Global warming, totally a thing

'Climate change is happening, humans are causing it, and I think this is perhaps the most serious environmental issue facing us', Bill Nye The Science Guy, 2015

California is ablaze. The 'Camp Fire' sweeps across the state, ravaging homes and taking the lives of all those unable to escape from this awful tragedy. Over 1000 people are missing and the death toll stands at 71, as of 17 November, and the 2018 wildfire season is one of the most destructive on record. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection state that 7579 fires have broken out over the course of the year, damaging an area equivalent to 1,667,855 acres. Figures from the National Interagency Fire Centre estimate damages of over $2.975 billion, which will continue to rise as time goes on. There's no doubt about it; this is a national tragedy.

Damn nature, you scary

Wildfires in California are a common occurrence. During the summer, the lack of moisture means vegetation dries out and becomes perfect kindling for natural fires to occur. The forests in the Western United States are vast, so once a fire starts it becomes a burden to contain. Here in Britain, we saw a record amount of wildfires as we sweltered in unimaginable heat in what has been the driest June for large parts of the UK since records began. Much like when snow descends in winter and sends the country into a fit of panic, the fires were a shock to the system. Those lovely Instagram posts of enjoying the sun/ snow can only do so much.

The Winter Hill wildfire was just one that broke out over the summer of 2018

Before we declare an all-out war on nature, we have to mention the human factor in the surge in wildfire numbers. In August 2018, the University of California's Berkeley Center for Catastrophic Risk Management published a report and concluded in this chunky piece of writing that global warming would cause an increase in wildfires. A harsher and warmer climate would cause even more trees to die, meaning a greater chance of fires breaking out in the sizzling heat. With drier conditions and a lack of rainfall, wildfires are more likely to occur and cause complete havoc. Indeed, general human negligence also plays a major factor in causing wildfires, even with Smokey the Bear aptly reminding us that 'only you can stop forest fires'. Sorry Smokey, we have let you down.

A very wise bear

More wildfires means air quality greatly decreases, which in turn just fuels global warming. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are still being pumped into the atmosphere and causes heat to become trapped, making the climate take a turn for the worse. You can thank your cars and those massive factories for that. Even with all the effort being made to curtail lethal emissions, humanity is fighting a losing battle to fix the damage done to the atmosphere. It doesn't help that the amount of homes and communities built around large forested areas just makes the impact that much worse. Hell, rising sea levels caused by melting ice caps means even living by the coast isn't the best idea.

Nowhere is safe

At the moment, it appears that the topic of global warming is prevalent. In a recent episode of South Park, for example, the boys once again cross paths with Al Gore as ManBearPig begins attacking the citizens of South Park. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are no strangers to poking fun at celebrities and creating caricatures of them when they visit this snowy mountain town in Colorado. There is no doubt they had fun making Al Gore, basically, an attention-seeking loser. ManBearPig was Gore's big cry for attention, and it was clear that it was a nod to his persistent claims that the planet was getting warmer and everyone should listen to him. He was being 'super cereal'.

Time has aged the former Vice President 

The episode, 'Time To Get Cereal', certainly shows a change of heart by the creators. Global warming was once a joke, with ManBearPig playing the part of this dangerous threat to the livelihood of everyone on the planet- one that no one acknowledged. The scene where one man is lecturing his wife on the lack of evidence of ManBearPig, while the abomination rampages right behind him, certainly strikes home. It mocks climate change denial, with this one man adamant that if ManBearPig did exist, there would be no guarantee that China would help solve the problem. It's an argument these morons (yes, they are) stick by and are determined to not alter their views.

As Britain sees yet another government collapse over the subject of Brexit, protesters headed to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to make their voices heard. On Monday 12 November, 22 people were arrested for being a general nuisance to the people of London; all for a worthy cause, however. One wrote 'frack off' above the main entrance, for example, and the majority of activists super-glued their hands to the windows or card-entry gates of the building. Some even had a lie-down in the middle of the road to block traffic and draw even more attention to themselves. Ah, we all love a semi-peaceful demonstration.

Napping for the good of the planet!

Across the pond in the USA, one man who certainly believes that humanity's lack of care for the planet has nothing to do with these events is... Donald Trump. Congratulations if you guessed correctly before reading the dramatic ellipsis! 'Forest management is poor' and the 'gross mismanagement' is enough reason to stop billions of dollars being given to fighting forest fires, according to POTUS. This has certainly caused a stir, for it degrades the efforts of everyone fighting to contain the fires and shows another lack of sympathy for victims. Not even a 'thoughts and prayers' from the President. He might be too busy waiting for the climate to just 'change back'. Sigh...

Could his orange skin be a side effect of global warming?

It would be right to digress away from the President and get back to the topic of global warming in general. With California suffering and Al Gore waiting for a 'super cereal' apology, controversy currently surrounds Iceland's latest advert on palm oil. Regulators such as Clearcast and Ofcom feel it to be too political, and broadcasters aren't willing to risk financial repercussions by running an advert made by Greenpeace. The advert shows Rang-Tan, a baby orangutan, taking refuge in a little girl's bedroom as his forest home has been destroyed as companies use the land to cultivate palm oil. Iceland have vowed to remove palm oil from their products, yet this hasn't incentivised broadcasters to run the advert. The Internet, quite rightly, exploded, as destroying the forest homes of baby orangutans will always make people angry. Iceland may have just won the battle of the Christmas adverts as people rally to their cause.

Must... not... cry

We all know John Lewis will win the great skirmish (quite rightly so- it's all about Elton John this year!), and as this blogger composes himself after watching Sir Elton's life unfold on screen, our attention needs to turn back to the environment. Essentially, there is no point denying that the planet is changing, and not in the good or 'yes, it's natural to have hair down there' way. Global warming is very much a fact that cannot be denied or ridiculed anymore. The damage done is slowing reaching an irreversible point, even though the head of the administration that has 'in less than two years... accomplished more than any other administration in the history of [the United States of America]' believes 'it'll change back'. Anyone else getting a headache from all the head shaking?

See, even Will Smith is on my side

Al Gore's recent outing on South Park presented him as smug after waiting patiently for the world to start taking him seriously. He takes great pleasure in being treated to a special meal at Olive Garden and is proud to showcase video footage of himself on the campaign trail back in 2000. For all the scientists that presented their findings of a rapidly changing climate that would cause obscene natural events, they are probably feeling a little smug too. Their mission now is to get everyone to listen and make them realise that the path humanity is on is not smooth. Everything we do now, such as recycling or controlling lethal emissions, only slows down our progress down the road to environmental catastrophe.

Sorry for the heavy tone, but when your planet is suffering after years of mistreatment you would be pretty annoyed. We could all just laugh it off and say 'don't worry, we will be living on Mars in no time', but there's no time for that sort of defeatism or obnoxiousness. Planning a life on our planetary neighbour won't contain the fires in California. Picturing days of strolling through the Martian deserts on the way to Mars Mart won't stop sea levels from rising. Dreaming of a new world won't save the old one. Yes, our efforts to minimise negative impacts on the environment may all be in vain, but we have to try. We can't give up now.

Be a hero, like Mr Gore

Ben G 😁 xo