The Big Meltdown
After 18 days of temperatures not getting above freezing and many of those same days with below-zero temperatures at night, we were ready for the warm-up that returned this past Tuesday when the temperature in Uniontown hit 59 degrees.
This coming week should see mild air return with temperatures most of the week in the 50s. That mild Tuesday saw the heavy snow pack melt away and we were left with dirty cars, sidewalks, roads, and piles of dirty ice and snow. I witnessed on several occasions people with walkers and wheel chairs having a very difficult time attempting to navigate sidewalks and corners that were impassible mostly due to owners of properties too lazy to shovel or have their walkways cleared. Simply put we can do better in looking out for the needs of those less fortunate who may have to get to the store or a medical office.
Probably the most insensitive comments were made from our leader who took to social media to say that the recent cold snap was proof that there is no climate warming. As these words were being uttered the entire western part of our country was experiencing record warm winter temperatures and many western ski areas had little or no snow. Other parts of the planet were experiencing record heat and it always shows what little thought goes into statements made by politicians who really don’t care about humanity.
Climate change is not only about today it is about the future. It’s about our children and grandchildren who will have to live with the fact that we failed to at least hear the concerns of the scientists. The world’s scientists may not have it entirely right, however they continue to gather evidence that we should at least include them in the conversation before we make unproven, stupid comments based on politics alone.
Melting glaciers, burning forests, droughts and floods have always been with us and will continue, however this time the evidence strongly points to the fact that we humans and the politicians we put in power have a lot to do with the fact that we are putting our planet in peril. No, it will not all happen today or even tomorrow and politicians know they can continue to kick the can down the road because they will be gone in a few years and others will need to come up with solutions to problems that could have been addressed by those willing to care about their fellow humans.
What a shame that we continue to believe those with little or no knowledge about the only home we have calling the shots.
The ice is melting and we will still have more cold and snow but I think the worst is over. After a quiet hurricane season that kept storms away from our Atlantic coast last year, there is discussion among scientists that this year may be different. Perhaps a category 5 storm at Mar-a-Lago could have an influence.