Monday, August 4, 2014

Ignoring Climate Risks Could Sink U.S. Economy | EcoWatch

Ignoring Climate Risks Could Sink U.S. Economy | EcoWatch 

"In his opinion article in the Washington Post, Rubin argues that, in
economic terms, taking action on climate change will prove far less
expensive than inaction. He wrote: “By 2050, for example, between $48
billion and $68 billion worth of current property in Louisiana and
Florida is likely to be at risk of flooding because it will be below sea
level. And that’s just a baseline estimate; there are other scenarios
that could be catastrophic.

“Then, of course, there is the unpredictable damage from superstorms
yet to come. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy caused a combined
$193 billion in economic losses; the congressional aid packages that
followed both storms cost more than $122 billion.

“And dramatically rising temperatures in much of the country will
make it far too hot for people to work outside during parts of the day
for several months each year—reducing employment and economic output,
and causing as many as 65,200 additional heat-related deaths every
year.”

"He concludes: “We do not face a choice between protecting our
environment or protecting our economy. We face a choice between
protecting our economy by protecting our environment—or allowing
environmental havoc to create economic havoc.”

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers has
estimated that the eventual cost of cutting greenhouse gas emissions
will increase by about 40 percent for every decade of delay, because
measures to restrict them will be more stringent and costlier as
atmospheric concentrations grow."

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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here