Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> Ah, but as much as we hate to be, even we are consumers, and knowing
> what is and isn't true helps us make decisions.

The U.N. has a new report, not fully published, that notes these things:
"    * Glacial lakes are increasing in both size and number,  
potentially leading to deadly floods
    * Permafrost in mountainous regions and at high latitudes is  
warming increasing the danger of land slides.
    * As the temperature of rivers and lakes rises, their thermal  
stratification and water quality is changing.
    * River currents, affected by melting glaciers and ice, are  
speeding up during the spring.
    * Springtime is starting earlier, causing plants to bloom  
earlier and changing the migrations of birds.
    * Many plants and animals are expanding their habitats into  
mountainous regions and higher latitudes that are becoming milder.

"The authors of the report have sifted through some 30,000 data sets  
from more than 70 international studies documenting changes to water  
circulation, to cryospheres (ice zones), as well as to flora and  
fauna over a period of at least 20 years. . . ."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469608,00.html


I have been skeptical about global warming. I have thought that it is  
probably normal cycling of climate patterns. I have thought that,  
even if it is happening, it may well not be much affected by human  
behavior. I now think that the evidence has become compelling of  
both. I still wonder if there is much we can do about it. I will  
continue to live a sane life by my standards. I will continue doing  
what feels right.

One of the things that feels right to me is voting at the checkout  
stand. I think that is more important than voting in the booth. I  
also think I can be more informed about my potential purchases than  
attempting to know the truth about political candidates, who as we  
know will say almost anything and do almost anything to become  
elected and then reelected. It is not always easy, but the Internet  
allows me to be an informed consumer. It is not easy making the most  
moral decision because of personal finances. But one must try.