Climate crisis?

After last night's big storm and the current weather situation back in England, it got me thinking about global warming. Is this what Al Gore and the many scientists have been trying to tell us? Sure it's not unusual for us back here to get the occasional rain and thunderstorm around this time of the year..and even if other countries such as the Philippines are going through the typhoon season during this period, the aftermath of the typhoons that rage through those countries aren't as horrific as what we have experienced over the past couple of days. As I made my way to work this morning, I was shocked to see trees that have probably been around longer than my existence uprooted, banners strewn away, arches collapsing amongst others. Even my room was affected by the storm when rain seeped through the windows, resulting in ugly brown stains on my wall linings. Perhaps also a sign for me to renovate my room - something which I've resisted doing, but let's leave that for another day.

So what is it with global warming then? Are the recent global climatic changes caused by global warming? If, that is, we are to believe or at least consider what Al Gore said on last Sunday's Hallmark Oprah Primetime Special, I suppose there is some grain of truth in all this global warming hoo-ha. However, whether the rest of the global population, let alone our own people here, actually believe or give a cr*p about it is another issue.

Take the recent Live Earth concert which took place earlier this month. Co-organised by, again, Al Gore, the 24-hour, 7-continent concert series was aimed to use music to 2 billion people worldwide as a means to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis. As with previous global events (Live 8 anyone?), Live Earth was broadcast through all forms of media platforms namely, TV (yes I was one of those sad lonely people who actually caught most of the show..), radio, Internet and wireless channels. The event was not without its sceptics - hardly surprising there as I was one of them - who point out the relevance of using singers or artists as a means of communication with regards to a global issue which is harder to convey compared to, say, AIDS. Let's take Madonna for example. When I first heard that she'd be participating and had written a song (uncharacteristically titled "Hey You" and is all about learning to love oneself before loving others blah blah blah...hardly memorable and so un-Madonnalike), my first thought seemed to be "What has Madonna done to champion this issue that she's been invited to sing?" I mean with her Confessions tour and her travels to and from London/New York/LA/Malawi/Paris, she'd probably donated at least 10% carbon footprints last year!

True enough when she came on stage, global warming/climate crisis was far from my mind - how could anyone forget that crazy-yet-kickass version of La Isla Bonita she did with those gypsies??

Alright so maybe I am being overtly cynical about this whole climate crisis/global warming issue. As I'd said earlier on, perhaps - just perhaps - global warming does contribute to the changes in our climate and that it's not too late for us to do something about it..cos, after last night, the experience (though probably not as bad on the Richter scale!) was something I'd remember for a long time.

p/s: I profess to not being an expert in photography (I'll leave that to people like Ber thank you very much) but these snaps were taken from my office this morning.