The Revenge of Gaia

There is a whole section in this book explaining what Gaia is. In scientific terms, Gaia is "a thin spherical shell of matter that surrounds the incandescent interior... I call Gaia a physiological system because it appears to have the unconscious goal of regulating the climate and the chemistry at a comfortable state for life" (Lovelock 15). Therefore, Gaia is "'the living earth'" (Lovelock 16).
This book is very blunt and straightforward, clearly stating the true reality of global warming. I think that it is a little excessive. But, I also think this is what is needed for people to snap into reality. I found a lot of great information in this book. I will quote what I found, and then comment on the text.
"The planet we live on has merely to shrug to take some fraction of a million people to their death. But, this is nothing compared with what may soon happen; we are now so abusing the Earth that it may rise and move back to the hot state it was in fifty-five millions years ago, and if it does most of us, and our descendants, will die" (Lovelock 1). This passage refers to the earth as a living creature, which relates back to the concept of Gaia. We have to think of our planet as a creature whom we are abusing. We depend on the land and the environment to sustain us. Once this basic structure of our lives is gone, we will be lost and helpless. This point of view can be key to mobilizing people to act. Thoughts, feeling, and appreciativeness is another component to my answer. These reasons are why I have become so passionate about nature. This excerpt, for me, is why we need to repair our beloved earth. Not many people realize what danger and change lies ahead if we don't do something now. Also, we need to think about our descendants. If the world's habits do not change, then we will be leaving this incredible mess for our children. This is just not fair. From experience with other environmentalists, this is a key motivational factor.
"...many...still regard global warming as a fiction...In truth, neither faith in God nor trust in business as usual...acknowledges our true dependence; if we fail to take care of the Earth, it surely will take care of itself by making us no longer welcome" (Lovelock 2). This passage holds a lot of truth. We can not depend on a single class our group of people, even God, to fight global warming. This movement must be international. Otherwise, nothing can be done. Another answer to my question is truth. If people really know what is going on, then maybe they will do something. But, without sufficient knowledge, how can they be expected to act?
I think that different people will be motivated to fight global warming for different reasons. Some will respond to facts, others to government action. But, one way or another, the people of this Earth need to unite under a single cause: saving our planet.
Lovelock has an interesting theory as to why we haven't really payed attention to global warming. "I think that we reject the evidence that our world is changing because we are still...tribal carnivores. We are programmed by our inheritance to see other living things as mainly some to eat..." (Lovelock 4). I think that this is true to some extent. There are other reasons why people haven't accepted global warming, like laziness or misinformation. But, this is another aspect as well, and so another answer to my question.
This is the most thought-provoking and mind-blowing passage in this book: "Even if we stopped immediately all further seizing of Gaia's land ans water for food and fuel production and stopped poisoning the air, it would take the Earth more than a thousand years to recover from the damage we have already done, and it may be too late even for this drastic step to save us. To recover, even to lessen the consequences of our past errors, will take an extra-ordinary degree of international effort and a careful planned sequence for replacing fossil carbon with safer energy sources" (Lovelock 6). The last sentence is another component of my answer, and one that I have already touched on. International efforts are need to repair the damage that has been done, and they are a way to get people involved in this movement.
It is widely known that we are in a period in the history of the world that is record breaking. Nothing has ever been experienced before. "...nothing so severe has happened since...the Eocene, fifty-five millions years ago..." (Lovelock 7). This gives you can idea of how serious climate change is. Like I mentioned before, I think Lovelock is a bit excessive. Even still, we should act immediately because there is no time to lose.
Lovelock's major answer for our current climate crisis is nuclear power. He sees it "as the only effective medicine we have now...We must conquer our fears" (Lovelock 11). There has been much controversy over the safety of nuclear power. But, the author deeply believes that is affordable "sustainable development" (Lovelock 11). As I mention before, different answer to my question will apply to different people. Nuclear power may be a big solution in our future. Also, our dependency on fossil-fuels has to stop. This is very big step for people all over the world to take. But, new automobile energy is needed desperately for actions all over the world to make a substantial difference.
I agree with Lovelock when he says "The time of irreversible adverse change may be so close that it would be unwise to rely on international agreement to save civilization..." (Lovelock 13). Global warming will be fought by groups and individuals. Ultimately, the people, not the government, are the ones who are going to make sacrifices to save the environment. The policies may be made in the field, but the action will happen on the sidelines.
Fighting global warming is a major operation that will be on a scale never seen before. We are in unmapped territory. We cannot rely on the past to show us what the future holds. Our actions today will be history tomorrow. Like I have said so many other times, it is imperative that we act now. Only we can save ourselves. I know that it has hard for people to accept what the future holds and to change the way they live. But, this is a part of life that everyone must deal with. It is our time.