In October 2016, our house was one of thousands jeopardized by a massive forest fire in the Appalachian mountains, near to the scenic Western North Carolina town of Chimney Rock. The fire, small at first, gradually grew, acre by acre till it had roared through approx 7000 acres of woodland. 13 other wildfires in the region brought the quantity of burning forest to around 30,000 acres.
Normally the tree covered mountains of the region are cool and lush, a palette of glorious color during the later part of the year however 2016 saw a severe drought, one of the driest years on record since the Palmer Drought Index began in 1895. Lack of rain over the course of several months resulted in a tinder dry landscape that could be ignited by the smallest spark. As neighbors aided each other in the rush to clear trees and other flammable items away from our homes, we looked to the sky for rain. But there was nothing in the pale blue sky. Not a single cloud.
Realizing that something was out of balance, I searched online for global weather reports, and found that the drought was not localized. Not only was the drought reaching across all of America from the West coast all the way to the East, much of the rest of the world was also experiencing severe droughts and other anomalous weather conditions. Now, in 2017 as I travel in Tanzania I see evidence of drought all around. The peaceful, kindly people I meet tell me of reduced water levels and the melting snows of Kilamanjaro, the snow capped giant that holds up the roof of Africa. As polar ice continues to melt and coastal cities experience more flooding, it is most apparent that Climate Change, and Global Warming is a very real phenomenon. C02 is a known greenhouse gas meaning that higher quantities lead to an increase in temperature. Although Mars and Venus have also been heating up, the additional CO2 in planet Earth's atmosphere is triggering the rapid melting of polar ice caps.
So much for Donald Trumps infamous denial of the observable truth. And while increasing quantities of snow in some parts of the Northern hemisphere in Jan 2017 may cause many to disparagingly dismiss the effects of global warming, the decreasing temperatures may in fact be a result of increased heat as ocean currents are affected by increased temperatures and decreased salinity caused by melting ice. Such conditions would alter the warm currents of water that usually heat the continents. In the event that the ocean circulatory systems cease to flow, then due to Global Warming, Earth could be plunged into a new ice-age, which may be the only thing that prevents Earth becoming as hot and inhospitable as fiery Venus.
Who's Lying? A Simple Tale Of
Unbiased Global Warming Facts. Goldilocks Meets Lost In Space -
"The Three Mysterious CO2 Planets" Ed Ward, MD Feb 24th 2007
http://www.rense.com/general75/who.htm
Perhaps it is impossible to collate enough evidence to predict exactly in what way the climate will change, but to deny that the climate is changing would be ludicrous. The climate has and always will, change. The weather is as changeable as ....the weather. As politicians all over the world bicker over the likelihood and type of Change, the planet itself is changing. Ice age or inferno, either way we must prepare peacefully and calmly NOW.
Predictions are bleak yet they do offer us the ability to better prepare for an uncertain future. The Earth has gone through major changes throughout her existence, and humanity has endured through the most recent of these, although by recent I mean 11,000 years ago or so. Stories of a cataclysmic flood that nearly destroyed humanity exist in all areas of the world, their origin being the great walls of water that crashed across the face of the Earth at the end of the last ice-age as discussed by author Paul Laviolette in his book Earth Under Fire, Humanity's Survival of the Ice Age.
Earth Under Fire, Humanity's Survival of the Ice Age. Paul Laviolette. 1997. Inner Traditions/Bear and Co. Vermont.
Although the flood devastated the Earth, submerging coastal regions and creating islands where once existed land bridges, submerging large areas of the Austronesian/Australian region and Mu which became the legendary stories of Atlantis, humanity somehow managed to survive. Again they went forth to increase and multiply and fill the Earth once more with a beautiful multi-coloured rainbow of humanity. As a result of phenomenon caused partly through the cyclical rhythm of the cosmos and partly through the unwise actions of man we find our current generations may be the last that are capable of taking the necessary precautions to ensure the continuation of humanity. Literally. We cannot pass the buck on this one. As those beings on Earth with opposable thumbs and the most ability to either help or harm, we also have a duty of care to protect as much of Life as we can during the coming storm.
For thousands of years, our tribal elders and wisdom keepers would have prepared us for upheavals such as these. In the past they created underground cities and prepared caves in which their people could shelter. In our more recent eras of selfishness during which the majority of humanity has been classed as inferior by supremacists, insidious propaganda has been utilized to make people care less about one another. Those with supremacist ideologies will not truly aid Africa, already a drought stricken continent. Their racialist ethos that stems from their fear of competition may cause them to prepare only for themselves and to treat the rest of humanity in such a way as to defeat or weaken them. Such views as these have led to the enslavement, impoverishment, exploitation and willful destruction of people of color and crucially, the covert prevention of their recovery. Yet we are all Brothers and Sisters of Earth. And those who understand that truth do not seek to prevent the success, happiness and continuation of their own family.
Africa, Mother of humanity, was once a place of luscious greenery, fruitful and bountiful, her great civilizations of the past provided the inspiration and foundation of those civilizations elsewhere that followed. Yet as the climate gradually changed, as the rains which once provided water to the Northern areas of Africa stopped, the green and fertile lands turned to the arid sands of the desert, many of her forests and great rivers becoming the dunes and valleys of the Sahara, great lakes dwindling to mere waterholes or the occasional oasis. Over 2000 years ago, the Canaanites, perhaps the first recorded climate refugees, left their lands in drought stricken Palestine and were given succor by the people of Egypt. Since biblical times, and long before that, people of Earth have moved to new areas, pushed to explore and extend their boundaries by events beyond their control. And so the diversity and therefore resilience of the human species was increased.
Those areas of the Earth that may perhaps be most easily inhabitable in the near future encompass countries that are likely to close their “borders” mythical lines created by man to assuage his territorial instincts. Such restrictions are already preventing access to safety by the waves of people desperately seeking safe haven's for their families due to war, political upheaval, drought and famine.
And as we look at maps illustrating the dramatic effect of Climate Change on planet Earth it seems certain these difficulties will only get worse, creating global mayhem in the future as increasingly desperate people attempt to survive, unless we change things now. For despite the bleak prognosis for humanity, there is much that we can do to prepare. Rather than be downhearted about the difficulties we will share in the future, let us instead opt for measures that will prevent a terrible loss of invaluable Life, for when we see how tiny planet Earth is in comparison to the universe or even just our solar system, we realize how fragile and tenuous all of our existences really are. Instead of the mass exodus of past and present times leading to clashes and wars in the future, lets prepare Africa and the world for the challenges we are all about to face.
Lack of water.
Now is the time to create and further develop alternative energies and ensure public access to freely available clean water sources. Solar powered or osmosis powered desalination plants such as those used in the United Arab Emirates, California and Ghana should be constructed in all sea bordered African countries now. Such systems can even be used to replenish the water table and so should have the ability to pipe water in to irrigate interior regions, preventing desertification and sustaining the land that supports the people, for longer. Africa has a multitude of people, many already highly educated, yet living in poverty. Such untapped potential can be organized into construction and development task forces, ensuring the continuation of a clean water supply to all regions, without the need to financially extort the people. Cooperative government run ventures can supply all of the water required for the people of Africa.
However giant multi-national companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestle have already bagged the rights to many African water sources. Journalist Res Gehriger reported in a 2012 award winning movie titled Bottled Life that Swizz company Nestle's legion of PR consultants, lawyers and political lobbyist's crush local opposition to their operations.
The massive companies sources groundwater in order to produce their“Pure Life” bottled water. Nestle, “operates under such noble pretenses as "Corporate Social Responsibility" and "Creating Shared Value."
A preached philosophy, but is it practiced? he asks.
The evidence at their Pakistan plant prove the companies words to be superficial to say the least. Groundwater levels at a nearby village have “fallen dramatically” and the village fountain no longer produces clean water for the people themselves to drink. Undrinkable stinking sludge trickles forth instead.
http://www.bottledlifefilm.com/index.php/the-story.html
At United African Alliance Community Centre in Arusha, Tanzania, Black Panther Pete O'Neal and his wife Charlotte provide clean water for their entire community. Among the many inspirational words painted on their villages buildings are “Clean water should not be a privilege. It is a right.”
Yet today in Africa, millions struggle to afford to buy water that is being sold to them by foreign companies.
“ In Lagos, for example, the mega metropolis of Nigeria/Africa with its population of millions, water always comes at a price.” says Gehriger on the website's synopsis.
“The scenario of a city in which everyone has to pay for life-giving water, is already a sad reality in Lagos. Families eking out an existence in the slums spend half their meagre budget on canisters of water. The upper class? They purchase Nestlé Pure Life.”
War on Want's website reports in a Nov 2007 article titled Coca-Cola Drinking the World Dry that American company Coca-Cola's operations have also exacerbated water shortages in already drying regions. “Official documents from the government's water ministry show that water levels remained stable from 1995 until 2000, when the Coca-Cola plant became operational. Water levels then dropped by almost 10 meters over the following five years. Locals fear Kaladera (India)could become a 'dark zone', the term used to describe areas that are abandoned due to depleted water resources “
http://www.waronwant.org/media/coca-cola-drinking-world-dr y
On July 4th 2016 The Coca-Cola Company made a press release titled Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Begins Operations informing that Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottler - Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) was beginnings operations in Johannesburg, South Africa.
As it takes around 3 liters of water to make just one liter of Coca-Cola, the company effectively turns thousands of liters of life-giving water into a sugar laden toxin that has no health benefits, rapidly depleting the water supplies of surrounding areas that should be used more judiciously.
With increasing global temperatures the situation will get worse, yet with wisdom and judicious action many safeguards can be taken. Despite the increasing aridity of many regions Africa still has vast lakes from which water can be piped to drier regions. And there are those who have managed to work apparent miracles, women such as Yin Yuzhen from China who turned 1600 hectares of Inner Mongolian desert into fruitful forest. Permaculture enthusiasts have also taken desert sands and rebalancing the land, turned barren dunes into lush, productive green places, without piping in additional water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0ZaJlLE1vY couple turns desert into oasis
http://permaculturenews.org/2014/02/01/desert-oasis-4-years-jordan/
In Tanzania there have already been pre-emptive discussions regarding the installation of a water pipe line from Lake Victoria to the new capital city of Dodoma. Yet too often the resources of Africa are exploited while the people themselves gain little benefit, as ancient artifacts, gold, diamonds, minerals, hard-woods and a multitude of other products flood out of the African continent, Africa herself should benefit more from her bounty, using what should be her great wealth to fund African research projects, utilizing the bright minds of her population to promote engineering and technology students and to develop supportive strategies. Africa has the potential to become a guiding light in the forthcoming struggle enabling millions to not just survive, but thrive despite the changes to our environment.
Lack of Oxygen.
Melting ice-caps could release thousands of tons of methane gas into the atmosphere. To offset such additional poisons in our already heavily polluted air we need to plant millions of oxygenating trees and plants NOW.
In the last few millennia, most of the worlds trees have been cut down, from thousands of acres of West coast America's 300ft tall giant redwoods to the many now endangered tree species of Africa. Countless more have been destroyed by nuclear weapons testing that produced blasts which annihilated entire islands. It was short-sighted of man to destroy the lungs of the planet on which he depends to say the least. Yet rather than dwell in the past and assign blame, we must take action to re mediate these mistakes and plant millions of additional trees on available ground now. As populations grow, heavily populated regions become concrete deserts. Yet we can also plant throughout these toxic cities, making roof top and city gardens as well as planting drought resistant, highly oxygenating and pollution reducing plants on the sides of buildings.
Increased Earth Activity, Earthquake and Volcanic eruptions.
As relatively short lived creatures, our knowledge and understanding of Earth and Galactic cycles is gained by examination of our environment.
Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology, Dr Andrew Hooper is an expert on monitoring deformation of Icelandic volcanoes. During the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, Hooper wrote an article for Reuters titled Why the Icelandic volcano could herald even more disruption
“The worst-case scenario in terms of precedent here is the 1783-1784 eruption at Laki (a very large eruption of 14km3 compared to the one in Mount St. Helens in 1980 of 1 km3) that had a huge impact on the northern hemisphere, reducing temperatures by up to 3 degrees. This led to catastrophe far beyond the shores of Iceland (where 25 percent of population died), with thousands of recorded deaths in Britain due to poisoning and extreme cold, and record low rainfall in North Africa......
At the end of the last ice age, the rate of eruption in Iceland was some 30 times higher than historic rates. This is because the reduction in the ice load reduced the pressure in the mantle, leading to decompression melting there.
Since the late 19th century the ice caps in Iceland have been shrinking yet further, due to changing climate. This will lead to additional magma generation, so we should expect more frequent and/or more voluminous eruptions in the future.
Eyjafjallajökull is a relatively small volcano and unlikely to erupt the volumes of material that will have a significant impact on climate. However, eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in 1821-1823 and 1612 were followed in short shrift by eruptions of its much larger neighbour, Katla.”
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate-uk/2010/04/19/why-the-icelandic-vo...
If we use the Icelandic volcanoes as an example and abstract to other regions of the world, climate change is likely to trigger life threatening volcanic eruptions around the world.
Senior writer Tia Ghose at Live Science, posted an article on their website on January 2, 2013 titled Climate Change May Increase Volcanic Eruptions
The result of research involving core samples suggests that in the past, whenever Earth's temperatures have rapidly increased, volcanic activity has also increased.
http://www.livescience.com/25936-climate-change-causes-volcanism.html
It may be that when temperatures rise too quickly, volcanic emissions are triggered that help the planet to cool down by aiding the formation of cloud cover. As we enter an era that may be characterized by extreme conditions and great challenges we should remember that with cooperation we may be able to support Life and retain enough knowledge this time to benefit ourselves and many more future generations of Earth.
In light of the possibility of increased occurrences of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, each country should ensure that their Disaster Management Departments are adequately prepared and suitable evacuation procedures are in place. When Mnt St Helen in Washington erupted in 1980, 57 people, including vulcanologist David Johnston died. Yet the number of casualties could have been much higher had authorities not evacuated the surrounding area.
In 2016 reports indicated that super volcano Campi Fligrei in Italy was stirring after its long slumber of almost 500 years it's last eruption being in the year 1538. Tremors and gas emissions suggest that the sleeping giant has reached a critical degassing pressure and may awaken soon. A December 2016 National Geographic article by Brian Howard titled One of Earth's Most Dangerous Supervolcanoes Is Rumbling described how
“A massive eruption 200,000 years ago spewed so much ash that it darkened the skies around the planet, triggering a "volcanic winter." That event is thought to have been the largest volcanic episode in the history of Europe over that time. The volcano erupted again 35,000 and 12,000 years ago. An eruption about 40,000 years ago may have contributed to the extinction of the Neanderthals.”
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/supervolcano-campi-flegrei-st...
The vast metropolis of Naples, home to approx 3 million people could be devastated if either Campi Fligrei or Mnt Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed Pompeii in 79 C.E, were to erupt again.
In 2016 the evacuation zone around 4203ft high Mnt Vesuvius was increased to take in 25 towns containing around 700,000 people as reported in the Independent online newspaper Oct 2016 article titled Mount Vesuvius eruption risk: Emergency plans to evacuate 700,000 finalised.
Decision maker Regional President Vincenzo De Luca stated that,
“We have no particular problems right now, but it is our duty to be prepared. Either you can pretend not to see challenges, or you can face them head on – even the most difficult.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mount-vesuvius-emergency-...
In Africa, currently dormant Mnt Kilamanjaro at 19,341 feet above sea level is around 5 times the height of Vesuvius. Mnt Meru, Kilamanjaro's smaller companion at 14977ft above sea level last erupted in 1910 and is therefore still active as is 9718 ft above sea level Ol Doinyo Lengai that regularly spews out a unique cooler magma, a form of natron carbonitite, the only volcano known to do so. The water in these regions is notoriously high in natural flouride which turns the teeth of the locals yellow when they drink. A danger of toxic flourine emissions during volcanic activity in the region may also exist as occurred when Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 1821-1823 and flourine poisoned livestock in the vicinity.
The region of Arusha and the homeland of the Masai people with a combined population of approx 750,000 lies within the 10 mile radius of Mnt Meru. It would be wise to prepare evacuation plans for these and other areas in the region of potentially active volcanoes and if such plans already exist, consider updating and revising if necessary. Shelters should be prepared in advance and food and medicines stock piled for an increasingly uncertain future.
Enough Nuclear Radiation to Annihilate Humanity
Despite so called civilized modern man's claim to be the most advanced and developed that he's ever been, he has made a terrible mistake that could end human life if we do not take steps now to counteract such ill judged action.
After the 2010 Fukishima disaster, millions of mutated sea creatures washed up on the worlds shores while human infant mortality and cancer rates spiked. As usual, those who “benefit” financially from the continuance of the mistake, hide the results of each accident from the public therefore preventing the population from being able to make truly informed choices. Stories of mutated creatures washed up on shore, many appearing to be the terribly deformed miscarried fetus of whales are always labeled “mysterious” and scientists seem to be continually “baffled” in the mainstream news articles. The unnecessary suffering of nature due to the folly of man truly is an obscenity. 100 years ago, cancers and heart attacks were so rare that some doctors had never heard of them. Now, due to environmental pollutants they kill hundreds of thousands every year. In the event of an era of increased likely hood of cataclysmic events such as volcanic eruptions, seismic activity and weather upheaval, damage to these nuclear facilities could send enough radiation into Earth's atmosphere to destroy Life on Earth, mutating trees, animals and humans in horrific ways. To retain these facilities is tantamount to global suicide.
In the U.S 99 nuclear facilities exist, some of these aging facilities are known to be leaking and water and food supplies in their regions are heavily contaminated. Although a relatively small country, France has 58 reactors. Russia and mainland China have 35 each. Japan 43. Despite the fact that terribly mutated children are still being born in Ukraine 30 years after the Chernobyl tragedy, the Ukrainians have 15 nuclear reactors. Globally, in total there are approx 479 reactors and tonnes of “depleted” Uranium that could mutate and destroy all life as we know it for thousands of years into the future. The nuclear generation has left humanity with a legacy so destructive that few seem to want to face the problem head on as it is just too horrific to contemplate.
However, as of 2016, Italy closed all of its nuclear power stations and Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland are phasing out theirs. The Netherlands, Sweden and Taiwan have similar intentions.
http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/09/4136353-heart-w...
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_by_country
Think Tanks around the world must be brought together to find ways to safely contain or neutralize all of the radioactive material now in circulation and move to non-damaging renewables for energy. Africa has only 2 nuclear power plants, both in South Africa. Her lack of “development” may yet become her saving grace, however winds and currents carry contamination all around the globe. You must act wisely now to avert certain catastrophe.
Sabotage of Peace and Exploitation of Resources by Those Who Do Not Care About the Welfare of the People
It is now 2017 and despite humanities many achievements, and despite the presence of billions of people who wish for a tranquil, happy life, the world is yet to maintain lasting peace. Those who seek to control Africa and the worlds assets divide and conquer with the understanding that their own selfish desires can be assuaged or that an African Alliance would be too powerful to exploit. Yet in the upcoming struggle to quickly adapt to a changing environment peace will be one of humanities greatest assets. In peace, we can help one another to prepare for the future and be of mutual benefit to one another. To best ensure success we will require peaceful non-violent communication as well as the honor to reject those whose intentions are tempting yet ultimately destructive to people. Our endeavors should be facilitated by recognizing that the divine in each of us honors, respects and uplifts the divine in the other, and by divine I mean the primordial essence from which we are all formed. Whether you want to call it God, Goddess, the Itongo or the Higgs Field, it is the fabric of the universe from which we were all formed and into which we shall all one day pass.....but not yet. Communicating on such a level transcends all barriers of race, gender and religion. If we intend kindly and non-harmfully towards each other we can ensure co-operation in light of our shared humanity, drawing on our human fortitude and ingenuity and even beyond that into the essence of our source. It may well be that Earth naturally cycles through extremes. Transitioning from high heat that melts polar ice and releases pressure on tectonic plates, to degassing Earth's magma chambers, triggering volcanic eruptions that in turn cause the planet to regulate itself by producing cooling clouds that bring Earth's soaring temperatures down once more. If humanity does not act correctly, wisely choosing to respect the Earth and one another, retaining healthful balance and the knowledge gathered by our ancient ancestors rather than destroying wisdom for the sake of foolish power mongers and corporate greed, replacing traditional survival skills and wisdom with a dangerous dependency and ignorance, we do not survive in the long run as a species.
Yet humanity has survived who knows how many disasters and cataclysms in the past, we can do much to ensure that we and future generations continue to do so long into the future.
Not a single home or life was lost to the October 2017 fire at Chimney Rock. Fire crews, volunteers and good neighbors worked together to prevent the fire from wreaking the destruction that it undoubtedly would have done had they not been present. Firefighters from 24 states traveled to the scene many bringing tank loads of that all important resource, life bestowing, blessed water, with them. Working together, strategizing and caring, people save people.
We may have to change our behavior, but don't shirk responsibility, deny the evidence that the climate is changing or suggest that we can't make the changes necessary to save ourselves in time. Of course we can. We just have to try.
