Climate Change Update: Fighting Climate Change by Not Focusing on Climate Change - TIME

Fighting Climate Change by Not Focusing on Climate Change - TIME: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement last week that he was giving $50 million to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2085220,00.html#ixzzBcaKcEHrU

"He saw coal pollution first and foremost as a public health issue, one that is directly hurting Americans through higher rates of asthma and heart disease. He was certainly worried about the greenhouse gases those coal plants were spewing — coal is responsible for about 20% of global carbon emissions — but what really motivated him were the mercury emissions, the particulates, the arsenic and all the other conventional poisons created by burning coal. 'Coal kills every day,' Bloomberg told me. 'It's a dirty fuel.' So it is with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, which has succeeded more by motivating individual communities over the local health effects of coal pollution than by appealing to the broader risks of global warming.

This approach might be the new way to attack climate change: by identifying actions that can provide a wealth of benefits — including on carbon emissions — rather than simply focusing on global warming alone. That's the message of a new paper called 'Climate Pragmatism' that's being published today by a bipartisan range of thinkers on energy and climate issues. The best way to deal with climate change, as it turns out, is not to deal directly with climate change."

Climate Change Update: Tim DeChristopher: Is Civil Disobedience The Key To Climate Change Action?

Tim DeChristopher: Is Civil Disobedience The Key To Climate Change Action?:

"Tim DeChristopher, troubled by American energy policy and its contribution to global warming, broke the law.

He did so by attending a federal auction in Utah, where energy developers were bidding on parcels of Utah wildland that the Bush administration had made available for oil and gas development. DeChristopher bid aggressively, driving up the price of some parcels and winning 14 of his own -- some 22,000 acres in all -- to the tune of $1.8 million. He had no means to pay.

'I understand that prison is a very horrible place,' DeChristopher told me last fall, when I had a chance to sit down with him for a lengthy interview. 'But I've been scared for my future for a long time. And I think the scariest thing that I see is staying on the path that we're on right now. Obedience, to me, is much scarier than going to prison.'"

Climate Change Update: US cities face water-related climate dangers-report | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

US cities face water-related climate dangers-report | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters: "Miami, New Orleans and Norfolk, Virginia were expected to be the coastal cities hardest hit by flooding and storm surges due to rising sea levels, the group said.

In Boston, where the city's airport is flanked by water, historic landmarks and critical transportation infrastructure were at a greater risk of flooding due to rising sea levels.

Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco will face similar danger from rising waters, according to the report.

The NRDC said climate change was making heat waves, floods and droughts more severe. The Midwest was predicted to experience frequent and intense storms. Chicago, for example, could see the frequency of heavy rainfall rise by 50 percent in the next 30 years.

Along the East Coast, Norfolk and New York could see infrastructure compromised due to increased rainfall, research showed."

Climate Change Update: On Farming

Heat Wave: 5 myths about extreme weather - The Washington Post: (click site for complete interview w/ Jennifer Morgan)

"Climate change doesn’t recognize political ideology or geographic boundaries for that matter. While we have seen a rise in the politicization of this issue – there’s no reason that this necessary need to be the case.

My hope would be that farmers and others who are feeling the impacts of climate change would communicate their concern to their representatives on all levels and of all parties. Similarly, we have seen some traditionally conservative groups, like faith-based organizations and the military, take a very active voice in climate – and energy – discussions.

Unfortunately, the increase in extreme weather events and other long term environmental are having an impact on many different parts of our society—and we can all do our part to do something about it."

Climate Change Update: Does climate change threaten world peace? | TG Daily

Does climate change threaten world peace? | TG Daily: "'Climate change not only exacerbates threats to international peace and security; it is a threat to international peace and security.'

However, despite Moon's passionate speech, the 15-member Security Council failed to agree on whether climate change should be considered a direct threat to international peace and security.

Instead, the Council made do with a presidential statement expressing concern over 'possible adverse effects of climate change,' which could, in the long run, 'aggravate certain existing threats to international peace and security.'

Unsurprisingly, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice slammed the UNSC for its failure to reach a consensus on the issue, despite 'manifest evidence' that climate change poses a clear and present danger to world peace.



'This is more than disappointing. It's pathetic, it's short-sighted and frankly it's a dereliction of duty,' she added."

Wellness Tip: Healthy Body: Senior Citizens: Drink Water

Heatwave warnings aimed at 65 and older, often ignored - USATODAY.com: "Dr. William Dale, geriatrics chief at the University of Chicago Medical Center explains it, 'Any older adult has less reserve and is more likely to become dehydrated than others, just because their overall body water goes down with age no matter how healthy you are.'

The amount of water in the body declines with aging, from about 80 percent in young adulthood to about 55 to 60 percent for people in their 80s, Dale said.

Temperature sensors in the brain become less sensitive as people age, so the body doesn't get the same signals to drink water in hot weather, and older people often don't feel thirsty even when they need to replenish, Dale said.

They also may not feel the typical symptoms of dehydration, such as headache or dizziness. Some complain of just feeling 'bad' and think they're getting sick, he said.

Conditions were ripe for those types of complaints Tuesday as a dense dome of hot air remained parked over much of the nation's midsection, raising temperatures into the mid- to upper-90s from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Rockies and the northern Plains. Tropical-level humidity raised the heat index in many places to nearly 120 degrees."

Wellness Tip: Healthy Body: Healthy gaming - how to endure an all-nighter -- PlayStation Universe

Healthy gaming - how to endure an all-nighter -- PlayStation Universe: "Grab a bag of Sunflower seeds or a bag of nuts. These foods are an amazing source of proteins, nutrients and fibres. This helps you on multiple levels. For one, the proteins and nutrients help fuel your mind and body, while the fibre helps to break down and dispose of all the bad stuff trapped inside your digestive system. Furthermore, fibre also helps grow healthy bacteria, leading to overall better long term health.

Avoid soda or caffeinated beverages. Caffeine, while helping you in the short term staying awake, can also make it difficult to fall asleep once you do decide to hit the sack. Try supplementing soda with natural fruit juice, which comes loaded with natural sugars and vitamins. Also, drink lots of water, as this will help keep your body feeling refreshed and awake. Other foods you might want to consider are yogurts, granola, fresh fruits and anything high in protein. Avoid over-eating, as this will make you feel lethargic"