Published on Truthout, 22 April 2018. April saw a flurry of climate events with temperature records being set across Asia as the Earth enters an era of “mega-fires.” Extreme weather events cost the US $3 billion in the first three months of this year. And in an extreme act of protest against fossil fuels, one
The Alchemy of Disarmament: Transforming Guns Into Shovels to Plant Trees
Published on Truthout, 16 April 2018. Inspired in part by the Swords to Plowshares movement, a small collective is transforming weapons into shovels to be used for ceremonial tree plantings at sites impacted by violence. The creators of the project hope that by turning tools that harm the world into ones that heal it, we
As Antarctic Melting Accelerates, Worst-Case Scenarios May Come True
Published on Truthout, 5 April 2018. A new study shows dramatic changes in some major Antarctic glaciers as the ice is being melted from below by unusually warm ocean water. The rate of melting is far more rapid than previously thought and scientists now fear that their worst-case sea level rise projections may come true
Thanks to Climate Disruption, Earth Is Already Losing Critical Biosphere Components
Published on Truthout, 2 April 2018. Half of all plants and animals in global forests are forecast to disappear by 2100. The Arctic is in meltdown as human-caused global warming threatens to melt more than one-third of all glaciers. And the biosphere is convulsing as runaway climate disruption marches on under the business-as-usual approach of
For Bolton, the Slaughter of 1 Million Iraqis Is a Job Qualification
Published on Truthout, 27 March 2018. I witnessed firsthand John Bolton’s acts of mass murder in Iraq. Now the man who has been calling for war against Iran and North Korea for years, who worked to derail the UN’s weapons inspections in Iraq, and who thinks murdering 5 percent of Iraq’s population was a good
What Happens to a One-Industry Town When the One Industry Is the Military?
Published on Truthout, 26 March 2018. While the military, along with state and federal governments, promotes the idea that military bases bring jobs and money to local economies, a close analysis shows that they actually cost communities tens of millions of dollars annually. Read the full story on Truthout.
In the Midst of Worldwide Water Scarcity, an Artist Reminds Us, “We Are Water”
Published on Truthout, 19 March 2018. As anthropogenic climate disruption and human development progress, rivers are drying up and water scarcity has become the new norm. This climate dispatch features author, poet, sculptor and installation artist Basia Irland, whose work and activism eloquently weave in the critical threads of conservation and education, along with her
Washington State’s Deep Political and Economic Alliance With the Pentagon
Published on Truthout, 12 March 2018. From Gov. Jay Inslee down to dozens of state representatives, Truthout exposes Washington State’s deep ties to the Pentagon. Many veterans, researchers and former elected officials are concerned that this collusion is a direct subversion of democracy in their state. Read the full story on Truthout.
The Arctic Is Melting Down as the Antarctic Food Chain Is Breaking
Published on Truthout, 5 March 2018. Arctic sea ice levels are at record lows for this time of year, northern Greenland saw temperatures 63°F above average for February, and the Antarctic food chain is vanishing. While these off-the-chart climate disruptions have scientists aghast, Trump, who never lets facts stand in his way, is seeking massive
Scientists Warn: February Melting Near North Pole “Really Extreme”
Published on Truthout, 1 March 2018. Climate scientists around the globe are stunned by the melting that occurred at the North Pole in February as much of the Arctic experienced July-like temperatures. It’s a dramatic example of the extreme changes already being wrought by anthropogenic climate disruption. Read the full story on Truthout.