George Tkalych has had a passion for the environment since he was a young man. Employed as an Assistant Biologist for the Department of Natural Resources, the future doctor worked across the Great Lakes, mapping and measuring their health. Now in his golden years he has maintained his love of the beauty that God has created, and concern for the future of the environment.
For the most part the debate over renewable energy versus fossil fuels centers around climate change. This seems to be a rather stunted discourse, as though climate change could well be the biggest challenge humanity has faced, at the same time it is not the only reason that society should look to switch.
There are many other issues that fossils fuels bring, such as the acidification of the ocean, where excess CO2 is absorbed by our seas; not to mention terrible accidents like oil spills. With the technology coming through and a long list of reasons that we should reassess our energy sources, it seems a rather clean cut discussion.
Then of course there is the ultimate argument; that fossil fuels are a limited resource. So not only are fossil fuels damaging, but in reality we will one day run out of oil, coal and gas. If we consider this we are then no longer faced with ifs, but really just a question of when?
People like George Tkalych find this debate important as it really encompasses every aspect of our future lives, from the wealth of nations and society, to the environment we live in. It is also pressing in nature and needs to happen now, lest we lose wonders like the Great Lakes of Dr Tyalych’s youth.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-denton-cooley-snap-story.html
George Tkalych 