Farewell .tv, we hardly knew ye

sean — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 00:37:29 +0000

Well it hasn't quite gone yet, but the indications are that the island nation of Tuvalu (home of the .tv Internet domain) is gradually being consumed by the Pacific Ocean.

I don't really believe that it's possible for us to accurately assess the effects of emissions, our planet's climate is an almost impossibly complex dynamic system, and any computer modelling or empirical research must be hopelessly limited in scope. Having said that, Science Magazine tells us that 75% of 928 papers produced on the subject of climate change over the last ten years concur in concluding that human activity is causing change. The remaining 25% took no position on the relationship to human action. I can't help but suspect vested interests when a seemingly uncontroversial scientific consensus is still regularly challenged as fanciful.

Quite aside from the science, my intuition tells me that we can't just wantonly treat our planetary organism as a dumping ground for the excreta of whatever activities we choose to engage in. There's a complex discussion to be had here about the relationship between the power allowed by our rationality and a responsibility towards correct action that comes with.

Abstractions aside, as a Tuvuluan called Sopoaga states in the above-linked article "doubters should visit Tuvalu".

informage: Farewell .tv, we hardly knew ye

Farewell .tv, we hardly knew ye