Do Your Bit for Global Warming?

The “place to go to see global warming in action,” according to The Economist, May 26, 2007, “Global Warming’s Boom Town,” is Ilulissat, a town in the north of Greenland. "Majestic blue icebergs the size of small islands float outside its harbour; its ice fjord drains 7% of the area of the Greenland ice sheet.” But they are melting fast due to global warming.

Of all the things warming there, the article says, the tourist industry “is warming fastest…Hotels are booming and additional tourist guides are being trained. [There is now a direct flight from Baltimore.] There is talk of setting up an ice museum…” Evidently the politicians and celebrities are flocking the place, because the draw is powerful and the photo op irrestistible.

The article notes the dilemma but does not enumerate how much you will accelerate the warming process if you go to witness the warming. Clearly we should resist the temptation to go, but I don't think many of us will. Do you?

Carla E. Dearing