"Act now on global warming or suffer later, experts say"!!!!!

[leftchick]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/NEWS/701070339/-1/NEWS

Climate change is no longer a potential problem for us; it is happening.

We are experiencing the edges of global warming, and the decisions we make in the next five to 10 years will determine how hot and polluted our children's world will be.

This comes from scientists who have been studying the Northeast; some presented their findings at the recent Climate Change Conference in Poughkeepsie.

<snip>

Wolfe also researched which plants would thrive in our region's higher carbon climate. Topping the list is poison ivy, which not only thrives in high carbon, but also becomes more potent in the allergens that make us itch. Also happier in high-carbon climates are invasive plants like kudzu and other weeds. Unhappier? Food plants — because carbon impairs their photosynthesis ability.

Insect pests like flea beetles, gypsy moths and corn earworms thrive, too, reducing sweet corn crops significantly. And benign insects that overwinter in the soil are being heavily stressed.

Gone is the synchronicity of pests and predators. Baby birds used to hatch during peak caterpillar time, helping reduce the population of pests. The caterpillars are now on global-warming time, based on temperature rather than the length of days. Tent caterpillars caused many trees to lose their foliage this year. Gypsy moth caterpillars damaged chestnut and oak trees.

[nam78_two]

1. K&R

:-|

[flyarm]

2. well in NJ today..my daffodils bloomed!!..and my cherry trees are

close to blooming as well!!

scarey!!

fly

[leftchick]

3. "What can we do to slow climate change and adapt to a warmer region?"

<snip>

"First, we need to stabilize our carbon emissions," says the Climate Group's Chris Walker. By using technologies currently available like wind, solar, geothermal and biomass energy systems; by using better forestry practices; and through carbon regulation legislation, we could halt and slowly reverse our emissions.

Walker cites a new report by British economist Sir Nicolas Stern, who points out that it's much cheaper to deal with climate change now than suffer the consequences later. Stern's report finds that it would cost less than 1 percent of global gross domestic production per year to curb greenhouse gas emissions now. But failure to act, he warns, could result in losses ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent of GDP per year.

Farmers, he says, should start evaluating their planting timetables, and consider more drought-, pest- and heat-resistant crops.

[pretzel4gore]

4. if anything could unite us, surely enviro'mt, but no trade or truck with fascism!

it better life dies than to cooperate with the busheviks...