Environmental Refugees

[nadinbrzezinski]

for over a decade we've believed that Environmental Refugees will come from Global Weather Change as coasts flood out. Ironically the first wave, not that anybody will talk about this, were Katrina Refugees, and the second wave are those affected RIGHT NOW by this disaster.

Now I know this is not popular, but it is time that people wake the hell up. We are at Peak Oil, the reason why that rig, (and much deeper rigs) are there in the gulf is not just the power of the oil industry. Yes it helps, but oil is at the basis of who we are as a global civilization. But as the months and then long years come and go, people will be forced to move, and pursue new lives. They will fit the exact definition of an ecological refugee, an internally displaced person. And yes I know we never have refugees in the US... see reaction about the use of the term during Katrina, but they fit the technical definition.

So here is the challenge for the US (and other regions of the world that will face increasing waves of refugees). How do you deal with them? This is a reality. What do we owe these people?

Well in my view they are in this boat for no fault of their own... so we owe them at the very least, retraining, and the money for that. We owe them our thanks, for all the time they spent feeding people and we need to make sure they are taken care off.

Do I honestly believe this will happen? At this point, not really. And the reason for that is quite simple... our national dominant philosophy will sooner, rather than later, blame these people.

So before the blame game starts... WE NEED to take care of them, as well as future waves of environmental refugees and for god sakes, DO NOT recoil at the term. It will be a reality, whether we like it or not. So we need to use this to put together the programs that will be necessary to take care not only of the present generation (and that includes still Katrina refugees), but generations to come.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Oil doesn't concern me. Water concerns me.

We're already in wars for oil and for scarce energy.

With our without dramatic climate change, we'll be seeing refugees of the complex combination of competition for resources, exacerbated by shifting climatic conditions, drought, severe storms, etc.

But as water becomes more and more scarce, I really REALLY fear for our species.

Good post, recommended.

:kick:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Well if we are to go into the real WE ARE GONNA DIE... there is this little factoid

we are in the midst of the sixth grand extinction, and apex species usually do not survive mass extinctions.

So I fear for the species, but 99% of life evolved on Earth has already gone extinct.

[NYC_SKP]

3. I think this sixth grand extinction will be an exception to the rule for homo sapiens.

The apex species scenario applies well to top predators, but we're omnivorous.

I think we'll have a "huge thinning of the herd", if all we face is resource shortages and changing climate.

We're mobile enough and have enough tools that some of us should be able to survive in a few places on the planet no matter what.

Unless there's a virus or other biological agent.

Or a big asteroid, or series of volcanic event.

Oh, shit.

WE ARE GONNA DIE!

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Wel you know in the end we will

And I do expect that population crash... as Peak Oil moves on.

:hi:

Aren't we both Mrs. Sunshine tonight?

[NYC_SKP]

5. It's inevitable.

This planet can't sustain forever our growing population no matter how green we become. Sorry to say. Sooner or later, boom!

We can't help that we see things as they are.

But what the hell, I'm not gonna cry about it.

All I do all day is work with teachers and schools to help them help themselves to see the big picture.

Maybe there's hope that it won't be too unbearable.

:hi:

Happy Weekend, Nadin!

[Panorama]

6. Interesting. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Given the reality will now start to really hit

[Mimosa]

8. Good topic, Nadin

In a way that's exactly what my DH and I are. For about 20 years we lived in New Orleans. South Louisiana's culture suited us, it was really 'home' for us. During the 5 years before Katrina we evacuated 3 times because of increasingly bad hurricanes, and came up here to Atlanta where we settled after Katrina. The hurrines appeared to be getting more dangerous and we saw that the levee systems did fail. We were getting too old to pack up the car with everything we could cram into it, including our kitty cabs and go beg somebody to take us in. (Motels -expensive- were always booked in MS and AL.)

So after katrina, we decided to remain here in Atlanta. In some ways I'd rather be back where I fit in, where the people are warm and kind. That is not the case in most of today's Atlanta. It's huge, divided and uncaring. It's the LA of the South.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Sadly others will join you soon

in the next two years or so we will see an increased movement from the Gulf Coast.

In my mind this will affect, directly or indirectly anywhere from 3-5 million people...

(And some people claim I don't get it)