[ok-sus] Now We Have A Problem: Global Warming Is Impacting Beer Production

[Miles, Karen]

Now We Have A Problem: Global Warming Is Impacting Beer Production


We are beginning to see the effects of the wholesale abuse of our planet
first-hand. We all know the polar ice caps are melting
<http://blogs.discovery.com/earth/2009/09/the-incredible-shrinking-arcti
c.html> , that huge landmasses are turning into dust bowls
<http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/03/05/amazon-drought-climate.html>
and various species of animals are popping out of existence
<http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/01/26/ocean-dead-zones.html> , but
the general response to this slow-moving train wreck of an ecological
disaster is all too often: "So? What can we do about it? Besides, it's
not hurting me."

Us humans have a very short attention span. This year it might be global
warming, next year it might be some other disaster we have to worry
about; this is the cycle of politics, media and hysteria that never
really addresses the issue. But the inconvenient thing about climate
change is that it is happening now, each and every one of us is to blame
for it, and unless something is done now (or yesterday), this annoying
global warming thing is eventually going to make the hellish surface of
Venus look like a water park.

And guess what? To enact any kind of change, there needs to be tight
controls on manmade carbon production, there needs to be grass roots
efforts to alter individual's consumption of raw materials and science
must find ways to help nature to mend the impact we've already had on
the world. Climate change could very well be mankind's next World War;
rather than killing an enemy with bombs and bullets, we'll see huge
numbers of people indiscriminately dying through rapid changes in
weather cycles and unexpected climate-related disasters. In short,
global warming will begin to effect each and every one of us as time
goes on, and the effects may seem small at first, but they are going to
get bigger and more deadly unless we find ways to curb the quantity of
greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

So, how does the average rise in global temperatures impact me? For
those of you who know me, I'm an avid fan of fine wines (of the $5-$10
price bracket) and good beers. I'd be very upset if anything disrupted
the supply of either to the market shelves. Unfortunately, it looks like
global warming is directly impacting one of the world's most famous
beers, and there's not a lot we can do about it.

To continue reading this article, click on this link: New Scientist
<http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327253.400-climate-change-depre
sses-beer-drinkers.html> 

 

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