The creeping sweeping nature of climate change as it relates to human activity can be too great to grasp. Complacency and denial are much easier than the hard work and changes needed to decrease disaster and extend life on our lush blue/green globe.
The third planet from the sun, Earth, over eons of time, evolved into an improbable gem of life-sustaining breathable air, lakes, oceans, deserts and greenery. In fact, just two weeks ago there seemed to be more kites than planes flying over Crescent Beach in skies bluer and cleaner than usual because of less travel in a global pandemic.
The atmosphere along the southwest coast of B.C. recently changed, however, due largely to California and Oregon fires. These far-reaching effects were predictable yet somewhat surprising thanks to our sunny attitudes and ease of forgetting.
Out my kitchen window, the setting sun was an orange/red glow. I didn't enhance the photo ... the apparent colour is real and many of you have seen it. It speaks to us in its own unique way, a fireball thermometer of what a celestial body is experiencing. The reason for the vivid hue? When smoke particles fill the atmosphere, longer wavelengths of red light pass through. Shorter wavelengths emit a blue light.
Next morning I saw only pale gray in a toxic cloud of smog smothering the coastal fog. But soon rain will wash through it. We will take long walks again until another dramatic event occurs, yet enjoy life longer
if we take to heart the Native American Proverb that said:
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Much admired US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died today at age 87. When I heard the news, I could not help but reflect on her decades of work for equality and how this, like the quote above, was forward thinking about future generations.
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Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.
Your photos are beautiful and you've captured the gray in our skies well with that fireball of a moon. I seldom see the moon as my north facing home has no windows in the direction of the moon. I was sad to hear of RBD's passing. She was a pioneer in many ways and she will go down in herstory. Now she is out of suffering. Keep safe in your corner of the world.
ReplyDeleteJoyful, I'm so glad you stopped by. Just to clarify ... the pictures are of the sun setting last evening, not of the moon. Yes ... RBD was a trail blazer who likely suffered mostly in silence due to health issues.
DeleteTerrible to have so much smoke around.
ReplyDeleteHello, the wildfires and smoke are a scary sight. But, I have to say the smoke makes for a beautiful skywatch. Your sun photos are gorgeous. I am so sad about the passing of RBG, she was a hero and will be missed. Take care and stay safe. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI just hope and pray we are not ruining this planet for the little ones. The Native American proverb is so true.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, People seem to have a denial tied to a nostalgia of a simpler time where we didn't have to worry about climate. There is also an amnesia. I remember flying into Los Angeles in the 70's on really smoggy days. Our fight against air pollution seems to be forgotten by many.
ReplyDeletelovely images. I hope you will breathe good air soon. so sad what is happening now with those fires and pollution.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely post Maria and for your good wishes. It did rain, it did help the AQ (as you know) but the problems are still with us. ....it’s hard for me to balance the need for ongoing concern and care with the need to simply stay sane, not let myself descend into a state of permanent depression. You do a good job of that balance. ..... And yes we lost a hero for our time with RBG’s passing.
ReplyDeleteWe have been enduring the smoke here as well, although it has gotten better in the last day or so...
ReplyDeleteWe watched an interesting documentary the other night called Journey of the Universe by Brian Swimme. He has also written a book by that name. He mentions climate change in it and how there are many causes of climate change, including the dynamics of the sun and its impact on the Earth as seen from the bigger perspective of the Cosmos.
Very interesting... :)
Thank you for introducing me to this! I watched Journey of the Universe and thoroughly enjoyed the author's perspectives and thinking about Earth as a living cell that learns. :)
DeleteClimate change is felt all over the world! The photos sind all beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe fires are just as bad as the photos from skywatch. A great woman died, what a shame !!!!
Take care and stay safe, Elke
I saw San Francisco enveloped in ominous orange color on TV news but have never seen this eerie orange sphere. Once-in-a-century natural disaster has come to take place frequently. Many people are aware something must be done drastically before the tipping point of climate change, not only individually but also with powerful, credible leadership. There are so many problems to deal with, but what is priority to the leaders of the world? Native American proverb is so true. The light R B Ginsburg kept emitting is solely missed. Hope air quality is improved and you are berating fresh air. Stay safe and healthy.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Wow - that sun is amazing but it's terrible that it is a result of fires and climate change. I can't understand why we aren't dealing with climate change with the same vigour and determination as COVID-19.
ReplyDeleteI fear the will to change our ways is sadly lacking and it is a cause for great dismay and a suspension of optimism when we continue to elect politicians who we know to be climate change deniers and who will not tackle the problems we are facing, let alone plan for the future in a saner more sustainable way. I think we are doomed, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteWow how beautiful ! and how terrible that it is due these awful fires ! We are so helpless against nature !
ReplyDeletethe 2 red orange sun images are rocking
ReplyDeleteSuper images, a strange kind of beauty caused by those tragic fires. A sweet image of the toddler running in the water and the bright rainbow colors of the kite is a lovely sight, as is the beach. I hope after the election climate change will become a priority. It is sorely needed. It also saddened me greatly the passing of Justice Bader Ginsburg. Her legacy will live on in those who admired her greatly, as I did.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right; it is easy to hide behind the excuses - "what can I do to make a difference?" "it is too late to reverse it" "the government needs to regulate it" and the list goes on. We can all do our part in small and large ways!
ReplyDelete