So Biblical

[nine_one_4]

http://show.real.com/show/_/action/ram/playlistid/9777589/clipnum/1/rampos/1/pageid/guidepage/

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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

Asia Faces Living Nightmare From Climate Change

SINGAPORE: November 26, 2004

SINGAPORE - The weather predictions for Asia in 2050 read like a script from a doomsday movie.


Except many climatologists and green groups fear they will come true unless there is a concerted global effort to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.
In the decades to come Asia, home to more than half the world's 6.3 billion people, will lurch from one climate extreme to another, with impoverished farmers battling droughts, floods, disease, food shortages and rising sea levels.

"It's not a pretty picture," said Steve Sawyer, climate policy adviser with Greenpeace in Amsterdam. Global warming and changes to weather patterns are already occurring and there is enough excess carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to drive climate change for decades to come.

Already, changes are being felt in Asia but worse is likely to come, Sawyer and top climate bodies say, and could lead to mass migration and widespread humanitarian crises.

According to predictions, glaciers will melt faster, some Pacific and Indian Ocean islands will have to evacuate or build sea defences, storms will become more intense and insect and water-borne diseases will move into new areas as the world warms.

All this comes on top of rising populations and spiralling demand for food, water and other resources. Experts say environmental degradation such as deforestation and pollution will likely magnify the impacts of climate change.

In what could be a foretaste of the future, Japan was hit by a record 10 typhoons and tropical storms this year, while two-thirds of Bangladesh, parts of Nepal and large areas of northeastern India were flooded, affecting 50 million people, destroying livelihoods and making tens of thousands ill.

The year before, a winter cold snap and a summer heat wave killed more than 2,000 people in India.

INDIA AT RISK

Sawyer said India, with a population of just over one billion people, is one of the areas most threatened by climate change.

"The threat to the agricultural base for the Indian subcontinent from drought and increased heat waves, the consequences to the burgeoning Indian economy and the very large number of people to feed are potentially very very substantial."

Rising sea levels will also bring misery to millions in Asia, he said, causing sea water to inundate fertile rice-growing areas and fresh-water aquifers, making some areas uninhabitable.

Sawyer said India and Bangladesh will have to draw up permanent relocation plans for millions of people. "I'm afraid that's almost inevitable."

By 2050, China will have built sea defences along part of its low-lying, storm-prone southeastern coast, while the north of the country faced increasing desertification, he said.

According to the UN's World Food Programme, the Gobi Desert in China expanded by 52,400 square kilometres (20,230 sq miles) between 1994 and 1999, creeping closer to the capital Beijing.

Anwar Ali, a leading climatologist in Bangladesh, says about 15 percent of the country would be under water if sea levels rose by a metre in the next century.

Perhaps the biggest threat to Asia in the future will be the shortage of clean water. The WFP says Asia accounts for 60 percent of the world's population but has only 36 percent of the globe's freshwater.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), rapid melting of glaciers poses a major threat to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and parts of China.

Seven major rivers, including the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra and the Mekong, begin in the Himalayas and the glacial meltwater during summer months is crucial to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people downstream.

RICH VERSUS POOR

But many of these glaciers are melting quickly and will be unable to act as reservoirs that moderate river flows. This means less water in the dry season and the chance for more extreme floods during the wet season.

Sawyer thinks rich countries, by far the biggest polluters, should look after the millions at risk from climate change or suffer the consequences that could include mass migration or trying to feed millions made homeless by droughts and floods in a world struggling to grow enough food.

Fears of mass migration have already prompted the Pentagon and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, among others, to study the risk from climate-induced mass migration.

The Pentagon in its 2003 report looked at what might happen if the climate changed abruptly. The result was near anarchy.

"As global and local carrying capacities are reduced, tensions could mount around the world," it said. This could lead some wealthier nations becoming virtual fortresses to preserve their resources.

"Less fortunate nations, especially those with ancient enmities with their neighbours, may initiate struggles for access to food, clean water, or energy," the report said.

Few places are more exposed to climate change than the low-lying Maldives islands, to the west of Sri Lanka, where the highest natural point is under 2.5 metres (eight feet).

"We still face the threat of sea level rise," Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said in a recent interview.

"There is encroachment of the sea on many islands, there is erosion of our beaches," he said. In response, the Maldives is building an island that is a metre higher than the capital Male.

Malcolm Duthie, WFP's country director in Laos, said even small changes in weather patterns, such as a delay in the monsoon of just a few weeks, is a threat to subsistence farmers. In Laos, he said rains seemed to have become shorter and sharper, meaning faster run-off and more erosion.

Such changes are also threatening millions of farmers in Indonesia, where rapid industrialisation, slash-and-burn land clearing and illegal logging have caused extreme weather and pollution across the archipelago, experts say.

"The wet season is shorter than usual which has led to higher rainfall during that brief period and sometimes caused landslides and floods," said Indonesian weather expert Agus Paulus.

Government officials have said in the past years water levels at a number of reservoirs in densely populated Java island are close to a critically low level.

As countries try to adapt, it will be the poor who suffer most from climate change, said IPCC chairman R.K. Pachauri in the report "Up in smoke?" released last month.

"The impacts of climate change will fall disproportionately upon developing countries and the poor persons within all countries," he said, meaning the lot of millions of peasants could become far worse than it is now.

Story by David Fogarty

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28300/story.htm

[nine_one_4]

Revelation 16:9 (King James Version)

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060313/winter_weather_060313/20060313?hub=Canada&s_name=

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Winter warmest on record: Environment Canada

Updated Mon. Mar. 13 2006 11:34 PM ET

Kristen Brown, CTV.ca News Staff

It's not your imagination; this winter has been warmer than usual. In fact, Environment Canada has just declared this past winter as Canada's warmest on record.

Between December and February, Canadian temperatures were 3.9 degrees above normal.

It was especially balmy in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, where temperatures were six to eight degrees above normal, but every part of the country got a mild winter.

But every part of Canada got a taste of a milder winter. In fact, this past winter smashed the previous record set in 1987 by almost a full degree.

A recent global project called the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study suggests global warming has already caused irreversible damage.

About 120 scientists from 11 countries who were involved in the project said there should be an international focus on minimizing the damage of global warming

But others scientists aren't quick to jump to conclusions about global warming and its impact on the winter.

"There is a tendency to think, 'my God this must be the final proof we needed for global warming.' But you can't say that. It's just another piece of circumstantial evidence," David Phillips, a senior climatologist for Environment Canada, told CTV.ca.

"I'm reluctant to say this is global warming because next winter may turn out to be colder than normal," Phillips said.

If not global warming, what could have caused the warm winter?

"The easy answer is the fact that the source of cold air this winter tended to be more in Eurasia and not North America. So what we got was more Pacific air and not Arctic air," Phillips said.

A warming pattern

According to Phillips, winters in Canada have been consistently warming up since Environment Canada first started to record temperatures in 1948.

"Grandparents will tell you that winters aren't what they used to be and they're absolutely right about that. Winters have been generally getting warmer and warmer and with generally less snow than what we have seen in the past," Phillips said.

Climatologists believe that this warming pattern will continue in Canada.

"I think (this winter) will be a dress rehearsal. It may very well be a glimpse or preview of what winter will be like in the future, where we will be wondering where winter is," Phillips said.

The downside to warmer winters

Although most Canadians have been rejoicing in the relief from the deep freeze - and the reduction in heating costs that come with it - there are also downsides to the increased comfort.

Phillips points to the difficulty aboriginal Canadians have had moving supplies to remote areas without ice roads, the increased costs to mining companies, and the likelihood of increased insects this summer.

"It's not just human beings that have found this winter warmer. It's been comfortable for wildlife and vegetation, which may not be to our liking when we're sipping cool ones on the outdoor patios," Phillips said.

Another possible outcome of a warmer Canadian winter is the increased risk of disease.

"Diseases, viruses and germs will survive the (warmer) winter. ... The best thing about our winter climate in this country is when we get cold winters it kills a lot of those things," Phillips said.

The warmest year on the whole

Phillips also points out that it isn't just this past winter that has been exceptional. The 2005 fall was the second warmest fall, the 2005 summer was the 12th warmest and the 2005 spring was the third warmest on record in Canada.

"Clearly, we can say that the last 12 months have been the warmest year on record in Canada," Phillips concluded.

Although the long term impact is difficult to predict, Phillips postulates that some Canadian stereotypes may disappear.

"Our reputation as the great white north, the land of ice and snow, may be at risk here because what we have seen is rather anomalous weather conditions for the last year particularly," Phillips said.

A global phenomenon?

Although Canada's record breaking temperatures this winter were shared with the United States, it was not a worldwide phenomenon.

Temperatures in Europe and Asia were colder than normal this past winter.

"That just shows you that sometimes weather does balance off. Sometimes you get milder winters here and colder winters there," Phillips said.

[island911]

Originally posted by nine_one_4
R . . .Temperatures in Europe and Asia were colder than normal this past winter.

"That just shows you that sometimes weather does balance off. Sometimes you get milder winters here and colder winters there," Phillips said.

.

Apparently, wolrd temps have been on the fall , slightly, since 1998.

[stuartj]

Originally posted by nine_one_4
Revelation 16:9 (King James Version)

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Yes, it can only mean the End of Days.

All the more reason not to sign Kyoto and buy that new 74 ltr Expedition, heh? Its only going to hasten things along.

Now, only 144000 can go, and theres at least one other Pelican who knows he has a ticket. I reckon your odds are thin. So why dont you just hurl yourself off a cliff to save time?

[Mulhollanddose]

Originally posted by island911
Apparently, wolrd temps have been on the fall , slightly, since 1998.

Get the memo, Glenn...Global warming is a foregone conclusion and if you do not believe it you are a racist.

[island911]

it is risky, disagreeing with Al Gore.

[Tervuren]

Localy, winters have always been weird ever since I was alive and could remember. We can have it nice and comfortable all the way to February, although in October it froze for three days, then suddenly, it goes cold, and snows in April, then suddenly warps into summer...

Last year, I was surprised at how cool summer was, and it was smoothed out by a mild winter.

Whats funny, is its the don't kill animals people complaining of human created green house gasses, when Nature does it all by itself. One cow has a similar emmission of "green house gasses" as a car over a year.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by island911
it is risky, disagreeing with Al Gore.

Global warming sure heated up with the internet, didn't it? Al Gore invented the internet. Al Gore is clearly responsible.

[dhoward]

...besides, everyone knows the end of the world is Dec 21, 2012.
Sheesh..

[JTO]

"If not global warming then what?"
Try solar flux. Temperature data follows solar flux better than it does "green house gases".
Sheesh! Chicken little syndrome.
Of course, research funding is the real driver in global climate change.
Troy

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by dhoward
...besides, everyone knows the end of the world is Dec 21, 2012.
Sheesh..

at least the mayans do

http://www.levity.com/eschaton/Why2012.html

[trekkor]

only 144000 can go

Nope. Try again...


KT

[nine_one_4]

Originally posted by stuartj
Yes, it can only mean the End of Days.

All the more reason not to sign Kyoto and buy that new 74 ltr Expedition, heh? Its only going to hasten things along.

Now, only 144000 can go, and theres at least one other Pelican who knows he has a ticket. I reckon your odds are thin. So why dont you just hurl yourself off a cliff to save time?

PM turned off? Oh well.

I would love to know about you and your life and your history. I think Kinsey found that back in the forties something like 68% of men visited whores and so I'm going to assume that your grandpa was a whoremonger. I'm also going to assume that you're fat and ugly and that so is your wife. And even though your wife was never close to being attractive I understand that, statistically, you're only one of about ten guys that she's had. I'm also going to assume that your degree is outside of science or engineering and that you're not "quantitatively proficient" i.e., you're a dumb guy. Further, I'm going to assume that you cheated on your midterms because apparently that's what the majority do. Here are some facts to support my null hypotheses about what you are. You can read more about your qualities in 2 Timothy:3. So now that I think about it why don't you throw yourself off a cliff, you pud?

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[dhoward]

Pud?
I haven't heard that in a while!
Glad I just had my A/C serviced. Nothing worse than being scorched...

[Drago]

Originally posted by dhoward
Pud?
I haven't heard that in a while!

I think it's "pud-wacker" but I could be wrong...it's been awhile.

[stuartj]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nine_one_4
[B]
I would love to know about you and your life and your history. I think Kinsey found that back in the forties something like 68% of men visited whores and so I'm going to assume that your grandpa was a whoremonger. I'm also going to assume that you're fat and ugly and that so is your wife. And even though your wife was never close to being attractive I understand that, statistically, you're only one of about ten guys that she's had. I'm also going to assume that your degree is outside of science or engineering and that you're not "quantitatively proficient" i.e., you're a dumb guy. Further, I'm going to assume that you cheated on your midterms because apparently that's what the majority do. Here are some facts to support my null hypotheses about what you are. You can read more about your qualities in 2 Timothy:3. So now that I think about it why don't you throw yourself off a cliff, you pud?

QUOTE]

Gosh, and there was I being all philosophical and rhetoric.

That tirade is going sound a rather worse when they read it back to you from the Book of Life, I'm tipping. But it certainly showcases a scintillating wit.

Now Im off celebrate Easter for a few days by eating chocolate and drinking beer, so I'll leave you with this thought.

Q. Whats this?



A. Prick of a way to spend Easter.

[Victor]

Yeah Stuart - ya fat whore! This is the funniest thing I have seen!