “global warming.” Most of the warming of the past century happened between 1900 and 1940. Oh, yeah, freon was invented in 1938, and most people in the U.S. didn’t really start owning cars until after WWII.
Actually, the book you want to read is “The Skeptical Environmentalist” by Bjorn Lomborg. He is a Danish environmentalist who wanted to prove the non-alarmist crowd, if you will, wrong. He found that they were right.
So what to do? Well, not much. The problem, the resources you think you are allocating to fix “global warming” will do very little except throw people out of work. You can also use the same money (or much less) and give millions of people in Third World countries clean water to drink. Now THAT will really help mankind!
I should add that I have dealt with environmental models a lot. What gets reported in the press is the most extreme model outcome, even if it is a very low probability event. In fact, there may be various mitigating factors in play (such as natural carbon dioxide sinks), but they are deliberately ignored.
Gore has cherry picked his data to look the most alarming. He is not giving you the whole picture.
Oh, here is an interesting article:
http://www.denverpost.com/harsanyi/ci_3899807
Please, don’t get too scared. Thirty years ago the alarmism was over “global cooling.” Maybe we’ll be back there in another 30 years (with Al Gore leading the charge)!
Great post. You remind of what it is to be an American…
This personality seemed to come mind while reading this entry…
http://www.americanking.net/
Fish, I stumbled across your blog today for the first time (LOVE it) and have a response regarding your baby dream (seems you’ve heard plenty about the environment, so I won’t add to that).
Dream symbols aren’t always clear-cut. Although you may have a desire to have children and might feel that your lifestyle (only symbolically represented by smoking and drinking) may be putting a wrench in the works, dreaming about having a baby could allude to something bigger. A baby is often a symbol of a new beginning, something that requires great care, or a budding romance. Didn’t you mention a new guy in your life? Perhaps you’re afraid of ruining your relationship with him in its “infancy”? Use the online dream dictionaries (just Google it) if you’re ever puzzled.
Of course, you could just be eager for a bouncing bundle of joy.
Eh, don’t believe the hype. In the 70′s the big environmental concern was global cooling. And most environmental proclamations are total nonsense. I have a hippie friend who is an environmental lawyer and even he admits that something like 90% of the things you carefully put aside to recycle end up thrown in with regular garbage anyway (we have enough recyclable material for like the next 3 generations).
I find that people focus on things like global warming because it’s much easier than, say, going to the park and picking up garbage. Global warming is this abstract thing that few of us can individually affect (and it could be argued that collectively we can’t either). Easier to worry about something like that than actually have to do anything.
I’m not saying don’t conserve or be contientious, just be realistic. The world isn’t going to end tomorrow, polar bears are not going to die and through it all, Al Gore will still be a hypocritical douche.
Sorry, just noticed that someone already mentioned the global cooling thing. Sorry to be redundant.
Nice that you have your choice of energy suppliers. Go New York State! It’s one of the only places in the country that offers retail choice to people. It’s really great that you chose to start helping the environment by switching energy suppliers. Sorry, I’m an energy lobbyist..couldn’t help myself;)
I always have dreams about misplacing my baby. Since I don’t drink or smoke, the the other worries never seep into my subconcious.
I know what you mean about not having it in you to champion a cause. I’m pretty good at ordinary community service. A fundraisier here, a soup kitchen there. But mobilizing a whole grassroots campaign. Nah, I’m just not that motivated. I really should learn to focus my energy on something that’s not totally self serving.
The way I see it, everything has to become extinct at some time or another
I’m sure cavemen didn’t have save the mammoth campaigns, they had eat the mammoth campaigns, why? because they had important things to worry about, like eating organic materials because they wanted to live long vain lives
my solution: eat the polar bears
lilsters, you made it worth it to read to the bottom of the comments. props to you and pass the polar bear…
Fish, where you been?
Here! I’m here. I’m workin’ on it.
Regardless whether it is part of a million year cycle or carbon emissions created by humanity, global temperatures ARE getting warmer. Need proof? Never in recorded history have their been as many hurricanes in the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico as there were in 2005. Here in New Orleans temperatures have been getting hotter for over a decade…
Rather than debate whether humanity can stop catastrophic climate change, we must strive to live reasonably and responsibly, doing what we can in our own lives to curb carbon emissions. The stakes are just too high to ignore.
Larry
RideTHISbike.com