On May 2, 2008, Cyclone Nargis touched down on Burma’s western coast, and – according to top U.S. diplomats – may have claimed the lives of 100,000 people. As Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science has pointed out; it’s tough to say whether the devastation can be blamed directly on the sheer strength of the cyclone (aided undoubtedly by global warming) or on Burma’s bad governance, lack of proper infrastructure and warning systems.
Truth is both factors are at play. Climate change and the extreme weather that it brings have direct implications on international security – for the U.S., and for nations like Burma. In that sense, Nargis is just the beginning. In the years to come, we can expect to see increased frequency of extreme weather events, and other factors, particularly in the developing countries in the earth’s low latitudinal band.
In other words: while the U.S. will face its own slew of catastrophes (think: new diseases outbreaks, increased border stress, and – if you can imagine it – even more volatile fuel prices), the world’s poorest people will be worse off. In what can only be characterized as a cruel twist of irony, the same communities who stand to suffer the most from climate change have contributed least to the problem.
Extreme weather will simply get worse – and more devastating - if we don’t act now. As one of the world’s largest polluters, the U.S. has a moral responsibility, to the world to be leading, acting, and planning to curb the effects of global warming.
The next American President must take decisive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resume cooperation with our allies on energy policy and climate change. The United States cannot solve the climate crisis alone, but the international community cannot solve the climate crisis without United States leadership. We must step up, reduce our own emissions and help poorer and more vulnerable nations deal with the high costs of global warming before it’s too late.
The first step to save the world is to be able to think clearly. That means to step ou
By Incorruptible at 8:47 PM ON 08/10/08
The first step to save the world is to be able to think clearly. That means to step outside the typical leftist box of junk science and emotions over reality.
You want real solutions go to my blog and stop wasting your time here.
By soundacious at 1:54 PM ON 08/11/08
"Incorruptible":
If you think there is a political alignment to science, I can already tell that you have nothing to say that I want to hear.
By TechJedi at 1:06 PM ON 08/12/08
come now. why re-iterate the same claptrap, almost to the same words and turns of phrase-that everyone puts out over and over again. i was hoping there might some kinda concrete suggestions, some wll thought out plans, instead we get "we have to do it" yes, we know we have to do it, and we know we are greedy little bastards for not having done it.
give us something concrete. stop guilt tripping us. this thing is sponsored by scifi.com, give us a plan, a feasible, worked out plan.
By Icegoalie29 at 3:39 AM ON 08/26/08
I agree with you TECHJEDI, we are greedy bastards. Any real solution is going to require sacrificing some of our techsavy convienances and use common sense.Unfortunately sacrifice and common sense are two things not usually found in Government policies and that's where the regulations need to come from. I as a consummer can only do so much, it is up to policy makers to get their heads out of their asses, quit caterring to lobbiest and do what's right vs. what's popular. Until such a time I'll continue to do what I can to save my 'over taxed' piece of Terra Ferma.
By Jared at 11:12 AM ON 08/31/08
On Sunday 8 | 28 | 8 Hurricane Gustav is making it's way across the Gulf of Mexico heading for the New Orleans area.
Evacuations are now initiated throughout the entire region with valuable information between everyone around the country through high tech that is drowning the power of the storm before it tragically causes human devistation.
As for another fact, Americans are the best 1st responders of catastrophes around the entire planet, and that just goes to show that "while the U.S. will face its own slew of catastrophes", not even one other Country will come here in aid except with their continued hand out for more of what we have to give.
These are American facts to be proud of no-matter what type of human being you are, and even though some may not be able to understand some of what I have to say, the real art of education period.com is that our humanity on the entire planet can be the period in the middle of a paragragh in a whole volume of books, or just the period at the end of one book.
It's up to all of us, but that seems to be my point. It seems to be us in the U.S. that a lot of people hate but rely on us the most in times of crisis at a usual constant pace. We as a whole Country have overextended ourselves to the point of lost homes, jobs, and lives, and it's time for the rest of the planet to stick that hand out in assistance period or there may not be anymore .com to go around.
Jared
By ALS at 4:49 AM ON 09/02/08
I think you jumped ahead to September on the calander because in August, it was the 31st when Gustav made it's wayward bound across the gulf...