Subtitle: Doing away with Dirty Energy, That is
Those pesky climate scientists are at it again!
(Gasp) “What are those global pariahs doing now?”
Pointing to another example of extremes in weather that could be as a result of recent shifts in climate patterns, which are very likely linked to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases that would seem due in no small part to human caused pollution.
Lots of conditional statements in such an observation, predictably useful for those in denial, and others wanting those in denial to remain so, as BAUAAAE (Business As Usual And Above All Else) continues. I mean, what possibly could go wrong?
Once-in-a-century drought followed by once-in-a-century flooding in a region of the United States noted for its resistance to developing alternatives to dirty energy.
As someone who has looked at the television screen as it showed a scene of disastrous flooding and said, “Hey! That’s where I live!”, I can relate to the rapid deluge in Georgia that Professor Look, sheeple, I told you so Romm describes as a “global warming type” record rainfall. In this case, “Douglas county Georgia was “hit by 21 inches of rain in a 24-hour period from Sunday to Monday and as much as 15 to 20 inches of rain pounded counties around Atlanta for more than 72 hours.”
While some like to point out that such a rapid deluge is a repeat of others, will be happening more and more, and is one of the most basic predictions of climate science, the starry-eyed (astronautical allusion) among these annoying climate catastrophe prognosticators go so far as to advocate taking the fun and profit out of destroying life on the planet as we know it.
Unfortunately (for life on the planet as we know it), such advocacy is directed toward leaders of a first world country, the first to use nuclear warfare, the one constantly at war with other smaller countries. In other words, the country responsible for the lion’s share of anthropogenic GHGs has a military-industrial complex (and a leadership that spends the lion’s share of discretionary funds on Defense. (Note: It is impolitic to refer to this as Destruction, War-Making, etc.)
Thus, if you want to talk with these leaders about more nuclear power plants for energy security, that’s a go.
If, on the other hand, you want them to stop the worse polluting coal plants, and you really want these leaders to put their support behind clean energy alternatives, then… well, then, you are back to explaining repeatedly that hundred-year flooding following hundred-year droughts is very anomalous.
“Greenpeace activists rappelled off of a Pittsburgh bridge with a massive banner displaying our message to G20 leaders. The banner, a stylized “road sign,” warns of the political maneuvering and delays that have put an international climate treaty in jeopardy as the world enters the final stretch on the road to Copenhagen.”
Meanwhile, more pillow talk:
He: “I am concerned with the coincidence, the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh right after the International Coal Conference.”
She: “Pittsburgh?”
He: “Yeah, not London…”
She: “Or, Paris…”
He: “Or, Sri Lanka (where Julia and Paul Child met). No, Obama is going to talk to his G20 colleagues about reducing fossil fuels subsidies in Pittsburgh.
She: “Pittsburgh! I tell you where they should meet. Where was that coal ash spill?
He: (Thinks, “Which one?”)
She: “They should meet there, where they can look out on the muck. Or, at that school beneath that (hand wave meaning coal ash impoundment) Massey place. That’s where they should be meeting!”
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I want to assure AG readers, there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that Michael Moore and The Yes Men have combined forces and are mounting a full scale hoax on Pittsburgh.
Welcome to Pittsburgh
Despite what the BOLO on the police radio said. (Yes, the special band.)
O.K. We’re looking for a big fat guy in formal attire, glasses and a baseball hat and 2 big balls.
And, despite the need for truth-telling at the G20 summit.
And, they may be in disguise
“And, red hair.”
“The balls have red hair?”
“No, the dude in the baseball cap with the big balls.”
“Affirmative.”
Gosh! We are making progress! EPA’s lawyers agree that coal ash is hazardous waste.
Bruce Niles is pleased. Why? Because coal ash has been unregulated. And, because such a classification “establishes one consistent federal standard, prevents states from adopting weaker standards, and allows EPA to inspect sites and enforce these safeguards.”
The title of the Green Car Congress post reads: “G20 Leaders Agree to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies.”
Now this comes from “rational” world leaders, folks!
Footnote on the muck:
That would be toxic, radioactive muck, suitable for G20 viewing.
And, speaking of climate catastrophe prognostication, Climate Progress relays an analysis from the UK Met Office: Catastrophic climate change, 13-18°F over most of U.S. and 27°F in the Arctic, could happen in 50 years. Dr Richard Betts, Head of Climate Impacts at the Met Office Hadley Centre advises, “we do have time to stop it if we cut greenhouse gas emissions soon.”
CP commentator paulm posts, “Listen to the fear in the Oxford lecture’s voice when asked by the correspondent what he thinks of the new findings.”
“Met Office ups warming forecast“
“Where is Dave Barry when you need him?”
“Probably goofing off.”
“Well, nevertheless, I believe that THE SOUND WEAPONS would be an excellent name for a rock band.”
Speaking of ecocide, some remain perplexed about the behavior…
Meanwhile, the non-perplexed Senate passed $128 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hello, Pittsburgh, I want to apologize. Got my populist presidents confused. It was the guy on the dime, rather than that Nobel fellow.
Oh, my, guess it now is safe enough even for mainstream media talking heads to be outraged. Lucky Leslie Stahl got to go to Tennessee to rake up some muck (the toxic, radioactive kind).
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