I would like to thank Dave Chrisman (“Global warming ‘facts’ not strong”) for pointing out the need for increased media coverage of the effects of climate change. Given the gravity of this issue and its current and potential future impact
I would like to thank Dave Chrisman (“Global warming ‘facts’ not strong”) for pointing out the need for increased media coverage of the effects of climate change. Given the gravity of this issue and its current and potential future impact on our collective lives, there does need to be more reporting on this from all news sources. However, there is some coverage out there that you and others should check out. National Geographic has a good overview about sea level rise here:
https://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-sea-level-rise/
The New York Times did an extensive article about coastal flooding that is already happening in Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.
Dave, you say “there is an obscure island somewhere that is now under water because the oceans are rising … if there was such an island it would be all over the media. Funny it never is.” There are many and they are not obscure to the many who are being displaced because of global sea rise. Read about it in this Business Insider article: https://www.businessinsider.com/islands-threatened-by-climate-change-2012-10/#kiribati-1
But, hey you don’t have to look across the ocean to see the impacts of climate change. We have been experiencing unprecedented coral bleaching right here in Hawaii during the last few years due to the rising temperature of our oceans. I’m surprised you missed this article by the Associated Press that was printed in our own West Hawai’i Today https://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/proposals-stop-coral-bleaching-pitched
And global sea rise will affect our island, as well, according to projections by scientists including the National Academy of Sciences. According to this article from the Hawaii Tribune, the Academy projects that areas such as our own Alii Drive will be threatened in the next hundred years. Low-lying areas like the culturally significant Puuhonua o Honaunau will likely be submerged much sooner. https://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/study-shows-rising-sea-eventually-will-engulf-big-island-areas
I missed the West Hawaii Climate Forum that took place at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Nov. 17. Kudos to our county leaders who were responsible for bringing in experts to educate the public on this issue. Fortunately, for those of us that missed the event we can check out the website that has speaker presentation materials and a video of the entire forum filmed by Na Leo TV.
I’m not sure where you get your news, but there is information out there about how our climate is changing and how it is and will impact us. I think the first step in combating climate change is educating ourselves. The next step is calling on our leaders to do more. I commend the Hawaii State Legislature and the Governor of Hawaii for being the first state in the country to require that 100 percent of our energy be renewable by the year 2045.
I also am hopeful that the Paris Climate Agreement will bring about global change in moving to lessen the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. Our president-elect has threatened to pull US participation out of the Paris Agreement. Dave, I hope you will work with me to fight him if he attempts to do this. Let’s look to leaders in our local environmental movement such as the Blue Planet Foundation to educate and organize us as we take on the biggest challenge facing us.
Ben Duke is a resident of Kailua-Kona
