With all this talk about a Social Security "crisis" from the RWNM and its appointed officials in the White House, I thought it interesting that Bush fiddles
while a real crisis, and the Earth, burns.
Global warming is approaching the critical point of no return, after which widespread drought, crop failure and rising sea-levels would be irreversible, an international climate change task force warned Monday.
[More after the jump...]
Widespread drought? Crop failure? An irreversible "
point of no return?" Sounds like a ... well ... a crisis. And not one of those
made-up-kinds that the Bush administration loves to talk about.
Three groups -- the Institute for Public Policy Research in Britain, The Australia Institute, and our own Center for American Progress -- issued the "Meeting the Climate Challenge" report this week. On top of calling for industrial nations to cut emissions, double green tech research and work with developing countries like India and China, the report sounded the alarm:
"An ecological time-bomb is ticking away," said Stephen Byers, who co-chaired the task force with U.S. Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, and is a close confidant of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "World leaders need to recognize that climate change is the single most important long term issue that the planet faces."
So says Tony Blair's friend and co-chair to a Senate Republican. Of course, while Bush's ally and members of his own party understand the gravity of the situation, he himself does little to lead the international community in addressing this global CRISIS:
Byers said it was vital Blair secured U.S. cooperation in tackling climate change. U.S. President
George W. Bush has rejected the Kyoto accord, arguing that the carbon emission cuts it demands would damage the U.S. economy. [VirginiaDem note: since when does he care about our economy?]
"What we have got to do then is get the Americans as part of the G-8 to engage in international concerted effort to tackle global warming," said Byers. "If they refuse to do that then other countries will be reluctant to take any steps." . . .
Blair has acknowledged the importance of U.S. cooperation, but conceded Washington is unlikely to sign up to Kyoto. Instead he is pursuing international commitment to developing new environmentally friendly technology.
What is the crisis exactly?
According to the report, urgent action is needed to stop the global average temperature rising by 2 degrees Celsius above the level in 1750 -- the approximate start of the Industrial Revolution when mankind first started significantly polluting the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
Beyond a 2 degrees rise, "the risks to human societies and ecosystems grow significantly" the report said, adding there would be a risk of "abrupt, accelerated, or runaway climate change."
It warned of "climatic tipping points" such as the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets melting and the Gulf Stream shutting down.
So next time some wingnut tries to sell you on the so-called "Social Security crisis," ask them what should be done about this real crisis - one in which there is an "undeniable" consensus.
We've got these bozos on their heels regarding their fear mongering. Go on the offensive - hit them with a real crisis . . .
. . . and demand some real answers.