Why Naomi Klein Must Not Blame Capitalism

“I haven’t finished reading the book; I don’t want to know who wins, capitalism or the climate, but I assume it’s capitalism because the book costs $30 and it’s printed on dead trees.”
–Stephen Colbert, interviewing Naomi Klein (23 Sept 2014)

It’s just melting.

The planet that is. But it’s doesn’t even warrant an exclamation mark because it’s been going on for years now.   Sad. Maybe that’s where everyone’s been getting the water for the ice bucket challenge – haha. Arctic sea ice continued its long-term decline in 2014. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), …
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Demand for action on climate change is getting loud.

Today’s UN climate change summit has provoked peaceful demonstrations around the world and drew significant media attention. The number of people changing their own behaviour and demanding change from leaders is growing.  This is what is required to change the culture of permissiveness that pervades the worlds of money and politics. Some leaders appear committed …
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The end of fossil fuels.

The Rockerfeller Foundation plans to divest fossil fuel assets in its portfolio. The Fund will first focus on limiting its exposure to coal and tar sands, with a goal to reduce these investments to less than one percent of the total portfolio by the end of 2014. It is planning for further divestment as quickly …
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To save nature, just say NO, thank you.

The Economist offers analysis and a guide to curbing greenhouse gases, as the UN conference on climate change approaches.  Here’s their summary table. Notice that the Montreal Protocol achieved the most by a wide margin.   The next most effective policy has been China’s one-child policy.  The effectiveness of both is supported by the simple discipline …
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We’re 20 years away from catastrophe, says PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“Low Carbon Economy Index,” a report released by the accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, has numerous stark warnings.  Sadly they are unlikely to be heeded by those that matter – big companies, governments and people like you and me – because those are the culprits identified in the report. According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report, “the gap between …
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The planet is melting faster and faster. What are you doing to stop it?

So, the ozone hole has stopped shrinking.  That’s good to know.  But I’m cynical about how good the news is because the Montreal accord banning CFCs occurred in 1987 more than a quarter of a century ago and we’re spewing out more greenhouse gases than ever.  And the weather is still wacky. A surge in …
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Toxins in your drinking water?

It happens regularly now.  Tonnes of agricultural fertiliser and sprays running off the land in to the water system causing eutrophication.  Algae bloom and everything else dies.  And even massive municipal treatment plants can’t clean the water.    Farming practices and climate change cause the problem, which will not go away until we all choose to …
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Climate change is happening “even” in the USA.

“Climate change is already affecting the American people in far-reaching ways.” So begins an extensive report issued by the U.S. Global Change Research Program on May 6, 2014. Among the changes is an increase in temperature, as illustrated in this image. Acquired 1991 – 2012 And scientists also observed changes in precipitation. acquired 1991 – …
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Weird weather is a symptom of worse to come.

The IPCC released the second report on climate change.  It is more very bad news, but even so might still be insufficient to stimulate action from leaders or followers. Last September  a summary on the physical science of climate change showed that climate change is real, and humans are the “dominant cause”.  Now the IPCC …
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