Why we need a president who's a leader & not a capitulator: Human civilization is on the precipice

[Karmadillo]

Prosecuting endless, ruinously expensive wars and bailing out corrupt banksters and cutting taxes for the rich while ignoring the environmental catastrophe that will destroy our children is not the kind of hope and change we need. The article, providing much more detail and supporting links, is well worth reading all the way through.

http://climateprogress.org/2010/11/15/year-in-climate-science-climategate/

A stunning year in climate science reveals that human civilization is on the precipice
The first anniversary of 'Climategate', Part 1: The media blows the story of the century

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But for those interested in the real climate science story of the past year, let’s review a couple dozen studies of the most important findings. Any one of these would be cause for action — and combined they vindicate the final sentence of Elizabeth Kolbert’s Field Notes from a Catastrophe: “It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.”

1. Nature: “Global warming blamed for 40% decline in the ocean’s phytoplankton”: “Microscopic life crucial to the marine food chain is dying out. The consequences could be catastrophic.”

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2. Science: Vast East Siberian Arctic Shelf methane stores destabilizing and venting: NSF issues world a wake-up call: “Release of even a fraction of the methane stored in the shelf could trigger abrupt climate warming.”

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3. Must-read NCAR analysis warns we risk multiple, devastating global droughts even on moderate emissions path.

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4. Nature Geoscience study: Oceans are acidifying 10 times faster today than 55 million years ago when a mass extinction of marine species occurred and “Geological Society: Acidifying oceans spell marine biological meltdown “by end of century” — Co-author: “Unless we curb carbon emissions we risk mass extinctions, degrading coastal waters and encouraging outbreaks of toxic jellyfish and algae.”

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5. Sea levels may rise 3 times faster than IPCC estimated, could hit 6 feet by 2100 and these related findings and studies:

lots more...

[fascisthunter]

1. People Lying about Global Warming are Endangering Everybody

I think their influence has made us that much more vulnerable. Sound harsh... it is.

[Karmadillo]

2. Probably not as much as our "corporations über alles" leaders.

nt

[fascisthunter]

4. Agreed.. they are paying folks to lie to spread disinformation

thankfully, most are taking global warming seriously. The extreme weather alone is bringing doubters around now.

[lonestarnot]

5. All while they're building the second ark with our stolen dough.

[Karmadillo]

21. And the liquid falling on our heads from the deck where they lord it over us isn't rain.

nt

[tularetom]

8. I think they're the same people

[villager]

3. People lying by minimizing the effects of climate change? You're right.

n/t

[fascisthunter]

6. I Should have been clearer

[Mimosa]

18. Because I've studied *much* about the causes of nucear sun flaring, I see the sun is in flux

The climatic history of earth has provably altered wildly through the millenia. I've a friend who's a scientist who helped me understand the studies of the Max Plan Institute for Solar Studies and their related studies. I have learned much from studying the works of scientists in many specialties who approach the climate change issues with no pre-conceived agendas.

The geologic history of the world has left us records of constant changes unrelated to any activioes of human beings activities. When our numbers were small our earth was hot. Then during at least 2 Ice ages wewere freezng. WE might be noving cold again.

BUT the real science isn't yet in, is it?

[fascisthunter]

20. perfect example

[Karmadillo]

23. AND there was that Newsweek article back in the Sixties.

nt

[Still a Democrat]

7. I wonder how many people will rec this after just reading the headline? n/t

[toddaa]

9. Me

I knew exactly what it was about.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. Glad somebody does....

[LWolf]

22. I read it first. nt

[Rex]

11. Human civilization or America?

Not so sure I would include the entire Earth.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. Try reading the article.

Phytoplankton die off, decreasing oxygen production & increasing CO2.
1.5 trillion tons potential methane release from Siberian permafrost.
Worldwide die off of corals, decimating fish stocks around the world.
Worldwide droughts, loss of glacier-fed rivers.

That pretty much covers the entire earth.

[Rex]

15. Yes, but other nations of the world might solve the problem without us

didn't that ever occur to you?

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. With 5% of the world's population, we use 25% of the world's

energy resources. This is NOT something that can be fixed without us.

My personal opinion is that ship has already sailed. When future histories are written, the tipping point will be pinned at about 1995. We are facing a world of hurt over the next century. With the whole world cooperating we might mitigate some of the damage, avoid extinction. I'm not optimistic.

[provis99]

12. eh. If humans die, rats will survive and take over.

I, for one, would welcome our new rodent overlords.

[Karmadillo]

19. As Wikileaks & other evidence demonstrates, the rats have pretty much taken over already.

nt

[opihimoimoi]

13. Not too many Greenies in the GOPer Party..........disqualy mode

[freshwest]

16. Stunning article. Something everyone should read.

We're confronted with a segment of the population who believe this is God's will. Most of those are on the religious right, but I even know Democrats who are religious that are giving up because their religion tells them it's inevitable. It's the mentality that Gore talked about near the end of his book Earth in the Balance. They are bringing about exactly what they fear. It's hard for a POTUS or anyone to get through this fatalist belief system.

There are plenty of people acting on their own and within groups to live as lightly on the land as possible, not pollute in any way and lower their carbon foot prints. But we have too many who are into the mindset that there is nothing humanity can do. This is the reality that any leader gets knocked in the head with.

That and the oligarchs who really don't care about the future of mankind in general, so long as they think they're going to survive.

My main hope is what I see happening with human consciousness, which is hard to define, especially in a political context. People like myself are just shedding about everything in every way. That is the answer, action to remove oneself from the problem initially, then work positively with others to create a different world.

It grieves me to see so much investment by millions of people in our societal systems stolen away for no good cause. And what is happening everyday to the diversity of life on this planet is enough to make your heart fall at your feet.

There were reports of workers who had been sent to rescue sea turtles in the containment rings set up by BP in the Gulf, before they set the oil on fire. So much marine life died unspeakable deaths and one video of the men said they were told to stop, that they wouldn't be allowed to do anymore rescues.

You could hear the despair in their voices, the horror on their faces. They reported that at least two rescuers committed suicide, they could not bear what they saw there. Like a war zone.

We are part of everything on this planet. When it dies, we die. Not just in the physical sense. We're headed for something very dark or very light. I'm not sure how this plays out. In the meantime we have to resist those who seem to hate all life.