Climate Change For Unchanging People

Climate is the global pattern of environmental conditions and weather, and is always in a state of dynamic equilibrium. The equilibrium state of the moment shifts as the spectrum of geophysical and geochemical factors affecting it shifts. A diminution of one factor, perhaps solar radiance, or the amplification of another, perhaps carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere, may in turn alter the proportions of additional factors such as humidity, glaciation and reflectivity. The new spectrum of determining factors will cause the dynamic system called climate to drift toward a new state of stability that is consistent with that new spectrum. This planetary dance of earth, wind, fire and water involves many interlocking cycles whose scales span from the minuscule to the monumental, and whose periods span from the ephemeral to the enduring. The leavings, lost heat and outgassing of humanity are just a few of the many factors in the dynamic spectrum affecting climate. Its enduring dance about equilibrium easily takes account of our force of displacing it, and the dance neither loses rhythm nor momentum. Can we also do the same, adjust humanity’s cycles and patterns to mesh with an as yet incompletely known trajectory of climatic change? The very first step to addressing this question is recognizing that it exists, and accepting it as the fundamental challenge of our time. Do you think we will?

Climate Change For Unchanging People
28 January 2013
http://www.swans.com/library/art19/mgarci61.html

Climate Change USA, Today & Tomorrow

The U.S. Global Research Program issues a draft report of its proposed National Climate Assessment for 2014, for public review.

Inside the Latest Climate Report (NCADAC Draft 2013)
15 January 2013
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/15/inside-the-latest-climate-report/

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* Climate Change News, January 7-14, 2013, & Some Related Articles *
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2012 HOTTEST YEAR IN CONTIGUOUS U.S.

The Hottest Year Keeps Getting Hotter.
MANUEL GARCIA, JR.
9 January 2013
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/09/the-hottest-year-keeps-getting-hotter/

The following segment has nice visuals on the “hottest year,” but the “recommendations” at the end are ha-ha sad.

2012 Hottest Year on Record in US, Second-Most-Extreme Weather.
ABC NEWS
8 January 2013
http://youtu.be/05lRI-5cEbg

This next segment has scary images of the fires Down Under.

Australian wildfires: Temperatures set to reach a record 50 C.
ITN NEWS
9 January 2013
http://youtu.be/5K3rE0E6rkU

NCADAC DRAFT REPORT, 2013

Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment Report Released for Public Review.
U.S. GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM
11 January 2013
http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/

You can make comments about the draft report (between January 14 and April 12, 2013), which will be reviewed before it is finalized. If you don’t like “climate change” this is your chance to tell Uncle Sam directly about it.

Impact of climate change hitting home, U.S. report finds.
REUTERS
11 January 2013
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/12/us-climate-usa-study-idUSBRE90B00C20130112

Climate change set to make America hotter, drier and more disaster-prone.
(Draft report from NCA makes clear link between climate change and extreme weather as groups urge Obama to take action)
U.K. GUARDIAN
11 January 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/11/climate-change-america-hotter-drier-disaster

US scientists in fresh alert over effects of global warming.
(US National Climate Assessment reveals that severe weather disruption is going to be commonplace in coming years.)
U.K. GUARDIAN
12 January 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/12/us-scientists-effects-global-warming

The following article is good summary of the extreme weather experienced during 2012 worldwide.

Heat, Flood or Icy Cold, Extreme Weather Rages Worldwide.
NEW YORK TIMES
12 January 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/science/earth/extreme-weather-grows-in-frequency-and-intensity-around-world.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The Post-Crisis Crisis
JOSEPH STIGLITZ
7 January 2013
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/global-warming–inequality–and-structural-change-by-joseph-e–stiglitz

Does anybody care if Bangladesh drowns?
AFSAN CHOWDHURY & THEREALNEWS.COM
7 December 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj0iZiivYJc

The current prediction (in the 2013 NCADAC draft report) for sea level rise in this century is: 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 m), and possibly up to 6.6 feet (2 m).

The following article (appearing in Counterpunch), by Rob Urie, is an expansion on the theme “climate change is the exhaust product of capitalism,” which is also a point I allude to in paragraphs here and there in my various essays on the climate change. Urie’s article is an essay in political economy, no science is described, and Urie’s presentation does not descend to the granularity of specific “policy proposals.” I think of this article as Urie channeling Marx to write Die Klimaaenderung.

The Political Economy of Climate Change.
ROB URIE
11 January 2013
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/11/the-political-economy-of-climate-change/

Rob Urie described economic “externalities” in his article. Here is a short video with David Suzuki explaining them.

Externalities
DAVID SUZUKI
25 September 2012 (“fair use” video, taken from BBC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se55CCdfaOA

Extract: Requiem for a Species by Clive Hamilton.
(In an exclusive extract from his new book addressing the resistance to the truth about climate change, Clive Hamilton examines the roots of the denial lobby in US conservatism’s reaction to the fall of communism.)
U.K. GUARDIAN
16 April 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/16/requiem-for-a-species-clive-hamilton

SOME ARTICLES ON CLIMATE CHANGE (2004-2012)

Sir David Attenborough: The Truth About Climate Change
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
22 October 2006 (“fair use” video, taken from CBC News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ob9WdbXx0

My own scribblings over the last 9 years, on climate change, are listed at the following web site.

https://manuelgarciajr.com/2013/01/11/mgjr-essays-on-climate-change-2004-2012/

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MG,Jr Essays on Climate Change 2004-2012

Oil, Population And Global Warming
15 March 2004
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgarci10.html

Thirsty Invaders, Chasing Heat
19 July 2004
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgarci18.html

Climate and Carbon, Consensus and Contention
4 June 2007
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/climate-and-carbon-consensus-and-contention/

The Righteous And The Heathens of Climate And Capitalism
12 March 2012
http://www.swans.com/library/art18/mgarci43.html

Obama’s Less Bad Arctic Oil Drilling
30 May 2012
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/05/30/drilling-the-arctic-obama-style/

Climate Change Mental Inertia
29 November 2012
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/29/climate-change-mental-inertia/

ALSO, new in the first days of 2013:

The Hottest Year Keeps Getting Hotter
9 January 2013
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/09/the-hottest-year-keeps-getting-hotter/

MG,Jr Essays on Energy 2004-2012

The Palestinians Versus The SUV
10 May 2004
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgarci13.html

The Power Of Water
14 September 2005
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia09142005.html

Fuel Conservation And Sustainable Mobility
23 September 2005
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Sept05/Garcia0923.htm

How To Stretch Gasoline
13 June 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia06132008.html

Oiling The War Machine
11 July 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia07112008.html

The Energy Of A Hurricane
5 September 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia09052008.html

The Large Hadron Collider Powers Up
13 September 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia09132008.html

To Power A Nation (Nuclear Bombs Or Sunshine?)
6 May 2009
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia05062009.html

Nuclear Or Solar Energy?
(“southeast of Hawaii” should be “southwest of Hawaii”)
19 May 2009
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2009/05/nuclear-or-solar-energy/

The Economic Function Of Energy
27 February 2012
http://www.swans.com/library/art18/mgarci41.html

MG,Jr Essays on Nuclear Weapons 2003-2012

America’s Nuclear Weapons Labs, The Reality Beneath The Headlines
7 July 2003
http://www.swans.com/library/art9/mgarci01.html

Letter to Senator Feinstein, on Nuclear Weapons
22 September 2003
http://www.swans.com/library/art9/mgarci02.html

Nuclear Test, Political Flare (North Korea)
17 October 2006
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia10172006.html

North Korea’s Nuclear Test: a Q & A
19 October 2006
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia10192006.html

Will A Russo-American Nuclear War Happen (Soon)?
1 September 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia09012008.html

Nuclear Weapons Obsolescence
10 December 2008
http://www.counterpunch.org/mango12102008.html
11 December 2008
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/nuclear-weapons-obsolescence/

Iran’s Uranium
(“horde” should be “hoard”)
11 March 2009
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2009/03/irans-uranium/

Fearful Pride (North Korea’s Second Nuclear Test)
26 May 2009
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia05262009.html
27 May 2009
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/05/fearful-pride-north-koreas-2nd-nuclear-test/

Assassinating The Iranian H-Bomb?
18 January 2010
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia01182010.html

The Esoteric J. Robert Oppenheimer
22 October 2012
http://www.swans.com/library/art18/mgarci55.html