Thomas Homer-Dixon in the Sault

I feel sorry for those who take on the challenge of climate change. I mean really take it on by going out there and talking to people about it and encouraging them to move forward by changing a light bulb or leaving the car keys at home. Invariably the audiences walk out of these discussions feeling like it's all futile and wonder "where do I start?" or even why bother.
But this is not where Thomas Homer-Dixon wants us to end up. He gave an articulate and information-filled talk at the Sault College media centre on Thursday that included video footage of the permanent polar ice cap breaking up last winter. This scares already frazzled climatologists who are bracing themselves for what may be the first ever ice-flow free summer in the arctic.
He showed graphs, of the inconvenient sort, that predicted how 2007 may well have been the "flip" year for our climate due to the fact that complex systems like our climate do not change gradually but change like a light switch...drastically.
You may be saying to yourself, hey, it's cold and wet out and my lawn is greener then ever, no doomsday here. This, according to Homer-Dixon is due to "La Nina",the temperature fluctuations worldwide created by surface waters in the southern Pacific ocean. In other words it's business as usual probably next year, with rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions creating havoc around the world.
There are two nuggets I took from this discussion. One is that things are going to change so start getting used to it. Just imagine life as usual when the price of a barrel of oil doubles...very soon. Think about your car, your work, your food, your house and start making some changes now to prepare. We are getting a taste of it presently...be prepared for a very different world. Even the coming change in the American government (either Barak or McCain) will herald drastic policy changes to tackle these problems.
Another truth is that whenever you are ready to change, no matter how small, there are already grassroots associations in your community ready to lend a helping hand whether it's by changing a lightbulb, or planting a garden to feed your family. It's all here in the Sault. Oh, by the way, that's another important point; there is no better place to start changing the world than in your very own community.

Find out more about Thomas Homer-Dixon here