We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Climate scientists expected 'nothing like' this year's record-breaking global temperatures

Click here to access article by Ian Johnston from the Independent
The planet’s record-breaking temperatures every month of this year have taken scientists by surprise, according to a leading expert who said they had expected “nothing like” this level of global warming.
I've seen several reports this morning regarding the surprise of scientists at the accelerated world temperatures. I'm not sure which scientists they are referring to (they seem to be mostly meteorologists), but I am not at all surprised because of the scientific reports I've read and posted during the past five years. I also remember that many of these scientists were smeared in mainstream media, their emails hacked with damning attacks on some of their casual remarks, many subject to job harassment and lawsuits, while others were bribed by major corporations to downplay the threat of global warming.

I remember particularly scientists predicting that there will be positive feedback loops that would accelerate global warming. Here I am referring to the melting of the tundra in northern regions which in turn would release huge amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. I am also referring to the melting of the ice in the Arctic which in turn would reduce the reflection of the sun's rays that would increase global warming. So, I'm mystified by the reports I've read this morning.