Melting Poles Becoming Tourist Trap
Now that it's become common knowledge that the Earth's poles are melting rapidly and undergoing dramatic ecological shifts, tourism is booming (at least near the North pole).
I'm not sure how to react.
On the one hand, I'm disheartened to hear that people want ringside seats to view their own destruction. Do they see the irony in their actions: likely concerned about climate change, they proceed to take a long, unnecessary journey that increases their personal carbon footprint and contributes to the problem? Maybe while they're up North they should get real close to a melting berg and look at the reflection.
On the other hand, we're only human. And that means we're inherently curious, thoughtful types. How could we be expected to ignore radical climate change? On the x axis of Earth time, this is a pretty rare event indeed and deserving of a closer look.
Not that it matters. This type of thing is inevitable. People with money to burn will continue to travel guilt-free for the next 50 years. They'll purchase 'carbon offsets' and come home with fantastic stories and digital cameras loaded with spectacular images of the melting. I hate to point fingers at these people, but something feels wrong with this.
