 home
archives
last week
feedback
Rolla Peace News February 5, 2019 |
|
Dear Friends: http://tomsager.org/Peaceletters/peaceletter020519.html In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 2019 2. PLANNING FOR THE END TIMES 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) More ... “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them” b) Elected Officials For Climate Action c) Citizens Climate Lobby Comes To Rolla d) Accumulation Of Greenhouse Gases and Extreme Global Warmth Continue e) Donald Trump v. Polar Vortex f) Another Dam Disaster g) Resisting the Coup h) Nuclear Weapons Treaties 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019 We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until peace is established). Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the 40s. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. 2. PLANNING FOR THE END TIMES I'm not as sure as Elizabeth West seems to be that we are doomed beyond hope, but aside from that, I agree with everything she says here. Please do read it and give it some serious thought. I believe it does matter how we live. Living, as Ms. West suggests, as if death could come at any time (which has always been true for all of us), is the most powerful way each one of us can help to turn the tide, if that is possible. A life that is lived for and with our fellow humans is contagious. People's minds and hearts won't be changed by preaching or demonstrating, but by example, perhaps only one person at a time. And a massive shift in human consciousness is the only thing that can save us. I'm not that interested in orchestrating my own death — I think I'll know what to do when the time comes — but I am giving a lot of thought to what I want to see when I look back on my life as a whole, and trying to act accordingly. Like Ms. West, I don't usually get this personal for “publication,” but these are not usual times. It's time to stand up and be counted. 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) More ... “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them” b) Elected Officials For Climate Action c) Citizens Climate Lobby Comes To Rolla d) Accumulation Of Greenhouse Gases and Extreme Global Warmth Continue e) Donald Trump v. Polar Vortex f) Another Dam Disaster g) Resisting the Coup h) Nuclear Weapons Treaties MORE ... “AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM” Last week I wrote briefly about 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, whose idea of a school strike for the climate has caught on like a California wildfire with hundreds of thousands participating. This week I link to a short article written by Thunberg in which she responds to her critics. Thunberg writes:“I am just a messenger, and yet I get all this hate” —Greta Thunberg So why all the hate? Perhaps if you read the short quotes above, you will understand.“I am just a messenger, and yet I get all this hate. I am not saying anything new, I am just saying what scientists have repeatedly said for decades. And I agree with you, I'm too young to do this. We children shouldn't have to do this. But since almost no one is doing anything, and our very future is at risk, we feel like we have to continue.” NOTE: March 15 is the day of the world-wide strike for the climate. Perhaps you would consider participating. And if you can't find a local strike, perhaps you could organize one. ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION Three Rolla City Council members, Dave Schott, Tiffany Henry and Daniel Jones have signed on to a letter in support of clean energy and bold climate leadership. Not bad for a small town of 20,000! If you are an elected official and wish to join Dave, Tiffany and Daniel in acting boldly for the climate, you can sign the letter here. CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY COMES TO ROLLA Last Thursday, Citizens Climate Lobby gave a presentation at the Phelps County Courthouse to about 50 people. Citizens Climate Lobby is trying to pass the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividends Act which would lead to a reduction in our reliance on fossil fuels, the development of non-polluting renewable energy and the creation of many green jobs. Climate Lobby is attempting to start its first chapter in Missouri's 8th District here in Rolla. If you are interested in participating, contact Dave Schott, daveschott21@yahoo.com. ACCUMULATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND EXTREME GLOBAL WARMTH CONTINUE CO2 in the atmosphere continues to increase. January 2019 beat January 2018 by almost three parts per million. Extreme global heat continues with January 2019 being the fourth warmest January on record according to the Copernicus Center. DONALD TRUMP v. POLAR VORTEX Donald Trump has said many nutty things about global warming and climate induced disasters. Up to now, “raking” the forest was my favorite, but this week he outdid himself tweeting: Donald, if you miss global warming, go to Australia, that is, if they will let you in. January, 2019 was the hottest month in recorded history in Australia, with unprecedented floods in the North and fires in the South.“ In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!” ANOTHER DAM DISASTER A shoddily built dam on a mine tailings pond in Brazil burst, killing at least 110 and causing severe environmental damage. Catastrophic failure of tailings dams are on the rise, heavy rains being a contributory factor. An industrial accident? a result of climate change? Both. Man-made and natural disasters meld seamlessly into each other. RESISTING THE COUP The coup attempt in Venezuela continues. So far it appears to be a stalemate, although I suspect that without international backing, particularly from the United States, there would never have been a coup at all. Here are two articles I feel are definitely worth reading. This interview with Guillaume Long is the most balanced presentation I've been able to find — it is difficult these days to find anything balanced. And this article by Vijay Prasad ties the coup in Venezuela to the over 60 other U.S. created coups around the world since World War II. Imagine if Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, (2nd in line to succeed the elected president) were to declare both Donald Trump and Mike Pence unfit for the office of president and declare herself interim-president until new elections could be held. Now also suppose that Russia and China and a few other countries were to immediately recognize Ms. Pelosi as president of the United States. Now you have something of an analogy to what is going on in Venezuela. The saddest thing about this coup is that it could be solved in a minute. All that is necessary is for the rich countries to pay Venezuela to leave their oil in the ground, which is where it belongs anyway. There would then be nothing left to fight over. Try thinking outside the box. It's amazing how simple solutions can be. NUCLEAR WEAPONS TREATIES Since the first of the year, the Treaty On The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons picked up the 20th and 21st ratifications (St. Lucia and El Salvador) and a 70th signatory (Cambodia). 29 more ratifications and it goes into force. Lets give three cheers for these three great nations: St. Lucia, El Salvador and Cambodia. Meanwhile Donald Trump announces that the U.S. will no longer be bound by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Predictably, Russia immediately followed suit. These acts will almost certainly lead to a new nuclear arms race, and just when it becomes super-critical that all nations put all their energies into combating global warming. Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: at the top of rightmost column). If you don't wish to get notices of peace events in the Rolla area, let me know and I'll take you off this list. If you want to be added to this list, let me know. Wage peace, Helen helenm (at) fidnet.com |