OtherThanThat

Is it just me? Or does it seem that Mother Nature seems to be in a particularly lousy mood these days?
There’s no question that natural disasters have slammed the planet in varying ebbs and flows over the millenia, but in the last year there’s hardly a region of the world that hasn’t been rocked, shaken, pummeled, washed over or otherwise nailed by forces wholly out of mankind’s control.
Or is it?

I’m not suggesting that humans can somehow change the course of tides, hold back storms or prevent tectonic plates from shifting. We can, however, do our part to try and keep the delicate balance of nature that can help alleviate major storm catastrophies. Paying attention to things like greenhouse gas emissions, toxic dumping, water conservation. Making sure that we’re not raping the land by strip mining, clear cutting or any form of mass animal life execution (think overfishing and hunting animals for sport).
There are some organizations who decry any danger related to global warming saying that it’s nothing more than a construct of special interest groups trying to scare people and get government funding. A year or so ago, I actually attended an event where this was the topics of discussion..
Recent scientific findings, such as the fact that the polar ice cap is the smallest it’s ever been due to excessive heat, would seem to prove that these naysayers are wrong; and that all those hippie-dippy-green-conscious-zealots are right.
But therein lies the problem. Unfortunately, the strident tone of most environmental groups has turned off many a moderate whose interest in saving the planet takes a back seat to their interest in avoiding association with crunchy-tree-hugging-left-wing crazies.
Since more often than not the person or persons delivering the information determines the way in which the message is received, and let’s face it, when someone screams most folks generally tune out.
But now there’s screaming from another sector. Mother Nature herself.
Look at the hurricane season of 2004. Five major hurricanes ripped across the state of Florida. Mere months later, a vicious tsunami wreaked havoc on the other side of the world. Earthquakes, volcanos belching ash, torrential rains, blizzards and ice storms.
I don’t know about you, but I can take a hint. Mother Nature is pissed, or maybe she’s just going through menopause, but either way it sure gives a whole new meaning to “Hell hath no fury …” … doesn’t it?