Many thoughtful people have exhausted themselves trying to figure out how to convince Right-wing troglodytes in Congress that global climate change is a real and demonstrable phenomenon. The increase in frequency and severity of severe weather events don’t appear to be enough. Droughts, murderous heat, and brutal winters don’t appear to be enough. The rise in global carbon dioxide levels and the melting of the polar ice cap don’t appear to be enough. So how, then, do you appeal to those for whom denying science and ignoring reality is their raison d’etre?
Well, how about demonstrating that global climate change might eventually hit us where it hurts? No, I’m not talking about our wallets, though the economic consequences are and will be considerable and undeniable. I’m talking about coffee, the American caffeine delivery system of choice. It’s seems that those who continue to deny the reality of global climate change will need something epic and undeniable that hits home before they’ll begin to reconsider their intransigence.
The worldwide supply of coffee has been impacted sufficiently that sellers have increased prices by at least 25% over the past year. Talk about hitting us where it hurts…. Coffee is more than just a staple beverage; the industry-from grower to brewer to consumer- impacts economies the world over, and coffee price instability is no small thing for countries whose economies are tied to the coffee market.
There are a few simple questions we can and should be asking those who continue denying the existence of global climate change. Can we finally stop the denials and admit that maybe, just maybe, Al Gore was on to something? Can we finally admit that being a better steward of the only environment we have is not a Conservative or Liberal issue, not a Blue or Red issue? What, really, is the harm in taking better care of our world? It’s a question whose answer is tied to our long-term survival as a species. Or would you rather just continue fiddling while Rome burns and we continue to hurtle unimpeded toward the point where the damage is irreversible?
Think about that the next time you stumble into your local coffee shop first thing in the morning. I know that I can quit any time I choose; I just simply choose not to…even though I’ll be paying more for my daily…uh, fix. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a refill….
