The Publisher | Jimmy Dean
Those who are skeptical about carbon dioxide greenhouse warming might profitably note the
massive greenhouse effect on Venus. No one proposes that Venus’s greenhouse effect derives from
imprudent Venusians who burned too much coal, drove fuel-inefficient autos, and cut down their
forests. My point is different. The climatological history of our planetary neighbor, an otherwise
Earthlike planet on which the surface became hot enough to melt tin or lead, is worth considering
— especially by those who say that the increasing greenhouse effect on Earth will be self-correcting,
that we don’t really have to worry about it, or...that the greenhouse effect is a “hoax.”
–Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot
Dear Readers:
Carl Sagan died before it was popular, vogue and politically correct to be “green.” As one of the world’s most accomplished astronomers, his life’s work helped unlock many of the mysteries of the universe. His 1980 award-winning PBS series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, is the most widely watched PBS program in history. “Billions and billions and BILLIONS of stars.” That was his signature line.
Although his eyes may have been peering through the lens of a telescope, Sagan really produced his most seminal work looking inward…back at Planet Earth. In his 1995 book, Pale Blue Dot, he takes us on a tour of the universe, and then drops us back off here at home to ponder our future. In case you haven’t read it, I found a great little YouTube video that distills the book down to a short 3 minutes and 36 seconds. You may view the YouTube video here Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot" (New Version).
His brilliantly composed essay provides a perfect jumping off point for any magazine issue dedicated to the subject of a sustainable future for our planet. It all starts in our own backyard. The battle for our planet’s future needs to start in our own communities, one community at a time. Individually, we are finding our own ways to live greener, but we mustn’t forget about our community as a whole. Going green is more than just energy efficient appliances and hybrid cars. It also means preserving and conserving that which is naturally green.
In this issue, we focus on organizations that are doing their part to preserve Charlotte County’s natural beauty for future generations, organizations like Lemon Bay Conservancy and Conservation Charlotte. We also take a look into the future of energy as our neighbor, DeSoto County, will soon be home to the largest photovoltaic facility in the U.S.
Our editors have prepared a great “slice of the green life” here in this issue, and it is my sincerest hope that it helps you and your families get on the green bandwagon as we battle for the future of our planet. As Professor Sagan said, “It’s the only home we’ll ever know.”
Please enjoy the issue.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Dean, Publisher
