Save the Planet

According to the best estimates, the "Big Bang" that gave rise to the universe took place about 13.7 billion years ago. The oldest rocks on Earth suggest that our planet is about 4.5 billion years old. Dinosaurs, which first appeared about 250 million years ago, disappeared about 65 million years ago, probably because of the ecological effects of a large meteor striking the earth. Humans show up 1 - 2 million years ago. Recorded history begins about 5,ooo years ago. Me, I was born about 65 years ago.
As the numbers suggest, the ol' planet was around a long time before humans, and will probably be around a long time after we're gone. Problem is, we're pretty fragile creatures. We need drinkable water on pretty much a daily basis, food at least every couple of days and, unless the temperature stays within a fairly narrow band, we need clothing and shelter. For a long time, humans stayed near the places that offered those amenities, and stayed away from inhospitable places. We've become better at creating a comfortable environment in uncomfortable places, but Al Gore reflects a school of thought that a lot more places are about to become uncomfortable.
There's geological evidence that, before any human walked the planet, the Earth had ice ages and warmer periods. Various kinds of creatures came and went, but the Earth went on.
So, what's the point? Its that we don't need to save the planet; the Earth will take care of itself. We need to do what we can to preserve an environment on the planet that allows our species to exist - at least until the next meteor.