2005
Text 2
Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but thedoubters insisted that we didn‘t know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive, the scienceuncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government shouldstay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10million smokers went to early graves.
There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us tothe growing threat of global warming. The latest was a panel from the National Academy ofSciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth‘s atmosphere is definitely warmingand that the problem is largely man-made. The clear message is that we should get moving to protectourselves. The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, added this key point in the prefaceto the panel‘s report: ―Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the bestavailable guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policieson the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of presentactions.‖
Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about globalwarming is incomplete, that it‘s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. Thisis a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late. With the risksobvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.
Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it‘s obvious that a majority of thepresident‘s advisers still don‘t take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, theycontinue to press for more research — a classic case of ―paralysis by analysis.‖
To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmosphericand oceanic research. But research alone is inadequate. If the Administration won‘t take thelegislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation
1
www.99jianzhu.com/包含内容：建筑图纸、PDF/word/ppt 流程，表格，案例，最新,免费下载,施工方案、工程书籍、建筑论文、合同表格、标准规范、CAD图纸等内容。