Aussies believe in global warming...

[burritos]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,7790638.story

"Suicide is high. Depression is huge. Families are breaking up. It's devastation," he said, shaking his head. "I've got a neighbor in terrible trouble. Found him in the paddock, sitting in his [truck], crying his eyes out. Grown men -- big, strong grown men. We're holding on by the skin of our teeth. It's desperate times."

A result of climate change?

"You'd have to have your head in the bloody sand to think otherwise," Eddy said.

The commission's findings aren't due until August, but veteran firefighters, scientists and residents believe the case has already been made. Even before the flames, 200 Melbourne residents died in a heat wave that buckled the steel skeleton on a newly constructed 400-foot Ferris wheel and warped train tracks like spaghetti. Cities experienced four days of temperatures at 110 degrees or higher with little humidity, and 100-mph winds. In areas where fires hit, temperatures reached 120.

On the hottest day, more than 4,000 gray-headed flying foxes dropped dead out of trees in one Melbourne park.

You heard it hear first. Buy assets in Canada.

[jayman]

We're having problems too

[burritos]

Originally Posted by jayman

We're having problems too

Don't even try to stop us from coming.

[jayman]

I'll just let the mutant blackflies do their thing ...

[hyo silver]

Should we save the skeeters for the second wave?

[RobH]

I'm waiting for the French to buy fine wines from Sweden...

[jayman]

Originally Posted by hyo silver

Should we save the skeeters for the second wave?

Way to go, Poindexter. That *was* a secret weapon of last resort ....

[PriuStorm]

Thanks for the link. It is depressing indeed. The following quote reminds me a little of the water problems we are having in California, especially southern California. It seems like Australia is indeed the harbinger of what's to come...

Most of the country is in the grip of the worst drought in more than a century. Every capital in Australia's eight states and territories is operating under considerable water restrictions. In urban areas, "bucketing" has become a common practice -- placing pails in showers and using the gray water on lawns or gardens. In some cities, such as Brisbane, residents drink recycled water, a process nicknamed "toilet to tap."

And like the U.S., Australia's hands are bound by the industry giants. A land that is baking in sun with no push to major solar innovation. Sounds sadly familiar.

Scientists are frustrated that such dramatic anecdotal and empirical evidence hasn't sparked equally dramatic action from Australia's government. They suspect the inaction can be partly explained by examining the nation's relationship with coal. Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and relies on it for 80% of its electricity. That helps make Australia and its 21 million people the world's highest per-capita producers of greenhouse gases in the industrialized world.

Climate change researcher Cocklin, who is deputy vice chancellor at James Cook University, said the power of the coal companies and the massive receipts they bring in render the industry politically untouchable.

"The nature of our energy profile is one where coal features significantly," he said. "There's no denying it's a massive problem. I don't think in the public-political arena it is being challenged with the tenacity that you would want. No Labor [Party] government is going to challenge that."

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by jayman

Way to go, Poindexter. That *was* a secret weapon of last resort ....

What about the....oops. Oh, yes, you're right. Silly me to give it away.

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by PriuStorm

...A land that is baking in sun with no push to major solar innovation. Sounds sadly familiar.

Well, what's the obvious answer for a coast with abundant sunshine? Solar distillation of sea water seems inevitable. Or conservation, but nobody seems to like that idea. We can't have golf courses in the desert losing money, now can we?