'Don't choose extinction'

 

That was on a sign that was carried by one of the thousands of young people who traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, last week for the COP 26 summit. It pretty much sums up the situation: change our system of energy consumption in a big way starting right now or perish. There is just no time left.

The world leaders at the conference seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation but the young people were skeptical and for good reason.  The same politicians have said the same thing many, many times in the past and then did nothing. 

Our choice couldn't be more simple: Do we want to start an Age of Enlightenment or a Dark Age?

If we choose Enlightenment the world as we have known it will be saved. We will begin to live within our energy means and eventually the atmospheric heat storm we unwittingly ignited with the Industrial Revolution and the internal combustion engine will subside. 

If we choose the Dark Age our world will be run by Feral Morons who will always act with mankind's worst inclinations. We will spiral ever-faster into the abyss.