How much do we really understand the effects of natural disasters and global warming?
The way it looks to me, we don't have a very good understanding of the effects of natural disasters and global warming. It may have something to do with the fact that no one seems to be concerned with those effects until they're right on top of us. I suppose our understanding is increasing every day as a direct result of the effects showing up and making themselves available for study. We are able to see the life cycle of our food crops interrupted and affected by global warming and increased carbon dioxide and ozone. We can observe that the sea level is rising due to the melting of large masses of ice and we can watch as land is swallowed by the rising sea. We can see the currents changing due to that same influx of fresh water into the sea and how the difference in salt levels and temperatures are redirecting those currents, in turn changing the way our weather works. We will understand the effects as they occur and change the way our planet operates.
How do we find a balance between the needs of agriculture and the impact on our planet?
That question seems like asking a cat how to get to the grocery store. There is no quick fix, at least not at this point. There are waaaay too many people living beyond what they "need". How can you force that many people to change the way they live? And in time to repair damage and restore the planet to a state of health that can sustain our vast numbers? No, the amount of land and ocean that can produce sustainable food is not large enough, nor strong and healthy enough to feed the number of people living today. That whole 5% thing needs to be increased. People's huge lawns need to turn into their gardens that will feed their families and neighbors. Communities need to start taking care of their own food needs. Everyone needs to pitch in, in order for us to increase the amount of food produced without hugely increasing the amount of fuel used and over-taxation of soil and sea.
Should there be more effective control of the pharmaceutical industry?
That feels like a loaded question. There should be an "ethical" force which can watch and monitor the chemicals that are being sold to us as "safe" to ingest and generally be exposed to. At the same time, these companies and this FDA can also use these control measures to start making rules and laws about herbs and natural medicines. Vitamins, herbs, food . . . they're already trying to take those away from us using doctors and "approved medical personnel" as excuses to take our health care out of our own hands. Soon, getting your vitamin C or herbal throat drops are going to be items that have to be prescribed for you or found on the black market. I would love to say that yes, of course there should be some control over the pharmaceutical industry to make them responsible for the products they put out and deem "safe". I believe that things are not that simple and that when you start exerting control and making rules and restrictions, freedoms can start becoming a vulnerable grey area that people aren't afraid to take advantage of.
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You are correct. I don't think Americans are all that concerned with the changing natural environment. As long as Paris Hilton is in the news, most people will feel ok.
*lol* your comparison with a cat to the grocery store *hehe* - i like, but yea we seem to share similiar viewpoints, i liked the points you made. and it's so true they are so many in this world who live wayyy above their means. i'll probably post it to my blog, but you might find this interesting: not sure how much it has changed but up to i think a year or two ago, a poll/experiment was conducted (i honestly dont remember by whom) but they worked it out that the combined fortunes of the worlds not top 10, 9 or even 8th richest persons, but just the fortunes of the world's top 7 people would eradicate completely all of the worlds poverty. isnt that scary.
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