Sustainability and Politics: August 2017

Monday, August 28, 2017

The Trump administration just disbanded a federal advisory committee on climate change - The Washington Post

The Trump administration just disbanded a federal advisory committee on climate change - The Washington Post

The greed of this administration to put public health and safety behind their favored polluting industries is horrifying. They have to begin to show some respect for science and the habitability and stability of our climate. We do not have enough time to avert the consequences of a too-fast changing climate fueled by fossil-fuel pollution. The situation is already almost out-of-control and Trump and his administration are pouring fire nearly literally on the problem.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

McConnell, in Private, Doubts if Trump Can Save Presidency - The New York Times

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Counterprotesters dwarf controversial rally in Boston - CNN

Counterprotesters dwarf controversial rally in Boston - CNN

This.

Counterprotesters on Saturday made clear to the organizers that their views were not welcome in Boston.

"The extreme difference of the size of the two groups is a statement in itself," Christopher Marino, who shot a video overlooking Boston Common, told CNN.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Scientists Fear Trump Will Dismiss Blunt Climate Report - The New York Times

Scientists Fear Trump Will Dismiss Blunt Climate Report - The New York Times

Who will be right: scientists, or insiders / politicians?

Insiders don't expect White House interference with climate report

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Researchers Think That 1.3 Degrees Celsius Warming Is Inevitable | IFLScience

Researchers Think That 1.3 Degrees Celsius Warming Is Inevitable | IFLScience

Well... Another study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that the likelihood that we can actually keep the temperature below 2°C (3.6°F) is around 5 percent.

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.