Most Americans now recognize that Climate Change is a real problem, except those intellectually euthanized by Faux Noise. However, many of us are not aware of all the ways it effects us right now. I came across an excellent article that details ten such ways.
The onslaught of extreme weather and record temperatures this year have had an impact on people globally, directly through drought and temperature, and more indirectly impacting food prices and public transportation.
Here are 10 impacts we’re seeing right now that climate change is very likely worsening, in some cases playing a major role:
Rising Food Prices
Over half of the Continental U.S. is now facing severe drought–the worst in fifty years. As a result of extreme temperatures and little rain, corn production suffers although analysts predicted record production at the start of the year. In coming months, record-high food prices will continue to rise, affecting thousands of supermarket products. See also “Story of the Year: Warming-Driven Drought and Extreme Weather Emerge as Key Threat to Global Food Security.”
Goodbye Glaciers, Sea Ice
This week, an iceberg twice the size of Manhattan tore itself off of one of the largest glaciers in North Greenland, following another break of comparable size in 2010. Scientists say that such dramatic change is unprecedented, and report that “the Arctic had the largest sea ice loss on record for June.” [ClimateProgress]
Landslides
A recent landslide on an Alaskan glacier was massive enough to register as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake, even recorded in Canada. “We are seeing an increase in rock slides in mountain areas throughout the world because of permafrost degradation,” a scientist said. [Huffington Post]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Picture Credit: The Telegraph
I have given you three of the ten ways. I strongly recommend that you click through for the other seven.
While neither party is environmentally ideal, only one recognizes the problem and supports green energy. Therefore the notion that they are the same does not hold water. Democrats have proposed dozens of pro environment measures, only to be blocked by Republicans.
The temperature’s cooling, the power is back on in Washington, D.C., the fires are almost out in Colorado and they’ve almost cleaned up from the flooding in Florida.
So naturally, those who continue to deny (at the peril of the rest of us) the connection between climate change and extreme weather disasters are once again raising their heads and raising their voices.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, the igloo-building, oil-state politician who recently authored a book proclaiming global warming is a hoax, used the Senate floor as a stage to do just that on Wednesday. Columnist George Will used the airwaves over the weekend to say that prolonged record high temperatures and the hottest year on record just means it’s summer – get over it…
Inserted from <Huffington Post>
Picture Credit: 350 or bust
In January, either Republicans or Democrats will be in power. There are no other viable options for most places. If you want to save the earth, you’d better help make sure that Republicans are removed from power.
12 Responses to “Present Effects of Climate Change”
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It's a given that Repubicans believe that man has NO hand in the development of Global Warming (which they doubt is actually happening anyway).
But you got to give them some credit. With thinking like that, Repubicans really WILL be able to turn our nation back into what it once was …
A vast land mass covered with water – commonly referred to as an OCEAN!
And what will they do then? Still deny it? Or will they at least recognise a shrinking land mass and build an ark? Betcha no animals and no people other than the 1% need apply for passage!
Most Republicans think Supply-side Jesus will poof them away.
Well said!
"This week, an iceberg twice the size of Manhattan tore itself off of one of the largest glaciers in North Greenland, following another break of comparable size in 2010."
I there any hope for the Polar Bears?
Little, outside of zoos.
Just love this phrase! — "except those intellectually euthanized by Faux Noise"
I remember seeing many years ago what I think was a movie trailer. It involved large walls of water hitting the east coast of the US. The oceans were rising. Cities disappeared, people could not escape fast enough and perished. This frightened me at the time.
But now we are seeing so much evidence of the power of nature and the power of our planet. As I understand, the sizes of deserts are growing; thunder storms are more violent and frequent (they were extremely rare in Vancouver yet seem to happen more frequently); bizarre winter snow storms in Europe; icebergs calving; earthquakes brought on by fracking — all these things and more are happening now.
How the world, not just the US, deals with these problems will determine how well the human race fares. The whole world needs to work on these problems together. No one country can do it all, nor should they. Each country needs enlightened leadership to carry the torch .
As far as the US is concerned, the Republican/Teabaggers will just sell the nation to the corporations to rape and pillage for profit without regard to sustainability. And the Democrats are not perfect either. It will take a sustained effort by the citizenry to pull this off. And Canada is no different. PM Harper has little regard for environmental concerns, although I have yet to hear him deny climate change. Canadians too must make a sustained effort to change how we interact with the planet.
It's a TC original, and that was the first time used.
Agree to all the rest
Yes, I believe FAUX Noise viewers are "intellectually euthanized". I can't begin to tell you how many times I have tried to convince friends and family FAUX viewers of the reality of climate change. They refuse to listen. It's like beating a dead horse. I have never really given up though because I still think there is hope they will pull out of their comas and "see the truth before they can die".
Patty, al I can say is keep trying.
In January, either Republicans or Democrats will be in power. There are no other viable options for most places. If you want to save the earth, you’d better help make sure that Republicans are removed from power.
Tom, you have just neatly explained why the Repubs deny global warming's existence. They have sold out to monied interests. In order to justify the continuation of that personally gratifying strategy, they must deny the existence of global warming.
Exactly, Angie!