I think the argument can be made that those people in Bangladesh, Darfur and certainly in New Orleans were the victims of political mismanagment and/or government corruption not global warming. It could, and it has. I don't buy it. My opinion is it was unhealthy doses of both. And I can't see governments suddenly becoming un-corrupt any time soon, especially when it comes to helping people deal with these types of crises.
Which is why I can't see most people faring terribly well through the changes that are going to keep happening; Ottawa's, and Canada's, government might be able to pull up its bootstraps and dig us out of most messes, because we've got the cash and the political will. Most African governments? Most southeast Asian or Pacific governments? Most impoverished inner cities? Not enough money to deal, not enough infrastructure to withstand disasters, not enough commitment to social welfare of all (not just the ruling class), not enough impetus to help from the rest of the world.
They're poor and powerless and nobody will care if they get wiped out through mismanagement or war or climate change. And we'll just shrug and say it wasn't our fault for heating up the planet, but their own for not knowing how to manage themselves.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 05:09 am (UTC)It could, and it has. I don't buy it. My opinion is it was unhealthy doses of both. And I can't see governments suddenly becoming un-corrupt any time soon, especially when it comes to helping people deal with these types of crises.
Which is why I can't see most people faring terribly well through the changes that are going to keep happening; Ottawa's, and Canada's, government might be able to pull up its bootstraps and dig us out of most messes, because we've got the cash and the political will. Most African governments? Most southeast Asian or Pacific governments? Most impoverished inner cities? Not enough money to deal, not enough infrastructure to withstand disasters, not enough commitment to social welfare of all (not just the ruling class), not enough impetus to help from the rest of the world.
They're poor and powerless and nobody will care if they get wiped out through mismanagement or war or climate change. And we'll just shrug and say it wasn't our fault for heating up the planet, but their own for not knowing how to manage themselves.