Credulity

Normally every spring through early summer here in California there are fairly strong winds that blow out of the northwest and help push water currents that eventually cause an upwelling of colder, nutrient rich water from the deep ocean. These nutrients in part account for the abundance and variety of marine life along the California coast and help sustain our rich fisheries. Last year about this time here in California there were newspaper articles, individuals on talk radio, and radio reports complaining about our lack of wind. People claimed that since the winds were not as strong as usual all manner of dire consequences faced California including; pelicans dying, domic acid poisoning in marine mammals, a breakdown of the entire food chain resulting in large scale fish die offs, less fog onshore that would kill fog-dependent species, etc. The cause was, of course, global warming.

This year we’ve had a series of very substantial blows, over the winter we had hurricane force winds and this spring has seen several 40-50 knot days in the eastern Pacific and whole weeks of gale force winds. These winds are easily within the normal range for our coast but since many people hardly notice their natural surroundings until it is pointed out to them it seems unusual and they need a reason. The cause, of course, global warming.

The funniest thing I overheard was a few weeks ago when a woman blamed the China earthquake on global warming. I’m sure she was serious. It is amazing how some peoples desire to believe in something, especially when it vilifies some giant entity like ‘mega corporations’, the military-industrial complex, or the Government, overrides their common sense. Like here in California, memories are shortened, one year not enough wind is global warming, next year more wind is global warming. I’m not saying the phenomenon doesn’t exist, I am saying we need more critical thinking before we mindlessly parrot everything fed to us by that giant entity; Big Science.