environment: New York Post pakistan Ralph Peters
by Warren
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Month 8, Day 19: Deeper and Dire
I can’t believe I’ve never written to the New York Post before. Their columnist Ralph Peters raises the possibility that the floods may bring about the downfall of the Zardari government. Maybe. Needless to say, the idea that anthropogenic climate change is somehow implicated in this catastrophe is absolutely out of the question. BTW, the comments on Peters’ article are absolutely horrific. My favorite is this one:
beatitdems
08/18/2010 5:52 AM
35 Million Refugees Drowning in Pakistan is surely a tragedy that tears at the Human Heart , MR. Peters . And we all rush to their aid , and pray for their relief . The closest parallel that comes to mind , are the Millions of Americans who are drowning now , right here in America under the flood of taxes and the inept leadership of a Communist Dictatorship led by Barack Hussein Obama .
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.
Anyway, here’s my letter:
As Ralph Peters suggests, Pakistani extremists may tout the torrential rains as a judgment from on high. He comments, “Sound incredible? Look at some of the things educated Americans believe.” Indeed. For example, even as New York fries, Russia dries, and Pakistan drowns, many educated Americans believe that global warming is a fraud and a hoax — despite the fact that climate scientists predicted all of these phenomena in the mid-1980s. Zardari’s regime may be the first governmental casualty of climate change; it is unlikely to be the last. The fact that the phrase “global warming” appears nowhere in his article is a sad indictment of a news media that has abdicated its responsibilities. But as Peters points out, “People believe what comforts them and what feeds their rage.” It’s easier to believe in an international scientific conspiracy than it is to face the facts and act on them.
Warren Senders
environment: New York Post
by Warren
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Month 7, Day 12: How Does It Feel? I’ll Tell You How It Feels: It Feels Like I’m Talking To A Wall, That’s How It Feels!
The New York Daily News posts a column by Colin Beavan stating that we need to stop using oil. True enough, and uncharacteristic of the Murdoch Mob’s flagship paper. For a true grand tour of stupid, read the comments thread. Sheesh.
Colin Beavan is right. With the Gulf of Mexico becoming a dead zone, and the level of atmospheric CO2 increasing to points well beyond what scientists tell us is safe for humans, we desperately need to wean ourselves from our terrifying addiction. Even if you disregard the warning signs of global climate change and the predictions of climatologists, the necessity of moving beyond oil and coal has never been clearer. We need to realize that fossil fuels have never been cheap; we’ve simply delayed many of the most severe costs for generations. The costs of cleanup, health impacts, environmental destruction and of global climate change are all falling due, even as big energy companies announce yet another year of obscene profits. Some say imagining a world without fossil fuels is “impractical” — but in fact, it’s the only “realistic” option we’ve got.
Warren Senders