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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.
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