Dear Sir/Madam,

Because of the vast differences in scale, what took just seconds to become apparent when Apollo 13's life-support systems were damaged on its way to the Moon, is taking years aboard Spaceship Earth. But for those with eyes to see, the signs are clear enough. Global warming is one of them.

But generally we choose to ignore or play them down, like someone confronted with the symptoms of a life-threatening disease might do - thus reducing their chances of a cure to zero.

The immortal words of Commander James Lovell (“Huston, we have a problem”) apply equally well to Spaceship Earth. Only unlike the crew of Apollo 13, we have nowhere to get back to. We have to solve the problem (achieving a sustainable global economy and lifestyles for 8 - 10 billion people on a finite planet) on board ship – or perish.

While all the Connecticut lobstermen want "is their fishery back" . . . . 

Warming Waters and Dying Lobsters, 9 November 2002