New Hawaii Senator: Climate Change The ‘Most Urgent Challenge Of Our Generation’

[Tx4obama]

New Hawaii Senator: Climate Change The ‘Most Urgent Challenge Of Our Generation’

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D), who was yesterday named to fill the Senate seat vacated by the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), wants to tackle an issue that has largely disappeared from Washington’s political agenda in recent years: climate change.

Speaking briefly after being named to the seat by Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D), Schatz voiced his concern over the threat climate change poses to the world if nothing is done:

“For me, personally, I believe global climate change is real and it is the most urgent challenge of our generation,” Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D), whom Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) tapped for the seat, said in brief comments Wednesday.

While climate change poses a threat to everyone, it is particularly dangerous for the Hawaiian Islands. Sea level rises could drown its beaches and the communities around them, and two of the state’s major industries — fishing and tourism — would feel an especially large impact.

-snip-

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/12/27/1378241/new-hawaii-senator-climate-change-the-most-urgent-challenge-of-our-generation/

[lunatica]

1. Well that does it

I like him!

[Hekate]

2. Welcome, Senator Schatz!

If he keeps that up, the traditional Hawaiian interest in the rest of Polynesia (and Micronesia and Melanesia) is bound to help the most vulnerable of all: those who dwell on the atolls of the Pacific Ocean. The atolls are drowning right now.

[progressoid]

3. Excellent Brian.

[Sunlei]

4. At least Hawaii has high-lands the population can move upwards. Florida will be totally underwater.

Seas will keep rising at least a couple of politicans want to plan ahead.

What is it the blue hole explorations have shown?, about 40 feet sea lvl rise in the past 4,000 years?

We can think positive, the next Ice Age we will have the Bering land bridge back and we can walk to siberia.

[link:|

[Hekate]

6. I don't think the Hawai'i population can "move upward." Young volcanic mountains are steep

Very steep.

And the atoll populations of the South Pacific live at essentially sea level.

Sorry about Florida -- they have an amazing history of environmental corruption. Just amazing.

[Sunlei]

7. Hawaii is the 'youngest' land mass in the world. They can add terracing to the sturdy mt. base.

Sea level is a problem. Especially for Florida. Wonder how many more islands used to be above sea lvl around Hawaii islands thousands of years ago? Can look on google map and see chains of volcanic mt.s. Same thing with Florida, google map shows a much larger land mass under the sea.

wish they would do more scientific studies on those sea-buried lands and mountians.

[Cha]

5. Thanks Tx! I'm really impressed with our newly appointed

Senator from Hawai'i. I know I liked him when reading about him in 2010 when he was running for Lt Gov but kinda lost track after that. And, here he is again..

Brian Schatz also is a strong supporter of the President's

Schatz served as the chairman of Obama's 2008 campaign in Hawaii. Asked about his relationship with him, he said, "I've been a supporter of his from the very beginning. For Hawaii it's not just a matter of him being from Hawaii, but we feel that he represents our values on the national stage. That's what I'm looking forward to supporting

."

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20433973/newly-appointed-sen-schatz-arrives-in-dc-gives-first

[Redfairen]

8. K/R*