Hey guys, it's Steve again.  Back with the 2nd post about my thoughts.  This may just be an outlet of my own personal ramblings but hopefully someone connects or find it at least amusing :)

So it's the 10th October, early evening here in the UK and over the last couple of days we've seen lots of news articles and social posts about the potentially life threatening effects of Hurricane Milton, on the back of what looks like a more devastating Hurricane Helene at this point. It's incredible to see the reaction of news reporters breaking down about the threat that Milton posed.  I recently caught bits of the film 'The Day After Tomorrow' and it almost felt like I was watching a scene out of that.  Incredible.  If you follow certain X profiles you'll already be aware of the record breaking surface water temperatures in the oceans and the strength of these latest hurricanes, I believe, are a result of those warm waters.  It's to do with the moisture in the air and how these weather patterns develop because of it. 

What has also blown me away is the shear number of social media posts and replies about geo-engineering.  Now, it seems like governments are doing this, or at least have the capabilities to influence weather but it's another attempt at pushing information that divides, confuses and leads to apathy towards climate change. 

I recently replied to a Farmers post on Instagram who was talking about the flooding done to his field and that it had nothing to do with Climate Change because his Dad had kept temperature records going back many years. 

I simply said not to dismiss climate change because his Dads records were very local and that we should consider it being influenced by climate change in order to plan adaptions and mitigation against future flooding.  What transpires was there there is a definite issue with rivers and streams not being cleaned or drudged, which I suggested should be the responsibility of the land owner but apparently farmers have been sued by the Environment Agency for interfering with rivers.  This is an avenue I'm going to investigate and find out more about because this obviously impacts flooding, just like building homes on flood plains would. So that was a good learning point for me.

On the other hand, I was inundated with profiles replying back to me saying I'm a lunatic, get my tin foil hat, do some research etc. 

I'm wondering if some of these are bots, or are they actual farmers, do they know any of the science, are they focusing purely on their experience rather than looking at the bigger picture?  What are their sources of information, how can we have a civil conversation to understand their side and to discuss our side of the argument?  What size farms do these people manage, what are their farming methods, what is their understanding of soil health and land use management?  I have no idea what "training" farmers have or what influence industry has on how they grow.  What I do know, is that just dismissing people and shutting them down does nothing for both sides.  

Personally, I tend to shy away from having conversations about climate change because it's such a loaded subject.  There is good research, by reputable people and organisations, but the subject is so complex and mired by greenwashing and lobbying that it's impossible, as with everything these days, to know the truth.

I for one, will stake my post on the climate change side.  I fail to see how 8 billion people on this planet cannot have an impact.  This doesn't mean I'm going to live in a hut, but it does mean I'll try a bit harder to do my part.  I'll plant native, bug friendly plants.  I'll put my kitchen scraps in our compost bin.  I'll buy ethically where I can.  I'll try to impart the awe I have for the natural world to my kids.  But ultimately, there are bigger things at play in this world. 

Don't feel guilty.  Do what you can.  Demand more from our leaders. Keep talking.