I read that the ice shelves are melting at the rate of 24 cubic square miles a year. Do you think that this is natures way of combatting the green house effect by lowering the ocean temperatures? All of that fresh water will also disolve some of the pollution that we have created. Do you feel that this is part of natures plan?

Your question reminds me of the lady who was riding in the car, and said: "Oh, look over there - isn't it great that the rain falls where the flowers are growing?" In other words I think you have things backward. Nature isn't combatting the greenhouse effect, nature has no way of cleaning up the mess we're making and have made - it's the greenhouse effect that's causing the ice to melt. I remember when I was a kid we used to have snow and frozen ground in the winter. I haven't seen frozen ground since I grew up. Darn right the climate is warming, and if they don't do something about it, we're all going to be sorry, especially those who live in coastal areas.

I don’t know about if this is nature’s way of combating the green house effect or not.

I feel that the planet earth is going through its life cycle. One day it will indeed die. It has had periods of extreme cold and warmth several times already. (The last ice age was kind enough to leave the rocks and sand I currently live on behind. )

Humans are without doubt impacting the environment. I also believe humans will become extinct one day. It is the cycle of life. Many species have come and gone, why should humans be any different?

I just heard about these on the radio the other day (I dont remember what channel, since it was morning Im guessing NPR??). Anyway, I agree that the Earth is just going through its life cycle. The temperature on Earth was rising and falling and rising and falling LONG BEFORE humans even existed! So, I feel that right now we are simply in the rising phase, but because we have not been a species for too long, it looks like the Earth is warming up because of what we are doing. However, I also believe we are not totally innocent when it comes to global warming. We have created some of the mess we are in, but not enough to seriously throw off the Earth's own life cycle...yet. We still need to do something about our own habits and their impacts, but if we start messing with nature's cycle, it could have some serious reprecussions.