Photos show climate change as ministers meet in UK

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14622292.htm

LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - A photo of Mount Kilimanjaro stripped of its snowcap for the first time in 11,000 years will be used as dramatic testimony for action against global warming as ministers from the world's biggest polluters meet on Tuesday.

Gathering in London for a two-day brainstorming session on the environment agenda of Britain's presidency of the Group of Eight rich nations, the environment and energy ministers from 20 countries will be handed a book containing the stark image of Africa's tallest mountain, among others.

"This is a wake-up call and an unequivocal message that a low-carbon global economy is necessary, achievable and affordable," said Steve Howard of the Climate Group charity which organised the book and an associated exhibition.

"We are breaking climate change out of the environment box. This crisis affects all of us. This is a global challenge and we need real leadership to address these major problems -- and these ministers can give that leadership," he told Reuters.

more

[NickofTime]

1. End-of-World?

http://www.suntimes.com/output/quicktakes/cst-nws-qt131.html">Overdue for Mass Extinction

[mbperrin]

2. Scott Mc response: Well, the ski runs there will be down,

but we don't see any need for long term concern. Go to Vail.

(When the Atlantic begins to cover the steps of the Capitol, some in the US MIGHT start worrying.)

[FloridaPat]

5. Actually, I'd start worrying after the Atlantic covered the steps and

drowned all the political creeps in Washington. No point in worrying now because those same creeps are doing everything they can to keep our wonderful SUV's going and warming up the globe.

[Poppyseedman]

3. Kyoto isn't going to happen in this country

The Senate has to approve the Kyoto treaty for us to agree in it's language.

That simply is not going to happen in todays political/business structure.

The UN needs to stop beating this lame horse and find common ground the USA can live with and recognize that fact and work with us to achieve it's objective by other means.

Even if the Senate was a democratic majority of 60, it still would not pass. Big business has too deep of pockets.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Cut off the oil exports to the USA?

That seems to be about the only other option, if the US refuses to make cuts itself.

[blindpig]

9. THAT would get peoples attention

I shudder to think...........I'm afraid that a significant portion of the populace would become insanely jingoistic in order to maintain the American Way, as defined by TV commercials. It would certainly separate the sheep from the goats, just hope I've moved to a non-oil producing country before it happens.

[Poppyseedman]

11. I can assure you that would be the worst case scenario

for environmentalist

Cutting off oil imports would mean drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, California and Anwar. Upping production of coal, natural gas.

Energy is a national security issue and it would get treated as such in a heartbeat

[amazona]

14. we in the gulf of mexico are willing to be drilled

Our gripe is that in so many ways the oil industry has abandoned us for easier places. A lot of our oil is deep. But it's there.

I hate to think of a return to coal and the utter destruction of Appalachia and even places in the west that would result.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[BornLeft]

4. That is one frigging scary realization when I read

the following: A photo of Mount Kilimanjaro stripped of its snowcap for the first time in 11,000 years

We are so screwed.

[Lars39]

6. Sounds like it, doesn't it?

Especially with the "leadership" the US has right now.
Welcome to DU, btw. :)

[Desertrose]

8. when its most crucial that we work together as a global community...

we have the "go-it-alone" chimperator & his minions running the show.
Great , just great.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Gallery of photos here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Guardian/gallery/image/0,8543,-10105147634,00.html

[NickofTime]

12. Other Possible Reasons

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BFU/is_4_90/ai_n6355564">LOWER PRECIPITATION

"Some scientists disagree with Thompson. They believe that the mater culprit is eastern Africa", dry weather--a natural climate shift that began abruptly more than a century ago. Georg Kaser, an Austrian glaciologist, and Douglas Hardy, a U.S. geologist, propose that dry weather is affecting Kilimanjaro in two ways:

One, it limits the precipitation, such as snow, needed to sustain Kilimanjaro's glaciers. Two, less water vapor in the air means that fewer clouds are blocking out solar radiation from the sun. More exposure to scalar radiation is melting the glaciers.

Deforestation due to farming on Kilimanjaro's slopes may also be accelerating the drying effect. Dwindling rain forests have released less warm, moist air into the atmosphere to fall as snow on the mountain's summit. Without a fresh, while snow cover to reflect the sun's rays, the existing dirty snow absorbs more solar radiation and melts."

Granted, global warming may well have induced the lower precipitation. The USA needs to stop using all petroleum products at once and convert to solar cars & electricity from wind energy.

[Toots]

15. Doesn't explain why the "Perma-Frost" is melting for first time in

the history of mankind. In the Arctic and Greenland this is happening. :shrug:

[amazona]

13. oh my God how upsetting

I photographed Kilimanjaro in 2004. There was still plenty of snow then. I had read a BBC story saying the glacier would be gone in 5 years, my guide just laughed.

A Bartcopper told me his (her? I'm forgetting who shared this) nephew photographed Kilimanjaro and the snow cap was gone this year but I guess I didn't believe it until now.

We are losing our treasures so quickly.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72