Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker's guilt (was:Jet Ski Ban Proposal - Ind

On 06-Dec-2000 Bob Myers wrote:
> kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org wrote:
> } Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker's guilt (was:Jet Ski Ban Proposal - Indi
>> 
>>  though autos are much cleaner burning than jet skis, there are heck
>> of a lot more of them. Given this info, I think it is kind of
>> hypocritical to talk about banning jet skis from wilderness areas,
> 
> Cars are already banned from designated wilderness areas.
> 
> It's not hypocritical, it's applying a similar standard.

On one level, I quite disagree with you. If you think about the total impact
that the burning of fossil fuels will have on all wilderness areas worldwide,
then cars are tremendously more significant than PWCs. Autos account for about
22% of the US total carbon emissions, and about 64% of the total transportation
related US emissions. To put this in perspective, American autos emit more
carbon than the total national output of every other country in world except for
China and Russia. That's 312 million metric tons carbon equivalent vs 846 mmtce
and 414 mmtce respectively. The US emits 1433 mmtce (all numbers for 1996).

Since we all drive cars, we all share the guilt when we go kayaking (except for
those wonderful few who manage to do without). I think it is very hypocritical
to blame jetskiers for destroying very small pockets of wilderness, when autos
are systematically destroying vast ecosystems on a global scale. We have only
just begun to see the impacts of global warming (the *ahem* tip of the iceberg,
if you will :)  I think most people are living in a dream world if they are not
genuinely concerned about the terrible impact of global warming. To put that
statement in perspective, the Worldwatch ran a recent article about the rising
sea levels due to global warming. Scientists forecast a 0.5 to 1.0 meter rise by
2100. A 1m rise would displace 1 billion (yes, 10e9) people from their coastal
homes, obliterate several South Pacific island nations (e.g. the Maldives) New
Orleans, much of Florida, and wreak general havoc on the places that sea
kayakers love the most. However, this forecast is an underestimate since it was
done using the 1995 IPCC estimate of global warming by 2100 (3-6 deg C). In the
last two months, the IPCC has increased this estimate to a staggering 8-10 deg C
rise by 2100 because humans have significantly reduced the amount of sulfur
coming from coal powerplants. Sulfur aerosols actually help to
cool the Earth, even if they also wreak general ecosytem havoc by causing acid
rain.

hehe, sorry if I got all worked up about this, but I can't help it once I get
started on this subject. I need to stop now, but at least I've stated my
position a little more clearly. Anyone have comments?
Cheers,
Kevin





----------------------------------
Kevin Whilden
Your Planet Earth
http://www.yourplanetearth.org
E-Mail: kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org
ph: (206) 788-0281
fax:(206) 788-0284
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