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Community Corner

A Hot Date With a Rattle Snake

Lessons from a rattle snake that we really should apply to global warming.

Here’s the thing about a rattlesnake: It doesn’t rattle. When preparing to strike, a rattlesnake sounds like a sputtering lawn sprinkler.  And that’s why, last week,  I took a step closer, wondering who would turn a sprinkler on at night, in the hills above Altadena, on a trail in the middle of nowhere. Then I saw a small hose, perfectly coiled -- quite unlike my garden hose at home – with a spitting nozzle.

Well, hello…

So rather than take one final step, I hesitated. It would be nice to say my dog made some sort of heroic gesture, that he backed up or raised his hackles. But no, he was his usual oblivious self.  If anyone saved us, it was the snake and the rattle, or sprinkler-like sound. I spun around and walked away. This whole pantomime took  but a few  seconds.

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Unlike so many other dangers we face in life -- car accidents, bad investments, and such -- nature sends up a flare, gives us a chance. No doubt that's why we as a species have been able to survive and thrive. When nature says “look out,”  we’ve  learned, over the past 100,000 years or so, to pay attention.

Which makes our country’s divided response to the rapidly changing climate -- more specifically, human’s starring role in climate change -- not only dangerous but puzzling.  When did we ever find it wise to ignore the obvious?  Exactly how many violent weather-related catastrophes will it take for us to pay attention and agree on a strategy?

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Some folks in the anti-warming camp, particularly some TV and radio personalities, preach the virtues of inattention.  One radio personality lectured on the health benefits of man-made carbon dioxide. Believe it or not, these arguments are having their intended effect.

While polls indicate that more than 80% of the scientific community recognizes the threat of global warming, only about half our nation’s population wants to hear about it.  Call me crazy, but when it comes to matters of science, I listen to scientists.

Turning back the dial on more luxurious creature comforts isn’t, well, comfortable.  Ergo, as a concept, dealing with climate change has an image problem from the get-go. Not everyone wants to invite the implications to their party.

Like it or not, though, we’re a catalyst for change-- either by doing something, or by doing nothing at all. The best we can hope from nature is a warning. The rest is up to us. Just ask the rattle snake.

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