It's burning us, It's burning us not...

The attitude on global warming today seems much like the research on cigarette smoking a few decades ago: a pretence there is no proof of harm, and indignance that it must be stopped, gasp, even if it affects profits. This, despite the fact that any adult not suffering from amnesia can tell that the world has become increasingly fickle about seasons.

Parts of China are experiencing their hottest summers in 167 yeras. Canada has not fared much better, at least that was the case till January, but now it has suddenly become frigid beyond reason.

But honestly, I hardly need statistics to tell me what my fine-tuned thermometer-cum-ocular-sensor with enhanced capability to store retroactive information, aka, body can comprehend. I've been in Hong Kong just over two years, and in this short period I have found that the sea-view horizon has been creeping closer at a remarkable speed. Two years ago I could see the outlying islands; nowadays, I have to be thankful if I can spy Kowloon across the harbour clearly. Miraculously, the view returns when Chinese New Year shuts down the factories in nearby China (which, by the way, are not owned only by the Chinese residents but also Hong Kongers).

But the view is really the least of the problems. Prevelance of asthma has been increasing, and many with respiratory allergies swear that they cannot possibly make Hong Kong home.

Far away in New Zealand, pollution is not an issue. Yet, when I visited the countryin December, supposedly its summer season, it clearly wasn't summer. Most days I had my muffler on, and some cities were even expecting a white Christmas.

Needless to say, Hong Kong too this year is nowhere as cold as the last two years have been. But this has not been an impediment to the beliefs of its Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

"...you can only come to one conclusion - we have the most environment friendly place for people, for executives, for Hong Kong people to live,"

he naively announced to a shocked audience - The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's Clean Air Charter - in November [reports South China Morning Post].

In similar vein, China insists on its right to pollute, saying that its per-capita pollution is low, and so what if it all adds up to high numbers and kills its rivers and ruins its land on the side. And meanwhile, George Bush the Ostrich has found umpteenth reasons to keep himself from signing the Kyoto Protocol.

In short, I can safely surmise that our planet shall have millions of natural disaster refugees before something tangible and fruitful is done to tackle the problem.