Dangerous times

["Joyal, André" <joyal.andre@uqam.ca>]

[Note from moderator: this is posted following the context of recent
messages, but is quite far off-topic, so further discussion should be
off-list.  Thanks, Bob ]


Dear fellow category theorists,

The following message will probably surprise you.
You may not be aware that we are presently living extraordinary times.
The time when the fate of humanity was decided.

You probably know that climate warming is posing a serious threat to the biosphere and to our civilisation.
The danger is particulary insidious because the warming is imperceptible when
compared to the everyday variation of the weather and to the yearly variation of the seasons.
The scary thing is that the climate may cross an unpredictable tipping point leading to
irreversible catastrophic consequences. 
Of course, we all hope that the problem will be attacked vigorously this month in Copenhagen:

http://en.cop15.dk/

However, there are reasons to be pessimistic about the Copenhagen meeting. 
Please, read the piece "Never-Give-Up-Fighting-Spirit", recently posted by Jim Hansen:

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/

You can also watch a video:

http://vimeo.com/7908590

It is becoming quite clear that the problem of climate warming 
cannot be solved by cap and trade mechanisms, or by ordinary political actions.
The usual "wait and see" strategy can only lead to more serious problems.

The real solution may require deep social transformations involving cultural changes. 
We the scientists, may have a responsability in discovering, inventing and making the changes.
We may need to develop a new wisdom for ourselves, our science and our societies.
This can be a very exciting time.

What do you think?

André
 

 


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