Global Conclusions

A recent blog by Eric the Family Guy has inspired me to complete my trilogy about global warming. So here it is:

After looking at and thinking about both sides of the issue, my general conclusions are as follows:

• Changes in the overall climate of the Earth naturally occur in a cyclical fashion, fluctuating in both directions - warm and cool (1).
  
  
• Humans are having some affect on the Earth. Between burning fuel and removing foliage that would otherwise produce Oxygen and remove CO2, it's hard to argue that we aren't. While I think man is contributing to the temperature fluctuation, I don't think that it is significant. And certainly not devastating.
  
  
• Even if the temperature is increasing slightly, that doesn't mean all of the affects of it are catastrophic, or even all negative for that matter (2).
  
  
• Don't believe everything you read, or all of the movies that come out, or all of the politicians spewing their hot air while they do little or nothing themselves (Al Gore is far from alone on this). There are plenty of impressively reputable people that disagree with whatever paper/movie/politician you are reading/seeing/listening to. Heck, even allies of the same cause can disagree with each other about various climate claims and solutions. For example, the recent climate-themed movie by Leonardo DiCaprio (The 11th Hour) is being passionately disputed - by a Greenpeace co-founder (3)!

• The pastor from a church I used to attend in Florida (Northland Community Church) summarized it well by saying "Wherever you stand on the issue, as a Christian our job remains the same - to take care of the Earth."

To sum it up, we should do our best to be good stewards of the planet that God has given us. But DON'T PANIC! Ultimately God is sovereign and in control.

(1) Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says.
(2) Global Warming Benefits May Exceed Risks.
(3) An Inconvenient Fact