The New Climate "Normal": Abrupt Sea Level Rise and Predictions of Civilization Collapse

[marmar]

The New Climate "Normal": Abrupt Sea Level Rise and Predictions of Civilization Collapse

Monday, 03 August 2015 00:00
By Dahr Jamail, Truthout | Report


We know things are a bit "off" when a rainforest is on fire.

Over 400 acres of the Queets Rainforest, located in Olympic National Park in Washington State, nearby where I live, have burned recently, and it is continuing to burn as I type this. Fires in these rainforests have historically been rare, as the area typically receives in excess of 200 inches of rain annually.

But this is all changing now.

The new normal is that there is no longer any "normal."

The new normal regarding climate disruption is that, for the planet, today is better than tomorrow.

.....(snip).....

As if that's not enough, Hansen's study comes on the heels of another study published in Science, which shows that global sea levels could rise by at least 20 feet, even if governments manage to keep global temperature increases to within the agreed upon "safe" limit of 2 degrees Celsius. The study warns that it is quite possible that 75 feet of sea level rise could well already be unstoppable given current carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and recent studies that show how rapidly Greenland and several Antarctic ice sheets are melting. ...............(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/32131-the-new-climate-normal-abrupt-sea-level-rise-and-predictions-of-civilization-collapse

[daleanime]

1. kick, kick, kick....

[CanonRay]

2. We are well and truly screwed

I have doubts the human race will even survive this mess, and I believe it may be too late to turn it around.

[rhett o rick]

3. Thanks for posting. I will be surprised if this doesn't get an alert for CT.

Not that I think it is.

[n2doc]

7. Given that even the US military and Exxon have acknowledged GW and Climate Change

No conspiracy here. Just reality.

All we are arguing about is the speed of our destruction, not that it isn't happening.

[rhett o rick]

8. I agree, but some here don't like truthout, actually often have trouble with truth.

We are well passed the point of return. We still may be able to save some human life if we make some good decisions soon, but I don't see that happening. The super-wealthy all have their hands in the cookie jar, telling each other, "you take your hand out first." The end game of capitalism.

[ffr]

4. We all go together.

Either we all (globally) do something material to change and reverse the heating and chemical altering trend or we might as well just enjoy the raft ride as we move closer to the falls.

Mother Earth will survive perfectly fine without us.

[2naSalit]

5. But, but, but

the RAPTURE!!! The religious zealots have to have their self-fulfilling prophecy to prove they were right. We all have to die for them to have their cake and eat it too so environmental degradation is a quick and easy way for them to see it come true in their lifetime.

The planet itself will indeed endure, our species and most others will, however, not.

We're past the tipping point.

[sue4e3]

9. I ignore this here all the time and honestly

I think that is a bigoted outlook against Christians. I am one , and like any group(even this one) you have your extremists , but in general most average Christians believe we have to be good stewards of our Earth. I'll go one step further in my belief and say that I believe science is representative of "Gods working clock" so to speak. Science and belief in God aren't rooted against each other . One doesn't disprove the other. Science is just name we gave to the inner workings of every thing. I believe in God and Jesus , I believe in the rapture , I also believe that we are ruining our planet, that we will have to help ourselves , I compost , grow organic ,quit driving, plant several trees every year, give time and money to wwf, nwf, group of concerned scientist , amphibian arc ,autobon society, preservation of national parks and a few others. I have cried, sweat, bled, and prayed for this planet , the people and animals on it, I try not to judge ,Lord knows I have more to worry about with my self than others. I Am A Christian. I think it should be recognized that there is more Christians like me than there is whatever type of people your talking about . That you call christian. When your an environmentalist you almost have to hide your a Christian. and that's just ridiculous

[pscot]

10. If saving the planet had been an accepted article of Faith

we might not be so far over the edge now. If abortion is a sin, how can it be OK to rub out whole species.

[sue4e3]

11. I'm prochoice

I personally think it is a sin and one I'll answer for , but it's not up to me to decide for others. Ever and most christians I know feel the same way

[2naSalit]

12. I didn't say it is

the christians and whatever you believe is your choice. Facts are facts. I see that you care about the environment but I think religion is a control mechanism concocted to interpret the ways of the natural world by someone other than each individual.

Whatever the rapture story is about, I really couldn't give a hoot, I do know that it's part of some belief system that affects me adversely even though I don't want anything to do with it. Whomever it belongs to doesn't mater at this point.

Believe whatever makes you feel good. I believe in nothing, I harbor no beliefs. I know facts, I understand facts and am willing to consider proposed concepts whether or not I choose to agree with them for lack of factual evidence or whatever. Actions are what matter in this issue and unless we can convince those who are running the physical world into oblivion to change course, none of what we think or believe matters. I suspect that it's way past time to make a positive change in the natural processes we have brought about by our indifference to what really matters in the physical world, and we will all suffer for it in the end.

One of the obstacles that I see in how we are willing or unwilling to address this issue is the problem of beliefs. Unless you believe something, it has no energy to make a difference, and that is what I think is ridiculous.

[sue4e3]

13. Now your talking like an intellectual before you were speaking the language of biased hate

The same ammunition those in charge often use that brought us to the point we're at. Just thought I might bring that to your attention because if you really believe we're screwed you will at some point probably like to come to terms with yourself. At the very least know who and what your talking about.

[2naSalit]

14. Like I said before

You can believe whatever you like, it's called choice. You can also determine what you like about what I said about the rapture and how I see it, I said what I said regarding my perspective whether you like it or not and you are welcome to believe my comment was hateful or biased 'cuz you believe it. That's your problem, not mine... apparently sarcasm is beyond your reach. As for your prophecy about my "coming to terms with myself" ...sounds like preaching to me, you can keep that to yourself.

[sue4e3]

15. I don't preach ,I was pointing out you were wrong

It wasn't what you said about the rapture that was offensive , you can believe what you want. It's what you said about the people who believe in the rapture . I am one and I don't want death to the environment so that there can be a rapture. I am empirical evidence that your theory is wrong. By the way I understand sarcasm perfectly, You shouldn't try to sell hate rhetoric as sarcasm after the fact. The conversation is over do have a nice night( just so you understand the difference this is a good example of passive aggressive sarcasm)

[lonestarnot]

6. We be fucked, but we already knew that.