The scientists tell us the increase over the past century has been one degree Fahrenheit. I don't know about you, but I can't tell the difference between 65 and 66 on my home thermostat. So, global warming sounds, quite frankly, cozy.
My readers know I've harped on this before: we need to change the language we use to describe what is both a global and local crisis that is affecting our lives right now.
Read Tim Flannery's excellent new book, The Weather Makers, for a cogent, simple explanation of the science and the potential impacts. Flannery echoes Godin's claims that "global warming" is too warm and fuzzy:
"If scientists were predicting the imminent return of the ice age, I'm certain our response would be more robust. 'Global warming' creates an illusion of a comfortable, warm future that is deeply appealing, for we are an essentially tropical species that has spread into all corners of the globe, and cold has long been our greatest enemy."Frankly, I think we should call it "global weirding," because the patterns of change will be unpredictable and quite strange. It just makes more sense: things are going to get weird.
See Seth Godin's post: The problem with "global warming"
Categories: climatechange, marketing
2 comments:
Cozy doesn't incite action, does it?
Indeed.
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