Johnny Townsend: Superstition is leading us toward extinction

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students gather to call for action on climate change at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday March 15, 2019.Humans are an intelligent, rational species. We build upon existing knowledge to understand ourselves and the world around us. This trait has allowed us to overcome almost every obstacle and reign as the dominant species on the planet.

So why haven’t we been able to incorporate the science around greenhouse gases into our collective consciousness and adjust our behavior accordingly?

In addition to being highly rational creatures, it seems, we’re also highly irrational.

Smart, intelligent people will throw a pinch of salt over their shoulder.…