Author: postMigrator

US Health Dept. Ill-Prepared for Climate Change

  By

News release
George Mason University

STUDY SHOWS MOST HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS SEE
CLIMATE CHANGE AS LOOMING HEALTH THREAT
http://eagle.gmu.edu/newsroom/display.php?rid=696&keywords=

FAIRFAX, Va. – A new study from George Mason
University reveals that while a majority of U.S.
health department directors believe their city or
county will have serious public health problems
as a result of climate change within the next 20
years, very few of them have planned or
implemented activities to detect, prevent or
adapt to these health threats.

Edward Maibach, professor and director of the
Center for Climate Change Communication and lead
author of the study, wanted to understand how
directors of local public health departments
view, and are responding to, climate change as a
public health issue.

“Relatively few Americans, businesses and
policymakers are aware of the consequences that
climate change is likely to have on the health of
our communities, families and children,” says
Maibach. “Our research shows that most, if not
all, local health departments are going to
require assistance in making climate change
adaptation and prevention a priority and must
take action now to ensure climate change does not
become an increasing global threat.”

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Climate and Birds in the UK

  By Uncategorized

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“Because the UK is in the middle Latitudes of Europe,
we expected that recent climatic warming would favour
species with ranges located in the south of Europe and
adversely affect northern species.”
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Science Daily News Release

European Birds Flock To Warming Britain, While
Some Northern Species Not Faring As Well
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080729234302.htm>

ScienceDaily (July 29, 2008) – Researchers at
Durham, the RSPB and Cambridge University have
found that birds such as the Cirl Bunting and
Dartford Warbler are becoming more common across
a wide range of habitats in Britain as
temperatures rise.

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Alaska: From Forests to Grasslands?

  By Uncategorized

Hansen has said that if we reach 3C, we’ll have a
new planet. Even now, though, it’s easy to argue
that we already have one. And it’s not exactly
looking favorable for C sequestration by forests.
Lance
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“In the past, Interior forests have generally
grown back in predictable ways after fires.”

“The plant succession is different from what we
might have expected 10 or 20 years ago.”

“…if the warming continues, the forests could
eventually become grasslands, according to
Chapin.”

“‘The climate is getting closer and closer to
what you might expect for grassland,’ he said
last fall.”
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Fairbanks News-Miner
July 29, 2008

Alaska forests hit with more wildfires, infestations as climate changes
By Stefan Milkowski

BONANZA CREEK – It was just getting cool when
Glenn Juday went out to see his trees. The leaves
were still on the birch and aspen, and the summer
growing season was lingering. But it was already
October, and gathering data would be much harder
once it snowed. So Juday had to hurry.

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Heavy Rains, Floods in Guatemala

  By

July 25, 2008

 Please read the following urgent appeal for support for the victims
 of heavy rains in eastern Guatemala, particularly La Union Zacapa, a
 Chorti Maya region near the border with Honduras. Over the past couple
 days, dozens of people have been killed by mudslides, immense damage
 has been done to crops and homes. Thousands have fled their houses,
 and are without food or homes. The rains continue with no sign of
 stopping.

 After several years straight of unusual rains, scientist have
 confirmed what Guatemalans suspected, this is not ‘normal’ weather,
 it is the result of global warming. This morning the first truck full
 of food for the shelters, sent by Rights Action through the
 Coordinator of Chorti Organizations, COMUNDICH, is reaching La Union.
 But when the rains finally stop, there will be a long hard road to
 recovery.

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