Well it has been a busy day . . . mostly spent slaving over a hot keyboard with this and two other articles, I haven't even done TC's Open Thread yet. I did manage to get out to pick up my new cell phone so I'll have to spend some time getting accustomed to it. Tomorrow is Canada Day and I am staying low. It may rain anyway, but I have a few urgent matters requiring my attention. Lucia will be out with her kids so no teaching tomorrow. A nice rest.
Short Takes
Think Progress — In a blunt letter to Congress, 31 leading scientific societies reaffirmed the reality that humans are causing climate change and only we can stop it. “To reduce the risk of the most severe impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be substantially reduced,” they write. …
But as long as the media still gives presidential candidates (and pretty much every other major politician) a free pass on this most preventable of existential threats to America, scientists will have to keep “reminding” policymakers of the broad scientific understanding about human-caused climate change.
“Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research concludes that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver,” explain the 31 scientific groups. “This conclusion is based on multiple independent lines of evidence and the vast body of peer-reviewed science.'”
I guess the old adage "give until it hurts" applies here. Certainly the Republican dominated (for now!) Congress is not going to back down from their denial state. That would mean ignoring their ever fattening wallets. Of course, if they and theirs don't have a world in which to make more money and spend it, who cares, right? They are such a bunch of myopic lame-brains!
CBC — The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned approval of Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway project after finding Ottawa failed to properly consult the First Nations affected by the pipeline.
"We find that Canada offered only a brief, hurried and inadequate opportunity … to exchange and discuss information and to dialogue," the ruling says. …
Constitutional requirement to consult
The majority ruling was signed by two of the three judges on the Appeal Court panel. Judge Michael Ryer wrote a dissenting opinion.
Pipeline opponents have called the decision "landmark."
"At every turn you're going, you are seeing nails in the coffin of the Enbridge project," said Peter Lantin, president of the council of the Haida Nation, one of the parties that appealed.
"I don't think there's enough room for another nail in the coffin."
It was former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his harlots that rushed that decision through in 2014 ignoring the consultative process. Not surprising really! He ignored a lot of First Nations issues and emergencies such as Attawapiskat. PM Trudeau commented that he does not want to see a pipeline through the Great Bear Rainforest of the BC central and northern coast, nor oil tankers, massive tankers, plying the coastal waters of the Pacific. I hope this will be the end but the pro-pipeline group is likely to try to take this to the Supreme Court of Canada. May they fail miserably!
Daily Beast — The battle to become Britain’s next prime minister has descended into a blood-spattered Shakespearean epic within 24 hours of the nominations being opened. Betrayal, intrigue, and backstabbing gripped the Conservative Party at the end of the most dramatic week in the history of British politics.
Boris Johnson, who was the favorite to win the contest earlier Thursday, was forced to pull out of the race when his own campaign manager betrayed him in spectacular fashion.
Johnson is widely thought to have campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union in last week’s referendum as part of a cunning plot to seize the leadership of the Conservative Party from his old school friend David Cameron. …
In a statement that shocked Westminster on Thursday, he announced he would quit his role as Johnson’s campaign manager and put himself forward for the party leadership.
“I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead,” Gove said. …
“I have never seen anything like it. He’s ripped the Tory party apart, he has created the greatest constitutional crisis in peacetime in my life. He’s knocked billions off the value of the savings of the British people. He’s like a general who marches his army to the sound of the guns, and the moment he sees the battleground he abandons it,” said Lord Heseltine, the former Conservative deputy prime minister and Thatcher-era Cabinet member.
It is not just markets and currencies that have taken a hit from the Brexit vote. British politics, post Brexit, are starting to look a lot like American politics with backroom deals and skullduggery! Pip! Pip! Old chaps. Let's be civil!
My Universe —
Run Forest! Run!
Some kids can sleep in any position! Life is tiring when you're so cute!
9 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread — 30/06/2016”
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TP: Of course WE know that there are changes going on every single day. The weather patterns, droughts, severe floods, and fires to name a few. Plus the lack of bees (around my house). And this….right in my hometown. Taking years old forests, plowing them down to build another housing development saddens me. Then people complain when wildlife has no where to go except forage in neighborhoods….Wake up, Congress, it's here and to stay!
CBC: Wonderful news!!
My Universe: Adorable. 1. So much energy! 2. 'See, I AM awake..I'm just resting my eyes'! LOL
Happy Canada Day!! Thanks, Lynn for post.
I think you meant TC's Monthly Report. I hopde the reszxearchy and graphics I did for you helps.
I undewrstand the northern Jet Stream crossed the equator. That's a bi\g warning sign.
I wish we had courts like that!
If UK Republicans (Conservatives) had any integrfity, they would not have pushed Brexit!
The cat on top reminds me of my last year!
No, I meant the Open Thread as I had not done the 30th yet. But I see how you could think the Monthly Report which can't be done though until the 1st at the earliest.
And now on top of Brexit, the report of 2.6 million words into the UK participation in the Iraq war which clobbers the government of the day and Tony Blair. UK seas are really rough these days.
You're very busy again as usual, Lynn, so it's good to hear that you've got a day off tomorrow not teaching Lucia. Enjoy the extra free time an use it to get your cell phone working the way you want it before it becomes fully operational.
TP: Your comment is spot on, Lynn. It's quite unbelievable that of all the so called developed countries (i.e. rich countries) America has people in key places of power who just keep on the denying what is accepted as fact in all those other countries. That doesn't necessarily mean that all those other countries are doing their utmost to bring down greenhouse emissions, but at least they acknowledge the problem, value a positive long term perspective of their people above money, and try to join forces to do something to keep climate change within limits. I have to admit I'm no longer surprised that the country that wants (or wanted?) to be seen as the "leader of the free world" doesn't care much about what's happening to the world beyond their borders, but I still find it mind boggling the way Republican leadership openly shows it's disdain for its own people and country by maintaining that climate change is a hoax in order to secure their power and wealth for the moment.
CBC: Excellent news. And with Trudeau backing this decision, it's very unlikely the Supreme Court will rule in favor of the pro-pipeliners if the take it a step further. They better count their losses and quit.
DB: An analysis in my newspaper this evening was debating Boris has kicked hit political career to the curb and this was the last we'll ever seen of him or if it was a clever trick. After all, he probably never thought there would be a Brexit as he had absolutely no plan for it, but only stepped into the leave-campaign because he was after Cameron's job. Having cheated and lied people into voting for a Brexit, he was now facing the impossible task to negotiate for the best possible deal for Britain with the EU and lead the country out of the utter chaos he he has caused. He's expected to just wait at the sideline until the next PM has brought back some order, but has to clear the field after doing a job from hell, and then Mr. Popular Populist will crawl out of the woodwork again
By the way, the bookies now favor Home Secretary Theresa May, but then who trusts the bookies these days?
My Universe: Could some one get Forest of the slide and put him next to sleepyhead, please? He's been trying to get up that slide at the top of my screen far too long, poor kitty.
Lona, I think you're correct about the Canadian Supreme Court. It is so less contentious than SCOTUS, although asshat Harper tried to pick a fight with the Chief Justice, Beverley MacLaughlin. Harper took a lot of heat . . . and he lost!
TP: That is one hell of a letter, and I wonder if it will even get passing attention from the major media outlets! Perhaps we should all copy it and send it on to Sen. Inhofe's office, tell him to shove that snowball!
CBC: Wonderful!!
DB: What was Shakespeare's comment about the webs we weave? I hear that the petitions for "Do over!" have hit 4 million siognatures.
Mitch, are you thinking of:
"O what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."?
If so, that is from Sir Walter Scott, a Scotsman from Edinburgh.
Thanks guys! That little guy, Forest, is still running!