don’t be tricked by the rain

 

California is still expected to have its worst drought in history, despite the rain we are seeing over this weekend.  A warning this week by Energy Secretary Steven Chu was quickly followed by statements from farmer’s that they are abandoning their crops due to water shortages.  

Please remember to turn off your sprinklers during this rainy time, as well as continue to conserve water as much as possible.

And as another reminder, we found this quote that is thought to be appropriate:

“Angelenos committed communal suicide by watering lawns as usual … The taps remained open, trickling away the life blood of the desert paradise.” Robert Heinlein, 1952

water loss

New research is indicating that California is on its way to its worst drought in history due to the increasing tropics, according to the New Scientist.

Climate scientists have documented a slow progression of low-latitude weather systems towards the poles, and this has been matched by rising temperatures in many temperate regions. Deciding whether this broadening of the tropical belt is linked to the greenhouse effect has been difficult, however.

The scientist studied the tropopause, which is the part of the atmosphere where weather forms.  They have found that it is widening.  This means that the tropical boundaries are expanding at a rate of 70 kilometers per decade.

The expansion of the tropic is not as detrimental as the expansion of the subtropic. The subtropic is defined as having drought and dryness, which Southern California is a part of during the summer months.  As that expands into Northern California, the state will be under severe water stress.

water woes

Produce in California may see a price increase related to water issues in the state, according to the Associate Press.  In fact, farmer’s in Central California are abandoning their fields, leaving them to turn to dust, because of the plight caused by water shortages.

The most interesting finding in the report is that the limits in produce will not all be caused by the drought, but subsequent legislation that was put in place in anticipation of the drought.  Most prominently, the decision that ordered state water managers to expedite requests to move water so high-value crops like wine grapes, almonds and pistachio trees would stand a chance of surviving.

Federal water reserves are at their lowest since 1992, and unless California gets more rain, reserves will get slashed to nothing.

Obviously, in an already suffering economy, this is not good news.  It means that Californians will have to spend more money to get healthful food and their will be less jobs up and down the coast and central valley.

Hey, Cali, listen up

California is going to be really affected by climate change

California gets dire warning on global warming, via Environmental News Network

Roads and bridges, the water supply, agriculture, public health and even winter skiing all will be affected by global climate change, said the report by University of California-Berkeley agricultural
and resource economics professors David Roland-Holst and Fredrich Kahrl.

This is the first time a major academic institution has studied the link in economy and environment, and the results are not good. It was already announced that we spend $28 Billion per year in health issues due to poor air quality. This however is estimating that real estate losses could be in the trillions due to sea level increases.

I know we are a state that cares about this and does the right thing, but this is a proverbial diagnosis from the doctor that we have to change NOW!

something horrendous is happening

And, no, I am not talking about the destruction of our planet. I mean, that too, but something even more horrendous is happening.

You see, there is this group called Californians for Population Stabilization. You might think that they support a zero population growth, or Planned Parenthood, are pro-choice, and are concerned about the environment. You would be wrong. Dead wrong.

This group is against immigrants. Specifically, Latino immigrants.

As a result, they have done the most heinous thing imaginable. You may have even seen it. They have paid for an advertisement in which they blame global warming on Latin immigrants, there by calling on our citizenry to disallow them from our country. (you can find an article, including a link to the commercial HERE.)

This campaign is awful, for so many reasons. First of all, last time I checked this country has continuously worked towards anti-discrimination laws and supports equality for all. Secondly, it just isn’t true. Global warming is not caused by one thing or one group of people. That is why this is so hard to battle. It doesn’t have a face. It’s a matrix of lack of education, low cost of fuel, bad food production, television and over-consumption by Westerners (and let me tell you, that’s white folk.)

Lastly, and most importantly, have you ever wondered what the heck you would do without all the latino immigrants in this country? Have you? Who would pick your food from the fields? Who would cook your food at California Pizza Kitchen or Spago? Who would clean your house, or your yard, or park your car for you? Why people do not understand that this population is a net positive to our economy is dumbfounding.

But on top of that, these are not the people I see driving around in SUV’s. These are not the people I see at the malls buying item after item on new merchandise. These are not the people I see at Ralph’s buying frozen pizzas and sugary foods for their children. Nor are they the people with five TV’s to a household of three. They do not over spend on cosmetics or cell phones or clothing or toys or all the other crap you can imagine. And on top of that, I cannot even tell you how many times I have seen Latino families going through trash bins pulling out all the recyclable items, that YOU threw out. So you tell me who’s better for this planet?

In all honesty, they work hard so you don’t have to. Their presence keeps the cost of food and goods low, so our economy can keep going. It is the jerks on Wall Street, most of them white, that have hurt this economy and fueled global warming.

So I say to this group, and any other person, that discriminates towards our immigrants… shame on you. You live a life of luxury for no regard on how you attain that.

I challenge you to open your eyes to the blessings you have in your life. And when you do, I almost promise you, the first reaction will be to thank an immigrant.

this doesn’t seem good, at all…

Since I live in California this kind of bother’s me.

If we all didn’t have enough to worry about with hormone altering cosmetics, water bottles, and cans (click HERE, HERE or HERE.) Or, polar ice caps melting. Or, money. Now, we get some new acronym to worry about.

Seems that there are these things called PBDE’s.. which are fire retardent chemicals put in a whole bunch of things, mainly furniture and bedding. The levels of these toxins are 10 times higher in California that anywhere else. What’s worse is that we have it at twice the levels in our bloodstream than anyone else in the country.

“Levels in California homes were 10 times higher than those on Cape Cod, five times higher than those in Texas, six times higher than those in Washington, D.C., four times higher than those in Boston and 200 times higher than those in Europe, where the chemicals are used sparingly.”

HERE is the article. And, HERE is some information from Wikipedia.

just say no

In all honesty, I can’t even believe this was an article that had to be published. Needless to say, it was and I feel it is something I need to share with you.

Click HERE. And, then please, PLEASE don’t flush your drugs down the toilet. (feels weird even writing that.)

You can go HERE if you live in Los Angeles.