Dry river bed

How long will it take for climate change to transform South African semi-arid regions to desert? Some say that a 2? C average temperature increase will destroy a big percentage of plant and animal species. Primary losses will cause additional secondary losses due to the ecological interdependence of all living species.

Others say that all this talk about climate change or global warming is nonsense. Neither scientists nor politicians and other kinds of focussed minds know everything about what might happen for sure. The future has never been ours to be certain about. The living space and capacity may be gradually eroded in a bad case of boiled frog.

Some occurrences of more frequent climatic extremes have been recorded and some changes are being noticed. These events are considered normal and cyclic by some.

If it gets too dry, this stand of Aloe ferox near the dry watercourse will disappear. The average height of shrubs will be halved over a few decades or less, if science is correct or the rumours are true. The species will dwindle and the game and livestock carrying capacity in much of the veld in the western parts of South Africa will decline.

Or not. We shall wait and see or do something about it. There may come a time when it will all be too late. Or when it will be certain that the changes and warnings had been trivial and turned around spontaneously in a new climatic epoch. If there is improvement, there will be no proof that mending our wasteful and reckless ways had any effect. We are simply incapable of mending our own, overcrowded playpen.

Go read some classic Greek tragedies to see how the gods of old played games from Olympus with the minds of men. Complain about the poor statement implying that it is only men who have minds. Feel old and powerless in our advanced times, for we are not in control of much.