Let’s start from a point where we can all agree. We all live on planet Earth. It is the only place where our species lives, the only place we know for absolute certain can support our species, and at this point the only planet we know of with sentient life.
These things being the case, it makes sense to take care of our planet. Unless of course you are planning for Armageddon or some other End Of The World. I think I speak for most people when I say I have no desire for the world to end in my lifetime. People who look forward to the End Of The World scare me.
Far from “putting some endangered rodent ahead of the needs of real people,” responsible environmentalism is about making sure we all have clean and safe food, water, air, and land. Far from taking jobs from people and stifling the economy, environmentally friendly industries have the potential to make a lot of money and help the planet. Think about it this way: if we use alternative energy, somebody has to build and maintain the windmills and solar cells just like we would have to do with a coal power plant. There is no inherent reason that “green” technology cannot provide jobs and make money.
There’s trouble outside. There’s chemicals that can make our food unsafe and food sources that might no longer exist if we don’t do something about it and junk in the air making kids sick and fast melting glaciers that might put your favorite beach-side resort underwater. There’s an unusually large number of hurricanes — yes hurricanes! — hitting one fairly small area in a fairly small period of time, and only time will tell if this is the start of a trend. Debate why it might be happening all you like, they are noticing signs of possible global warming in rural America and even in what used to be Tibet. Don’t forget that even the Pentagon has done some projections of what might happen in the event of global warming, and they are not in the habit of spending lots of time and money on completely unlikely events. No, you won’t find a Pentagon report about what to do if Luxembourg falls to Communist religious fanatics and tries to invade the United States.
Keeping this planet in good repair has got to be cheaper than colonizing a new one. Remember that as we count down to Election Day. In fact, this is a darn good time to remind your elected officials that this is the only planet we’ve got.