Global Warming from an Aussie perspective

OK, we have had our Polar Vortex....NOW what's happened to global warming in Australia?

Has global warming gone away, or are the recent Vortex comments just short sightedness???

My opinion?

Get ready to be HOT!!!

Polar Vortex, high winds, and wind turbines step up to the plate

It is an obvious connection once you think about it, but it took this article from Renewable Energy News to make me realize that wind power can have its moment in a crisis.

Global Warming and the current "Polar Vortex"

Does it add up? The Earth is warming, and yet many US locations are about to equal or exceed previous low temperature records.

In a nutshell, earth and climate science support what is happening. The northern hemisphere jet stream is being slowed by arctic warming, and in slowing, it is becoming more erratic in its north south wanderings. These larger wanderings are allowing very cold arctic air to spill farther into the US, just like is now happening.

Want to get more scientific than me? Sure you do, so visit QUARTZ, and do watch at least the short video by Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University.

Crops, Livestock, and Sustainability

Happy New Year to All, and to all less beef. Less beef is better for you, and for our Earth.

The following links are very detailed, but I think also very worthwhile, thought provoking, and good references for future study.

First from Dr. McDougall re what we eat, and why Al Gore just made a huge statement with his change to becoming a vegan.

So then I checked out the detailed link from the UN about the Livestock's Long Shadow. (This is a big link, but do try to read the executive summary).

Now since the UN paper was from 2006, I did some additional research of my own, and found a very recent and thorough study by the International Livestock Institute and 2 others titled "......hoofprints".

In a nutshell, if you care about our Earth and still want to eat animal protein, eat chickens.......or go fishing.

Eating Recommendations for your New Year's Resolutions

You have heard it from me before, Eat Plant Based, as much as you possibly can.

It is a simple program, it truthfully is not hard to follow, there are no cost penalties, there are no technical stoppers, it will benefit your health, AND it will benefit the sustainability of our Earth for future generations.

Many of you know Dorthy Greet who sent me this link from J. Morris Hicks. He advocates eating at least 80% plant based. That is about where I am, as I do eat a bit of fish that I catch.

Since it is now 4 pm on New Years Eve, I will conclude. But in 2014, I hope you will take the time to watch Morris' to the point short video, and followup on his very constructive recommendations for you, and for Our Earth.

All the best for a healthy and happy new year,
Bill

How Global Warming Works

If you are an OLLI student of Bill's Climate classes, you should know the correct answer.

Want to check your interpretation, or find a concise explanation to send to others, visit:

HowGlobalWarmingWorks.org  My preference among their videos is the under 3 minutes video.

Fall 2013 Class Presentations, and OB's outlook

It has been a busy time for me since our class ended, but I have finally gotten up the entire Fall 2013 class presentations. Again, thanks so much for your interest, enthusiasm and great questions. You are the ones that "pay" the OLLI instructors, with a currency much more valuable than dollars.

I am also looking forward to doing future climate classes with OLLI. And yes, I will try to be more optimistic in my outlook and predictions. I really do think WE, the people of the World, have the capabilities to prevent a climate change catastrophe. We just have to put together a unified plan.

Happy Holidays,
Optimistic Bill (aka OB)

Vegan Diet Significantly Minimizes Climate Change

You may wonder, where is the link? But I am sure most of you know the connection. Raising beef, pork and chicken...and even farm raised fish, is a very inefficient use of our limited resources, and the waste involved ultimately generates a LOT of greenhouse gases, like CO2 and methane.

And probably good numbers of you are vegan, or almost vegan (like me). Now for those that are not, maybe Dr. McDougall can give you some added inspiration through his long term relationship with Al Gore, who after 7 years of consideration, has just now declared himself a vegan.

A partial believer? but want a bit more convincing, try McDougall on potatoes.

Climate Knowledge Resources - Wikipedia

I think you all recognize how useful I have found Wikipedia in preparation for my last Predicting Climate Change course.

Wikipedia is run by the non-profit organization Wikimedia. This means you see no ads as you search Wikipedia. It also means Wikipedia has no special interest groups it is supporting, and in return receiving funds from.

So I encourage you to support Wikipedia financially, as I have been doing.
Bill

For Wikipedia details, here are links attached to my donation receipt letter:

"This letter may serve as a record of your donation. No goods or services were provided, in whole or in part, for this contribution. The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in the United States. Our address is 149 New Montgomery, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94105. U.S. tax-exempt number: 20-0049703
You can follow us on Twitter, identi.ca or Google+, like us on Facebook and read our blog. Here is the Wikimedia Foundation annual report for 2010-11, the Wikimedia Foundation annual plan for 2012-13 and the Wikimedia Foundation’s five-year strategic plan. You can also now buy Wikipedia merchandise at shop.wikimedia.org."

Worse than Climate Change? Increasingly rampant use of pesticides could be!

Yes! It could bring catastrophes right to our door steps, as opposed to a century away, as with global warming.

This NY Times article was sent to me by class member and Sussex Bird Cub President, John Hoyt. It is very alarming, but very hard to dispute.

From my perspective - Yes, I have seen far fewer Monarchs this fall. I have also seen far fewer wild bees at our flowers. And I have read very troubling articles about Lowes and Home Depot selling flower plants so heavily dosed with pesticides that bees are dying by the thousands in their parking lots, not to mention your backyard.

And at the Rehoboth Film Festival, Sally and I watched More Than Honey about the bee decline, in a large part due to pesticides, and about how so many of our food crops are dependent on bee pollination. From the film, an Einstein quote, "If bees ever die out, mankind will die out 4 years later".

So where is Obama on this issue? Well, he does not look to be well positioned. But then if I lived in China or Russia, right now my future would probably look bleak as well. Hope you all can swim.

LENR - Low Energy Nuclear Reactions

Now with a headache and an overwhelmed brain, I offer the best two links I could find on the title subject.

First, from New Energy Times: LENR is Not "Cold Fusion" - A Crucial Distinction

And second from Wikipedia when I searched for LENR and got: Cold Fusion
In paragraph 5 of this link the authors make the statement: A small community of researchers continues to investigate cold fusion, now often preferring the designation low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR).

What is my opinion at this point? It would be great if LENR could be developed as a green energy source, but I am not optimistic, especially since the science can not be explained. If after researching it further, you come to a different conclusion, I would love to hear it. I did sign up for email headline notices from New Energy Times, but did NOT subscribe to their full publication at $40/yr.