A new study shows that contrary to deniers, Antarctica is heating, and the massive Wilkins Ice Shelf is breaking apart. The Climate Crisis is here, deny it or not.
5 weeks ago
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Antarctica Joins the Quiet Crisis
One of the few specific issues Barack Obama mentioned in his Inaugural Address was the Climate Crisis. That's important, because as a relatively quiet crisis--partly because we don't recognize many of its manifestations as being evidence of global heating--much louder problems always drown out concerns over what is the greatest crisis of all, because it's the biggest in scale, and the greatest threat to human civilization.
Yet there is news nearly every day that it is real, and even that it is getting worse faster than many scientists expected.
There were two very hot summers at the end of the 1980s in the eastern half of the U.S., and those also happened to be the years that a number of books and television documentaries as well as magazine and newspaper reports began to really sound the alarm about the reality and possible dimensions of what was then called the greenhouse effect or global warming.
Now temperature data for the past year of 2008 is complete, and without a lot of fanfare or anyone noticing it much, it was the eighth hottest year on record. But here's the statistic that got to me: all ten of the hottest years on record have occurred since 1997. That's even though the preceding decade also broke temperature records.
These government figures are supported by university studies which show that our seasons are starting earlier. Winters are warmer, and combined with earlier seasonal change, even small differences can have an impact on many species as well as the water supplies of vast human cities.
In their increasingly desperate attempts to justify their delusions, Climate Crisis deniers like to point to Antarctica, where evidence of heating was mixed. Now new data shows that all of Anarctica is warming. The massive Wilkins ice shelf is collapsing, hanging by less than a thread. The Climate Crisis is already affecting all seven continents, as well as the oceans.
Wilkins will be the tenth Antarctic ice shelf to vanish into the sea in half a century. Some had been in place for 10,000 years. Most climate scientists say the new Antarctic research is just the latest sign that global warming is happening more severely - and quickly - than many thought.
Human civilization as we know it is only about 10,000 years old--as long as these ice shelves have existed. Scientists know they are important to the climate we've had for those centuries. Their disappearance alone should tell us: this is a crisis. The test of our civilization will be whether we can attend to this crisis, even if louder and flashier ones appear and disappear to grab our attention. It's not a good time for a society to wallow in attention deficit disorder. It's time to be smart for a change.
Yet there is news nearly every day that it is real, and even that it is getting worse faster than many scientists expected.
There were two very hot summers at the end of the 1980s in the eastern half of the U.S., and those also happened to be the years that a number of books and television documentaries as well as magazine and newspaper reports began to really sound the alarm about the reality and possible dimensions of what was then called the greenhouse effect or global warming.
Now temperature data for the past year of 2008 is complete, and without a lot of fanfare or anyone noticing it much, it was the eighth hottest year on record. But here's the statistic that got to me: all ten of the hottest years on record have occurred since 1997. That's even though the preceding decade also broke temperature records.
These government figures are supported by university studies which show that our seasons are starting earlier. Winters are warmer, and combined with earlier seasonal change, even small differences can have an impact on many species as well as the water supplies of vast human cities.
In their increasingly desperate attempts to justify their delusions, Climate Crisis deniers like to point to Antarctica, where evidence of heating was mixed. Now new data shows that all of Anarctica is warming. The massive Wilkins ice shelf is collapsing, hanging by less than a thread. The Climate Crisis is already affecting all seven continents, as well as the oceans.
Wilkins will be the tenth Antarctic ice shelf to vanish into the sea in half a century. Some had been in place for 10,000 years. Most climate scientists say the new Antarctic research is just the latest sign that global warming is happening more severely - and quickly - than many thought.
Human civilization as we know it is only about 10,000 years old--as long as these ice shelves have existed. Scientists know they are important to the climate we've had for those centuries. Their disappearance alone should tell us: this is a crisis. The test of our civilization will be whether we can attend to this crisis, even if louder and flashier ones appear and disappear to grab our attention. It's not a good time for a society to wallow in attention deficit disorder. It's time to be smart for a change.
President Obama's First Day
YES to ethics and transparency.
NO to secrets prisons and Guantanamo.
NO to the Iraq War.
According to news briefs, President Obama's second day will focus on foreign affairs, particularly the Mideast. But other problems may be brewing, including what seems to be growing anxiety about Mexico, according to this AP report. The Senate confirmed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State on Wednesday.
On the Economy, while Congress begins discussions on the recovery plan, there are stories that banks and the financial system require more attention. This intriguing piece at TPM suggests how big the plans may be to deal with this. However, due in part to the fact that the Treasury Secretary has not yet been confirmed, proposals that some said would come as early as this week may not happen for a couple of weeks.
Of course there were lots of stories Wednesday about the Inauguration, and accounts of experiences in Washington and elsewhere. This one caught my eye for its link to what began with the JFK Inauguration (the one I went to Washington to see) through the Peace Corps and Harris Wofford, who I worked with on a project in Pennsylvania when he was PA Sec. of Labor in the late 80s--and heard some of these Peace Corps and JFK stories first hand. I'm happy to hear how well he's doing--and how well he's dancing!
NO to secrets prisons and Guantanamo.
NO to the Iraq War.
According to news briefs, President Obama's second day will focus on foreign affairs, particularly the Mideast. But other problems may be brewing, including what seems to be growing anxiety about Mexico, according to this AP report. The Senate confirmed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State on Wednesday.
On the Economy, while Congress begins discussions on the recovery plan, there are stories that banks and the financial system require more attention. This intriguing piece at TPM suggests how big the plans may be to deal with this. However, due in part to the fact that the Treasury Secretary has not yet been confirmed, proposals that some said would come as early as this week may not happen for a couple of weeks.
Of course there were lots of stories Wednesday about the Inauguration, and accounts of experiences in Washington and elsewhere. This one caught my eye for its link to what began with the JFK Inauguration (the one I went to Washington to see) through the Peace Corps and Harris Wofford, who I worked with on a project in Pennsylvania when he was PA Sec. of Labor in the late 80s--and heard some of these Peace Corps and JFK stories first hand. I'm happy to hear how well he's doing--and how well he's dancing!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
When Imagination is Joined
"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage." Barack Obama January 20, 2009
The Day
Three images from the New York Times from Inauguration Day: Barack and Michelle Obama walking for part of the parade route; the Inaugural platform; a wide version of the oath. Hours after the many Inaugural balls end early Wednesday morning, President Obama will be at work. Already he has requested that all prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo be halted pending a review of the tribunal system, and there is likely to be big news before this time Wednesday night. It was a day that comes once in a generation, at most, and this one in some ways was the culmination of the entire history of the U.S. But things are going to start happening--big, and fast. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Elsewhere on Inauguration Day
This collage of photos from the New York Times shows Inauguration-related scenes far from Washington: a schoolgirl going to her grade school's Inaugural Ball, a senior couple at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Atlanta, and watching the Inaugural: a crowd in Times Square, a high school, the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and a Chicago movie theatre. Click to enlarge.
The Teddy Scare
At the luncheon directly after the Inaugural ceremonies, Senator Ted Kennedy had what were reported as seizures, and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. The mood suddenly turned somber, but then word came back that he was feeling better even as he was placed in the ambulance. Doctors later said the problem was fatigue, and Kennedy is expected to be discharged Wednesday. Others said that there had been some discussion of Kennedy not attending because of a cold, but he clearly wanted very much to be there: that's him in the center of the above picture of Obama taking the oath, in the fedora, with the broad smile. That's how important this day was to him and at least some other Kennedys.
The Inaugural Ceremony
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." click to enlarge.
President Barack Obama
"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."
Monday, January 19, 2009
One Day to Change
According to reporting by Elizabeth Drew, Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 election was so large that he could have won without the vote of a single African American. Nevertheless, the Inauguration tomorrow of the first African American President reminds us on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday that tomorrow is a victory for racial justice and of King's dream of a society in which people are judged not on their race but on the content of their character. It is clearly a significant source of hope for young people, but particularly for those of perceived minorities, and especially for African American children, like this one.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2)
"Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure — that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time."--Barack Obama at the Lincoln Memorial. AP story here. Click to enlarge. AP photos.
Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
New York Times story on the event here. Click to enlarge. AP photos. The figures in the photos include Bruce Springstein, Pete Seger, Beyonce, will i. am, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Tiger Woods, Denzel Washington, Malia Obama. Garth Brooks (not pictured) led the crowd (estimated at 750,000 or more) in a rousing rendition of "Shout!"
Two Days to Change
It's close enough to feel it happening, but even though Americans have high hopes for what Barack Obama can do as President, a new poll shows they also have patience. They don't expect he will be able to solve our big problems right away. They know it will all take time. But they're ready to begin the adventure!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Smiles and Tears to Washington
President-Elect Obama's train journey from Philadelphia took him through Wilmington, Del. where he picked up his VP Joe Biden, and Baltimore, where this photo was taken in the crowd greeting the train (by the New York Times.) A NYT description of the trip is here. The stirring (10 min) Philadelphia speech is below. Added to the 35,000 in Baltimore and the crowds in Philly and Wilmington were people at stations along the way, where the train didn't stop. From the Time magazine coverage: Most people could only see Obama's train for a matter of seconds. It rarely slowed, and Obama only stepped outside the caboose to wave on a few occasions. But none of this seemed to dent the enthusiasm of the crowds. They cheered as if the train was coming to see them, as if Obama's victory had been their victory, and it was only now just beginning. For miles and miles, for people in dress coats and work clothes, it was the same--Americans literally jumping for joy over a president who has changed his country without yet taking office.
Towards A More Perfect Union
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
“While our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not. What is required is the same perseverance and idealism that our founders displayed. What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives – from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry – an appeal not to our easy instincts but to our better angels.”
Three Days to Change
Because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Change is logical. Live long and prosper. ["photo" from henryjenkins.org]
Friday, January 16, 2009
You'd Do the Same For Me
When the plane hit the river and water started flowing into the cabin, passengers helped each other to the exits. The plane came to a stop in front of a river ferry, which immediately rushed to its side, and its passengers began a rescue operation, without instruction, authorities or hesitation. Passengers on the plane sent women and children to the ferry, and on the ferry, men helped them aboard while women gathered coats to warm them...It's the impulse and the ethic that holds a society together and makes it strong. Less ambiguous than the Golden Rule, it is the human rule: you'd do the same for me.
4 Days to Change
This cover for The Nation this week fantasizes the Obama Inauguration as witnessed by figures in history that made possible the election of the first African American as President, from Thurgood Marshall (administering the oath to Obama) to Chief Joseph, Harvey Milk, Nelson Mandella, Barbara Jordan and Susan B. Anthony. And of course, Abe Lincoln. Here's the key to who all the figures are, and a blog post by the artist explaining his choices.
Starting to Happen
Barack Obama is four days away from becoming President, but his presidency is starting to happen. While his cabinet selections are being considered for confirmation by the Senate, PE Obama has begun to take the reins of economic recovery.
Thanks in large measure to how the Bushites bungled the first montrous half of the $700 billion TARP bailout, there was congressional resistance to approving the second half for Obama. But he and his administration said straight out what they intended to do with it, and how transparent they were going to be with exactly how they would spend that money. Obama also let it be known that if Congress balked, he would use his first veto to free the funds.
And whatever else he said, it worked. Wrote Time's Jay Newton-Small: Yesterday really was something to watch with Senate Dems openly going into the meeting voicing skepticism about supporting the second half of the bank bailout, an issue on par with President Bush in public approval ratings, both are at 27%. “I don't think the climate warrants it,” said Senator Evan Bayh walking into the luncheon with PEOTUS Obama. “The first half has done its work, the banking sector is far more stable than in September.”
Yet somehow, 45 minutes later, nearly everyone emerged in support of the bailout. “It was really something to watch,” marveled Michigan's Debbie Stabenow. “He convinced a lot of people to come to his side. It was just amazing to see what kind of president he'll make."
So on Thursday, a key Senate vote assured that Obama would get the remaining $350 billion as soon as he takes office.
Meanwhile, his own economic recovery plan has changed some, partly in response to criticisms and ideas, and it has also become more specific. Ambinder lays it out this way:
Moolah -- a large expansion of unemplyoment benefits, increasing the duration and amount of the money; also: a big expansion of the (highly stimulative) foos stamp program.
Education: $41 billion for school repair; nearly $80 billion to states and local governments to prevent criticial services from being cut; $15.6 billion for Pell grant expansion; $6 billion to colleges and universities.
A passel of other items, like a few billion for home heating subsidies.
COBRA -- $39 billion worth of new spending to allow folks who've lost their job to keep their employer's insurance even longer.
Highway/Road/Rail: $30 billion for projects; also, billions for light rail, upgrades and repairs and Amtrak.
Energy: $11 billion for the electricity grid, $8 billion in loan gaurantees for new power station / transmission projects, $6.7 billion to make government buildings more energy efficient, $6.2 billion to help poor families make their homes more energy efficient; $600 million for new, energy efficient cars for the federal fleet; $2.4 billion for carbon capture research;
Businesses: $430 million for small business loans; $100 million for rural business grants; several hundred million to help foster job growth in the manufacturing sector and in localities hit hard by the recession.
Science -- $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, $2 billion more for the NIH, hundreds of millions for high energy physics, satellite development, construction grants, the U.S. geological survey, NASA climate change programs and more.
Tax Cuts -- Obama's downpayment on payroll tax relief -- $500 per person, $1000 per couple. The Earned Income Tax Credit will be expanded.
Digital conversion -- $650 million in new coupons for the digital television transition.
The recovery plan also comes with blueprints for oversight, both institutional (Overseeing the economic recovery spending, House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey (D-WI) said today, will be a seven-person board composed of assistant secretaries and inspectors general of various agencies. Obey described the board's mission as "early warning of funding management problems" as the bill is implemented in states and towns across the country) and by providing information to--well, everybody: Contracts and data on where the stimulus money is heading will be posted online... But the best part of all: Any member of the public who has concerns with a particular element of the spending disbursement can post their questions for the oversight board to investigate.
Soon-to-be President Obama remains the most popular incoming president in generations (71%), and his economic recovery program is especially popular--but here's the really fantastic news, so note it well ye conventional wisdom nonthinkers: "the idea of creating jobs through increasing production of renewable energy and making public buildings more energy efficient" gets the approval of 89% of the public.
Thanks in large measure to how the Bushites bungled the first montrous half of the $700 billion TARP bailout, there was congressional resistance to approving the second half for Obama. But he and his administration said straight out what they intended to do with it, and how transparent they were going to be with exactly how they would spend that money. Obama also let it be known that if Congress balked, he would use his first veto to free the funds.
And whatever else he said, it worked. Wrote Time's Jay Newton-Small: Yesterday really was something to watch with Senate Dems openly going into the meeting voicing skepticism about supporting the second half of the bank bailout, an issue on par with President Bush in public approval ratings, both are at 27%. “I don't think the climate warrants it,” said Senator Evan Bayh walking into the luncheon with PEOTUS Obama. “The first half has done its work, the banking sector is far more stable than in September.”
Yet somehow, 45 minutes later, nearly everyone emerged in support of the bailout. “It was really something to watch,” marveled Michigan's Debbie Stabenow. “He convinced a lot of people to come to his side. It was just amazing to see what kind of president he'll make."
So on Thursday, a key Senate vote assured that Obama would get the remaining $350 billion as soon as he takes office.
Meanwhile, his own economic recovery plan has changed some, partly in response to criticisms and ideas, and it has also become more specific. Ambinder lays it out this way:
Moolah -- a large expansion of unemplyoment benefits, increasing the duration and amount of the money; also: a big expansion of the (highly stimulative) foos stamp program.
Education: $41 billion for school repair; nearly $80 billion to states and local governments to prevent criticial services from being cut; $15.6 billion for Pell grant expansion; $6 billion to colleges and universities.
A passel of other items, like a few billion for home heating subsidies.
COBRA -- $39 billion worth of new spending to allow folks who've lost their job to keep their employer's insurance even longer.
Highway/Road/Rail: $30 billion for projects; also, billions for light rail, upgrades and repairs and Amtrak.
Energy: $11 billion for the electricity grid, $8 billion in loan gaurantees for new power station / transmission projects, $6.7 billion to make government buildings more energy efficient, $6.2 billion to help poor families make their homes more energy efficient; $600 million for new, energy efficient cars for the federal fleet; $2.4 billion for carbon capture research;
Businesses: $430 million for small business loans; $100 million for rural business grants; several hundred million to help foster job growth in the manufacturing sector and in localities hit hard by the recession.
Science -- $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, $2 billion more for the NIH, hundreds of millions for high energy physics, satellite development, construction grants, the U.S. geological survey, NASA climate change programs and more.
Tax Cuts -- Obama's downpayment on payroll tax relief -- $500 per person, $1000 per couple. The Earned Income Tax Credit will be expanded.
Digital conversion -- $650 million in new coupons for the digital television transition.
The recovery plan also comes with blueprints for oversight, both institutional (Overseeing the economic recovery spending, House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey (D-WI) said today, will be a seven-person board composed of assistant secretaries and inspectors general of various agencies. Obey described the board's mission as "early warning of funding management problems" as the bill is implemented in states and towns across the country) and by providing information to--well, everybody: Contracts and data on where the stimulus money is heading will be posted online... But the best part of all: Any member of the public who has concerns with a particular element of the spending disbursement can post their questions for the oversight board to investigate.
Soon-to-be President Obama remains the most popular incoming president in generations (71%), and his economic recovery program is especially popular--but here's the really fantastic news, so note it well ye conventional wisdom nonthinkers: "the idea of creating jobs through increasing production of renewable energy and making public buildings more energy efficient" gets the approval of 89% of the public.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Arcatan Sunset 2
These bright days and these sunsets may not be normal for us here at this time of year, but why ignore them?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Six Days to Change
"...for the poet is representative. He stands among partial men for the complete man, and apprises us not of his wealth, but of the common wealth."--Emerson
Arcatan Sunset
We've had uncharacteristically bright days this week (this should be the rainy season), with spectacular sunsets. I've seen most of them from the patio at Wildberries--hence this photo. I'm still learning this little digital job--more pixels but I like it less than my old one. It's much more temperamental. Click photo to enlarge so it actually looks like something.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
One Year Ago: Yes We Can
The New Hampshire primary was on the second Tuesday of January one year ago. Though Hillary Clinton unexpectedly won it, the night is likely to be remembered for Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" speech, which led to--among many other things--the best-known political video of all time. It's never a bad time to watch and listen to it again, but tonight might be an especially good time.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Eight Days to Change
One more "playing with the moon" photo because that's what I just did: we've had a weekend of clear night skies and the brightest moon of the year--for several more years, since the moon is closer than it will be for awhile--and even though it's started waning tonight, it was directly overhead and I cast a dark if foreshortened shadow, which I jumped around with for awhile. And since this is a peace sign of sorts, we'll also make it part of the pre-Inaugural countdown.
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