Global Warming and a Georgia Drought (a rant)

[NightWatcher]

During the blizzard in New York State this past winter, people said "global warming HA, I wish" Will these same numb nuts admit that global warming (global climate change, as I prefer) is happening now that it is officially as hot as hell down here. In South Georgia, many places hit 90 today. Due to a nasty drought, we also have a huge forest fire that has destroyed 82K acres and growing. We have not had "measurable rain" in I can't remember how long. We also are not supposed to be watering our house except on certain days for even numbered houses and the others house numbers on the other days. The drainage pond near my place is the lowest that I can remember as well.

Also, what should I do to the people who run their sprinklers for hours on end to water their sad lawns? My dad just planted a bunch of stuff and commented that he needs to run his sprinklers for the next few days. When it comes to water rationing, no one here pays attention. Either that or they choose to ignore the laws that are meant "for everybody else but me". And yes, my car is dirty because I cannot/will not wash it while water remains in such tight supply and high demand.

Call Australia and ask them how their water supply is doing.

We need to shift away from green grass lawns and begin to focus on vegetation (or decoration) that thrives in little/no water. If my front yard bushes die, I will replace them with sand and a rock garden.

[driver8]

1. It is the same in Southern California...

People in my neighborhood run their sprinklers at all hours of the day -- some in the middle of the afternoon, when it is so hot that the water doesn't really help much.

My wife and I have been putting in drought resistant plants and have let the grass in our yard die. No one in Southern California should have a green lawn.

The thing that gets me the most is people who clean their driveway with a hose and water. What a waste.

How long before people wise up?

[phantom power]

2. People will wise up when water becomes expensive enough.

Or, when local governments start giving teeth to water use restrictions.

Or, when the water runs out and it won't be available no matter how much money we try to pay for it.

[texastoast]

4. Why do we have to be so slow?

Xeriscaping should be "common sense"--no water, no lawn. It will be a frightening thing when the water runs out. War for oil will be nothing like war for water. Too many people.

[StClone]

3. It could be worse

The meatier part climatic disruption may be just a head: drought, heat, deluges, intense storms.

As for preferring Global Warming over Climate Change or vice-versa, I see it like this. Temperatures are rising as the atmosphere warms do to human activity (since maybe the 1890's) and indeed the warming is Global and the results (including rising temperatures) in Global Climate Change.

[brer cat]

5. I'm in NO GA

We've had some rain, but we all need to recycle water and be practical about what we grow.

We have no grass...vegetables and drought-tolerant flowers.

We all need to conserve and recycle water. Do you know how much is wasted when you wait for water to get hot for a shower or dish washing? How much goes into a big pot for pasta? How much is wasted rinsing dishes? That can all be recycled to water plants or pour into a compost bin.

We have water restrictions here too, but we are personally exempt because we grow vegetables. However we use rain water, and our savings from household use instead of metered water.

You will be amazed at how much you can save!

[Shoelace]

6. let the lawn die back but keep the bushes alive

the lawn we can do without but the bushes have lots of leaves which soak up CO2 so give them a bit of water until this drought is over.
In Oregon now, due to the high cost of water, we all let our lawns die back when the hot weather comes. When the rains come back, they green back up until mid summer depending on the vagaries of the weather.

Bushes are good at CO2 capture so keep 'em going best you can.

Doing rain dances for Georgia and So. California too!!!

You might try praying up a storm? It worked in WWII when Patton told his troops to pray for better weather during the Battle of the Bulge. By God, it worked - much to the surprise of Patton!

[NickB79]

7. Good thing they're converting cotton fields to corn fields for ethanol

I mean, it's not like biofuels are susceptible to droughts or anything, right?