- Retin A Treatment, The napkin is my witness: Notes from my Dec. 20 conversation about climate change with reporter Jim DeFede
Reporter Jim DeFede and I were office buddies at Miami New Times back in the mid-90s. He sat in his tiny cubicle, digging up dirt on crooked politicians and fending off threats from the angry subjects of his no-holds-barred exposés.
I sat a few seats behind DeFede at the copy editing desk, tidying up commas and occasionally contributing a feature story on something offbeat, like full-moon drumming circles on South Beach.
We were two very different writers; he was a hard facts, investigative guy who'd risk anything to expose corruption in high places. I was a cultural critic and short story writer without a muckraking bone in my body.
Besides being a fierce reporter, DeFede is blunt, funny and opinionated -- qualities that enabled him several years ago to reinvent himself as a South Florida television TV news reporter and a talk-radio host. 1000mg Retin A Treatment, I hadn't seen him for years when we bumped into each other in December at a Christmas party for the Miami Herald.
He was still the same old DeFede: big, sarcastic and sharp as a whip. I figured he'd be interested in my recent focus as a writer -- investigating melting glaciers and climate change in the Andes, Retin A Treatment. Granted, my getting the scoop on ukukus as Qoyllur Rit'i isn't as juicy as his catching Miami-Dade politicos red-handed.
Still, I expected my friend to be concerned about climate change. After all, he lives in South Florida where rising temperatures in the Atlantic are predicted to create larger and longer-lasting storms throughout this century. And then there's the nasty business of Florida's already-eroding shoreline, which will be in bigger trouble as Arctic ice melts and feeds more water into the oceans, Retin A Treatment us. Talk about a major story. Retin A Treatment, But the topic made his eyes glaze over.
"Oh, that," he said.
- NRDC map showing predicted impacts of climate change on Florida (click on image to enlarge)
"You don't believe in climate change?" I asked quickly, my Denier Radar on alert.
"Of course, I do. 250mg Retin A Treatment, But, look, it's not something that's going to affect me now or in my lifetime. So why should I care?"
"What about rising sea waters?"
"Hah, Retin A Treatment. Hah!" he barked into my face. "You tell me when the sea level is going to rise? When. Huh?" DeFede was shouting at me -- all 300-plus pounds of him -- over the raucous bar music in the other room.
Through an archway I caught a glimpse of Dave Barry and other Herald staffers doing a cramped version of the Twist. Retin A Treatment, "In five years?" he continued. "Fifty. A hundred?"
"They are rising and they will rise more, Jim." I was trying to fight two contradictory urges -- one to laugh, 200mg Retin A Treatment, the other to smack him.
"Tell me when."
"Scientists can't say exactly when. Definitely by the end of the century."
"So what. I'll be dead by then!"
I got out a napkin, Retin A Treatment. "I'm writing this down. I want it on record that today, December 20, 2008, Jim DeFede laughed in my face when I said sea levels in Florida could rise in his lifetime." (See photo above.)
"You wait, 50mg Retin A Treatment, " I said, waving the napkin threateningly. "The sea level is going to become a problem in Florida faster than you think, and then you'll realize that I was right and you were wrong and there."
"Hah" he said one last time.
Then he started talking to El Fotografo about the weird stout beer that EF had ordered that tasted like sewer water.
So much for my attempts to rouse a Miami reporter's interests in the future effects of climate change on his environment. Retin A Treatment, That encounter forced me to admit an uncomfortable truth: Most Americans do not care about climate change and do not believe it will affect them. My friend is smart and engaged -- no, make that embroiled in current events. If someone like him thinks global warming is unimportant, what about the millions of uninformed people in the United States. How is the current Administration going to press upon them the importance of the issue, 20mg Retin A Treatment, let alone coerce them into changing their lifestyles to reduce emissions?
Glaciologist Lonnie Thompson told me last year that people only tend to respond to a crisis when it's in their backyard. He's got a point. The psychological mechanisms of denial and procrastination are strong in our species. In the case of global climate change, however, the scale of the problem is so huge and catastrophic, we cannot afford to wait until the flood tides are lapping at our front doorstep, Retin A Treatment. Mitigation has to start now.
And it's up to reporters, bloggers and informed people to stay on message and reiterate the obvious:
The coastline of Florida will be transformed by 2100 due to the effects of climate change. And if we do not start caring about and addressing the problem now, our generation will be remembered as The Jerks Who Stood By and Did Nothing.
Are you still with me. Here's some useful reading material to bone up on the facts:
1. Retin A Treatment, Less than two months ago, it was announced that climate change was going to impact the United States harder and sooner than previously predicted:
A recent report released by the U.S. 40mg Retin A Treatment, Geological Survey paints abrupt climactic shifts, including a more rapid climate change with global sea level increases of up to four feet by the year 2100 and arid climatic shifts in the North American Southwest by mid-century.Previous estimates anticipated a global sea level rise of 1.5 feet by the end of the century. The current survey, commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, estimated that the compounding effects of the loss of Arctic Sea ice will more than double previous projections by the end of the century. (See "American Shores Face Threat of Rising Sea Levels," AP, Dec, Retin A Treatment. 26, 2008)
2. A new report by the EPA concludes that Florida and Louisiana are the U.S, Retin A Treatment mexico. states most vulnerable to sea-level rise.
3. A 2001 report by the National Resources Defense Council lists some of the threats global warming poses for Florida's people and resources by 2100, including:
- As glaciers melt and warming waters expand, sea levels will rise anywhere from eight inches to two-and-a-half feet over the next century. In Florida, seawater will advance inland as much as 400 feet in low-lying areas, flooding shoreline homes and hotels, Retin A Treatment craiglist, limiting future development, and eroding the state's beloved beaches.
- As salt water encroaches inland, freshwater supplies feeding Florida's cities, agriculture, and tourist centers will be at risk of saltwater contamination.
- Saltwater encroachment will also likely inundate coastal wetlands, gravely threatening the lower Everglades and its wildlife.
- Tourism will likely suffer. Sea level rise, climbing temperatures, and alterations in rainfall will combine to damage beaches, the Everglades, Retin A Treatment uk, coral reefs and other unique ecosystems that make Florida such an appealing tourist destination.
- Global warming will pose specific health threats to Florida's citizens, likely increasing the incidence of heat-related illness, exacerbating poor air quality, and perhaps even making it easier for infectious diseases to spread. Florida's seniors will be particularly susceptible to these effects.
Similar posts: Zithromax Sinusitis. Generic Cialis Forum. Amoxicillin Bloody Stool. Retin A Cream Vs Gel uk. What Is Prozac Used For craiglist. 750mg Yeast Infection Diflucan Relief Of Symptoms.
Trackbacks from: Retin A Treatment. Retin A Treatment. Retin A Treatment. 40mg Retin A Treatment. 40mg Retin A Treatment. Retin A Treatment canada.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Tommy Linsley // Feb 4, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Barbara, I came upon your blog through a comment you had left on my blog. Thanks.
I see from this post that you are a talented witer.
And, you are correct that people in general do
not seem to realize that sea levels are rising as we
speak. Yes, they will see the effects sooner than
they would like.
I see that you write about climate change.
You may find the info about Perth, Australia
and Lake Chad in Africa in this post interesting.
http://sustaingreenpower.com/fighting-drought-years/
Keep up the good work.
2 Barb // Feb 4, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Thanks, Tom, for the encouragemennt.
It’s true that areas other than the US are seeing the effects of climate change first. The drought situation in Australia (from reading your post) appears to be very serious — that some scientists are expecting Perth to become a water-less ghost town is very troublesome indeed.
People in the American West have historically had a greater awareness of their vulnerability to drought. As Joan Didion outlines in one of her books of essays (I think The White Album), the Los Angeles area and much of California were “created” by massive irrigation systems that transport water from the Rockies to the California desert. As water resources diminish east of California, the effects will be felt severely in that state. Yes, the reality is happening sooner than many people think.
3 Mark // Feb 5, 2009 at 11:39 am
I pictured Jim Defede wearing one of those pig noses with the elastic string digging into the back of his fat neck while reading about your conversation with him. When I listened to him AM radio a few years ago he always sounded like he had food on his shirt.
I’m having “So what? I’ll be dead by then!” engraved on my headstone but first I’m going to stop recycling, start taking half hour hot showers, start throwing trash out the window of my SUV, start voting republican, buy bottled water by the case, crank up my AC just a little more, deny climate change, turn lights on when I leave the room and yell at waitresses more because, So What? I’ll be dead someday anyway!
4 Barb // Feb 5, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Agh, Mark! Sounds like you ain’t a DeFede fan.
I never heard Jim on his radio show so I can’t comment on his on-air persona.
Yeah, “So what? I’ll be dead by then” sounds like the tagline of the Denial Generation. Lurvvv your riff on the theme.
5 Paul // Feb 6, 2009 at 12:41 am
Hello Barb,
Love your blog.
What a coincidence that you used to work at the Miami New Times with Defede. I’m from Miami, enjoy the New Times, admire Defede’s work, and I’m Peruvian!
Too bad that Defede has such an poor attitude about climate change. Your warnings really freaked me out.
Your interest in the effects of climate change around the Andes is wonderful. I will certainly take the time to read your work.
Congratulations on your impressive resume, and hope Peru takes good care of you.
6 Barb // Feb 6, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Thanks, Paul, for your encouraging words. Yeah, Peru is taking good care of me (apart from harrowing tico rides).
Cool to connect with another Peruvian in Miami. Que coincidencia!
I’m sorry too that DeFede thinks climate change isn’t something pressing. But I’m not giving up on him: I’m going to needle him he starts investigating the topic.
One US journalist who is doing a great job connecting the dots between climate change, natural disasters and the Gulf coast is Mike Tidwell. I highly recommend his book “The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas and the Coming Death of America’s Coastal Cities” (2007). It’s a short book that packs a wallop — required reading for Floridians.
Amazon has it here: http://www.amazon.com/Ravaging-Tide-Strange-Katrinas-Americas/dp/0743294718/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Tidwell published a book that warned that a hurricane could devastate the Gulf area because of lack of planning, eroded shorelines and inadequate infrastructure. He is worth listening to.
7 Paul // Feb 6, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for the tip!
8 Come hell or high water: visualising climate | The Center for Sustainable Practice in the Arts // Feb 8, 2009 at 11:01 pm
[...] to suggest otherwise), how much and how quickly levels are going to ascend is the subject of much debate. The Watermarks Project turns the varying projections into, well, projections. Pictured above is a [...]
9 News Room :: Come hell or high water: visualising climate // Feb 9, 2009 at 1:15 am
[...] to suggest otherwise), how much and how quickly levels are going to ascend is the subject of much debate. The Watermarks Project turns the varying projections into, well, projections. Pictured above is a [...]
10 Joseph Hunkins // May 13, 2009 at 2:53 am
Barbara the sea levels are rising now – they are pretty consistent, have been for some time, and are barely perceptible. About this high | per year.
I’m like Al Gore and believe he should have been president but his film really played fast and loose with the science to create an alarming portrait. This was done to spur action but I think will backfire as folks realize, for example, that Katrina had almost nothing to do with global warming, sea level rise is tiny, and surface temperatures have actually *fallen* over the past ten years. That’s not to say there is no threat, but it’s really exaggerated in my view.
In my view climate change represents only a modest threat where we have *huge* threats from poverty and disease. I’d like us to focus on the *current* catastrophes since climate CO2 mitigation can cost even more than military craziness. Let’s pick the low hanging fruit first and save millions from simple disease and poverty.
11 Simon Baddeley // May 31, 2009 at 3:07 pm
A Florida version of “Après moi, le déluge”
12 Barb // May 31, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Touche, Simon.
Nice blog, by the way.
13 Christian Unruh // Jul 28, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I wish I’d been on this thread earlier. I’ve listened to Defede quite a bit on the radio but not a huge fan. Didn’t WQAM DUMP Rachel Maddow for Defede? Nice call.
I have a lot to say about all this and especially interested is specific projections for Peru as I have a beach property there. I am glad I found this blog.
14 Barb // Jul 28, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Christian — welcome aboard. Sounds like you live in south Florida, no? Is anyone there (in general public) concerned about sea-level rise?
I bugged DeFede about it not because I have anything against him (as I say, I’m an old friend) but because he and other TV reporters play such a critical role in alerting the public to threats. At this point I don’t care who covers the issue in south Florida, as long as someone starts to do it.
My main interest regarding water with Peru is future supply. I don’t know what the sea-level rise issues are for Peru’s coast. I’d imagine they’re similar to California.