Following a conversation this morning about why climate change seems to have fallen off the national radar screed as a “hot” topic, John Hopkins, a biologist who recently moved from Alaska to Minnesota, sent me these two important stories:
From the Pew Foundation: Pew Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate Change connects the dots, and
From the the University of Alaska-Fairbanks’ School of Fisheries and Ocean Science: Ocean Acidification in Alaska: New findings show increased ocean acidification in Alaska waters
The pteropod (also known as a sea butterfly or swimming sea snail) may be one of the first marine organisms affected by ocean acidification. Pteropods make up nearly half of the pink salmon diet. This particular pteropod is the Limacina helicina helicina. Photo by Russ Hopcroft, UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
Thank you, John, for sharing. Love to know what others think. Why has the topic cooled when it is getting hotter?
Views from the Edge 
Climate Change conclusions are not based upon political or religious persuasions. Research upon the topic is data driven.
I, too, am interested in the source material for the comments of John Littlehale. From my experience, Alaska is a major foci of climate change research. My conclusions and perspective are based upon peer reviewed and published scientific journal articles as well as years of experience in Alaska as a Biologist and an Environmental Field Officer for the Alaska DEC.
John R. Hopkins
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Re: our conversation this morning about rapid global climate change, it seems to me that the questions that we should be asking are 1.) which adapations that humans will have to make worldwide are most important to support?, 2.) how do we best support others in adapting?, and 3.) what might shift the change energy, especially in the younger generations, away from trying to fix the the environment to inventive ways to support adaption strategies in people worldwide?
Susan Lince
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Hi,Susan, I love the clarity of the questions! Terry Gips of The Alliance for Sustainability has an interesting model worthy of attention. The global warming debate brings into view the prevailing understanding of human needs satisfaction which, in the West, has been dominated by a hierarchy of needs that places individual self-actualization at the top of the pyramid of human development. Manfred Max-Neef and those who have developed his thought propose a different horizontal understanding of basic human needs and needs satisfaction. One of the blessings of this time is that opportunity to re-examine widely held assumptions in search of a way of being human that is more atuned to our creatureliness and mutual dependence. I like your questions. So glad you and John are here in Chaska! You’ve brought the Native spirit with you from Alaska, and we’re blessed!
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The science is far from settled. It has cooled because the earth has not warmed in 15 years, the models do not predict reality. Consider the millions around the world who will die due to increased energy costs. The ocean acidification study has been debunked as well. Remember govts are pouring billions into AGW studies, so everything is AGW. AGW is a passion/hobby of mine and I remain far from convinced.
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John, So good to hear from you! I’m interested to know where the ocean acidification study has been refuted by reputable scientists. Why do you think governments are pouring money into these studies? I think the topic has cooled not because the problem isn’t real, but because it’s overwhelming and not sensational until there’s another “spill” in the Gulf of Mexico. At that point it revs up again, but, as with the PR campaign of BP and the petroleum industry, we’ll be told that things are “back to normal.” I wish we cold sit down over coffee or at Bing’s as in the old days to knock things around and catch up. Thanks for taking the time to reply. All the best, Gordon
Monday follow-up: I hope you’ll take a moment to read and reply to J.R. Lince-Hopkin’s latest comment on science.
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Two interesting pieces. Thanks for posting them!
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Thanks so mujch for posting! Gordon
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