July 2007

Incredibly, despite almost global consensus that global warming is occurring, some

elements within the Australian Federal Government, are still openly expressing

skepticism. Those elements prefer instead to explain record average annual

temperatures, record drought, the most destructive storm event ever to hit NSW

(Morris Iemma), and the most costly flood in East Gippsland's history (Premier

Bracks), as natural weather cycles.

These events are not just restricted to Australia. In China, record drought, over

grazing and irrigation, has seen the leading edge of the Gobi Desert encroach to

within 80 kilometres of downtown Beijing (CBS News June 7).

Paradoxically, other parts of China have

experienced near record floods in the past

month, resulting in an horrific death toll, and

massive damage bills.

The USA, which is the world's greatest polluter,

has major problems of its own. CBS News

reported earlier this year on the problems facing

the Alaskan island village of Shishmaref where

homes of local Eskimos are dropping into the sea because sea ice that once protected

the shore line from erosion is no longer in place for much of the year.

It is estimated the island will disappear in fifteen years. The solution, currently being

funded at a cost of $180 million US dollars, is to relocate the entire village, school,

power plant, homes and public buildings, onto mainland sixteen kilometres away.

However, this will not be the end

of the problem, experts estimate

there are at least 180 other

Alaskan villages that will have to

be moved.

While the American Senate wrestles with the need to address global warming (yes,

they have accepted that global warming is occurring), many areas of the country are

suffering from record heat waves because the jet stream has moved further north than

usual, blocking cool air from Canada.

GLOBAL W

ARM

ING

AND THE DEBATE HOTS UP

China's ever increasing

dependence on coal to

drive their polluted rise

to prosperity has had

disastrous effects

It is estimated Shishmaref island

will disappear in fifteen years.