Act On Climate Change, Top Scientists Warn US

Published on Friday, May 30, 2008 by The Guardian/UK
Act On Climate Change, Top Scientists Warn US
by Dan Glaister in Los Angeles and James Randerson

A group of 1,700 leading scientists called on the US government yesterday to take the lead in fighting global warming. Citing the “unprecedented and unanticipated” effects of global warming, the scientists, including six Nobel prizewinners, presented a letter calling for an immediate reduction in US carbon emissions.

The statement came as the Senate prepares to debate a bill next week that would impose economy-wide limits on greenhouse emissions to avert what it describes as “catastrophic climate change”.

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La Nina May Be Behind Spate of Fatal Mexico Shark Attacks

“La Nina” effect may be behind Mexico shark attacks
Fri May 30, 2008 9:47pm EDT

By Mariano Castillo

ZIHUATANEJO, Mexico (Reuters) – Cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures due to the La Nina phenomenon may be partly responsible for a spate of fatal shark attacks off Mexico’s Pacific coast, a U.S. shark expert said on Friday.

At least two people — a surfer and a U.S. tourist — have been killed by sharks in the last few weeks around the coastal town of Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero.

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Japan: Beech Forests Dying; Weather Disasters More Likely

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“The university’s model predicted natural beech
forests will decrease from the current level by
56 percent during 2031-50, and by 93 percent
during 2081-2100.”
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DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE
(May. 31, 2008)

Shirakami forests ‘could vanish by 2100’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Vast beech forests in the Shirakami Mountains, a
UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural site that
straddles Akita and Aomori prefectures, could
vanish by the end of this century due to global
warming, according to researchers.

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Book Review: Apocalypse in the Oceans

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“Yes, climate change plays a part but it’s
marginal compared to the massive overfishing
required to supply restaurants and stores in a
world that stuffs itself on tuna sandwiches,
salmon steaks, shrimp cocktail and sashimi.

“The shallow waters off Nova Scotia used to be
full of swordfish and bluefin tuna, as well as
untold numbers of hake, halibut, and haddock. Cod
in particular were the apex predators in these
parts,’ Grescoe writes.”
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Apocalypse in the Oceans
By Anneli Rufus, AlterNet
Posted on May 30, 2008, Printed on May 30, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/story/86789/

In pictures, on CSI Miami, and to the naked eye
the sea looks the same today as it ever did:
blue, green or blue-green, rolling in glassy
crashing curls, tormented then serene. It will
look this way tomorrow, next year, arguably for
eternity. No matter what freaks us out on earth,
our species takes great comfort in knowing that
the sea always looks exactly the same.

From up here.

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