Steger, Branson, Ekran Highlight Global Warming Crisis at Famed Explorers Club in NYC
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 02.29.08
When I recently attended a talk given by Will Steger, Sam Branson and Sigrid Ekran at the Explorers Club in NYC I was struck by the sense of calm and focus surrounding these folks who’ll be heading out across the arctic ice in not too short a time to raise awareness of the effects global warming among schoolchildren across the planet. But as Sam Branson put it, their sense of mission is really led by a desire to ensure we don’t wait “to win minds and find out it’s too late to make a difference.”
He also pointed out that it’s really an opportunity to help “bring people together to cross imaginary boundaries and imaginary lines.” The reality of which is, indeed, that if we can’t get people to do just that we’ll never be able to solve the crisis at hand. But if all goes as expected they’ll be doing more than their fair share to help bridge those boundaries, with millions of kids expected to follow their trek across Ellesmere Island via their daily dispatches from the ice.
When the focus of the discussion turned towards questions from the audience one individual asked the seemingly mundane question, “What we can do in our everyday lives to stop global warming?” But Steger pointed readily to the need for self-motivation, and the need for each of us to take the self-initiative and become socially engaged if we’re going to successfully solve the problem.
Perhaps parents and teachers can start by following the journey with their kids and classes online. It’s sure to be a terrific learning opportunity.
See also: The TH Interview: Will Steger, Legendary Polar Explorer and Environmental Activist
via:: Attended Event
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- On Climate Change, Africa Votes As One Country And One Continent
- Geoengineering Redux: Fertilizing Trees with Nitrogen to Fight Climate Change
- Ocean's 'Poop Machines' Could Help Fight Climate Change
- Major Shifts in North Atlantic Ecosystems Driven by 'Unprecedented' Climate Change in Last Half-Century
Yet another pointless global warming awareness stunt.
What kind of IQ does it take to understand, that if you want to cut CO2, YOU HAVE TO STOP JETTING ABOUT THE PLANET!!!
We’ve got the message. OK? Stop preaching about diminishing your carbon footprint and actually do it.
How many times do we see a smug TV reporter standing on a real iceberg, bemoaning the imminent demise of the Antarctic? What’s wrong with stock footage and a voice over?
Why couldn’t the IPPC have their conference by computer links? They assume the rest of can make it work. And why pick Bali? Sounds more like a party at the tax payers expense.
Why do pop stars expect us to cut our modest CO2 emissions while they leave their huge sooty boot prints on all of the world’s continents?
Why do millionaires feel that they can dictate the lives of others, while paying someone else to take their carbon hit for them.
Why would rich kids think that a glorified holiday to the Arctic will do anything other than promote envy in the world’s youth (those that even hear about it) and a desire to see the polar bears up front and personal? I hear that polar holidays are the next big thing.
And what’s so legendary about a polar explorer in this time of satellite mapping? There are many polar professions to be proud of but 'explorer' isn't one of them. If you like to travel the world, fine, just don't pretend it's anything special.
If you really believe in CO2 driven global warming, it’s time to start putting you carbon where your mouth is. Until that time, leave the rest of us alone.
Oh, and in case it matters (and I don't think it does), MY carbon footprint is half the UK average.
Pointless? I don't think so. Rather, an excellent opportunity to reach out to millions of kids and grab their interest for a time with facts and evidence provided firsthand by one of the world's greatest explorers and a team of young people who can relate to them.
And while it's laudable that the commenter above has a footprint 1/2 the UK average, both Steger and Ekran pointed out they live without running water or electricity for most of the year.
I'd say that's pretty tough to beat, even if you wanted to.
-kenny luna