I believe in global climate change

From Drop Box

I believe that we are undergoing some sort of global climate change.  I am not sure how much, but I do know that it used to snow a lot more in Michigan when I was a kid than it does today.  I remember building and freezing a skating pond in the backyard of my suburban Detroit home and it would stay frozen all winter.  You can’t do that today.

Rush Limbaugh does not believe in global climate change

On the other hand, Rush Limbaugh does not believe in climate change.   In the world according to Rush, the entire concept of global climate change is a big hoax fostered by Al Gore so he could give a great PowerPoint presentation.  I wonder if Guy Kawasaki helped Gore with that presentation?

The world according to Rush:

By the same token,man-made   global warming is a total hoax.  It has no basis in fact, and yet it has acolytes out the wazoo.  We have people going out and living their lives and changing their lives to account for this hoax and this man-made global warming that’s destroying the planet, that they have been led to believe they are responsible for in part, and so they gotta do things to absolve themselves of their sin.  So, they’re putting in these screwy little spaghetti light bulbs, they’re driving strange cars, they’re using something other than toilet paper in the bathroom, whatever number of things.  No matter what you tell ‘em, they go out and watch Gore’s movie.  You can point out every factual error in Gore’s movie.  “No.  It’s bad.  It’s bad.  That movie is the truth.”

The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming

As I was reviewing various resources on global climate change for my Blog Action Day 2009 post, I came across this article that was written two years ago called The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming.   I am not going to cover all topics, but I am going to point out some that concern me right now.

Every one of these could impact the tourism business in the state of Florida where I reside.

The Death of Pinot Noir

The reason you adore pinot noir is that it comes from a notoriously temperamental thin-skinned grape that thrives in cool climates. Warmer temperatures are already damaging the pinots from Oregon, “baking away” the grape’s berry flavors. [Bloomberg]

The End of Snorkeling

The elkhorn coral which used to line the floor of the Caribbean are nearly gone, “victims of pollution, warmer water and acidification from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide seeping into oceans.” [Denver Post]

No More Lobster

Lobsters thrive in the chilly waters of New England, but recent numbers show that as those waters have warmed up, “the big-clawed American lobster—prized for its delicate, sweet flesh—has been withering at an alarming rate from New York state to Massachusetts.” [AP]

Bulgarian Hooker Shortages

“Brothel owners in Bulgaria are blaming global warming for staff shortages. They claim their best girls are working in ski resorts because a lack of snow has forced tourists to seek other pleasures.” [Metro UK]

Jellyfish Attack

Ouch! At least 30,000 people were stung by jellyfish along the Mediterranean coast last year; some areas boasted more than 10 jellyfish per square foot of water. Thank global warming: Jellyfish generally stay out of the way of swimmers, preferring the warmer, saltier water of the open seas. Hotter temperatures erase the natural temperature barrier between the open sea and the shore. The offshore waters also become more saline, causing the stinging blobs of hurt to move in toward the coastlines (and your unsuspecting legs). [BBC]

Giant Squid Attack

Giant squid—an “aggressive predator” that grows up to 7 feet long and can weigh more than 110 lbs—used to only be found in the warm waters along the Pacific equator. Hotter waters mean today they’re invading the waters of California and even Alaska. [ABC]

Florida’s National Marine Sanctuary in Trouble

Global warming is “bleaching” the coral in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, killing the coral, tourism, and local fish that live among the coral for protection. [Washington Post]

More Hurricanes

Over the past century, the number of hurricanes that strike each year has more than doubled. Scientists blame global warming and the rising temperature of the surface of the seas. [USA Today]

Spread of Dengue Fever

Scientists predict warmer temperatures will allow mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever to travel outside the tropics. Since people in cooler climes lack immunity from previous exposure, that means transmission would be extensive. You get a severe fever, you start spontaneously bleeding, you can die. There is no vaccine. [Science Daily]

Who the hell would want to vacation in Florida if it starts to look like this?

And here’s the scary part.  News reports from Key West, Florida, indicate that three patients have been discovered with dengue fever. All three have recovered.  These were the first reported cases of Dengue Fever in Florida in the past eighty years.

Please help fight global climate change this year!

Tagged as: Blog Action Day, climate change, Dengue Fever, Florida Keys, global warming, Key West, Rush Limbaugh