writeaboutwarming

April 4, 2013 – It was years ago that I heard James Hansen quoted as saying that if the KXL pipeline were built and utilized, it was “game over” for our planet.   Like so many, I nodded vaguely and murmured the appropriate comments – probably “oh my gosh, this is just awful.”   My acceptance of his assertion was based on my belief in his expertise, and on the pictures of environmental destruction coming out of Alberta.   Let me hasten to add, I still think he’s right.   But I didn’t understand why he was right, not really.   Not until yesterday, thanks to the rupture of the Exxon Mobil Pegasus pipeline in Arkansas.   Here it is, friends.   The Crux of the Matter, the Meat of the Issue:                      It is impossible to move tar sands oil safely. Spend a moment taking that all in.   There’s a lot there, though only nine words are require...

May 29, 2012 - The Memorial Day weekend was one for the record books.  Much of the interior U.S. sizzled.  Even worse, the heat was accompanied by unrelenting humidity.  Here in southwest Ohio, our temperatures were in the low 90's, with humidity hovering around 60 percent.  The weather was dangerous. Republicans are known for being ferociously opposed to regulation.  They represent much of the western United States, where Americans are likeliest to take the attitude "no one can tell me what to do."  That's patently ridiculous, of course.  We all have bosses; even the CEO's of major corporations report to a board of directors.  There's a reason for that.  When people aren't held accountable, some among them ultimately engage in whatever sort of behavior will benefit them the most, even if rules forbid that behavior.  They collectively give each other permission to ignore the rules, little bit by little bit.  What one dar...