Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
At 12:38 AM Wednesday 8/16/2006, Doug Pensinger wrote: Jim Sharkey wrote: I am generally a "believer" in global warming, but you're citing a city below sea level, situated on the hurricane-prone gulf, whose commerce lifeblood eroded what protections the terrain had provided, as a counterargument to the point that the poor are more concerned about eating than conservation? I would argue that in NO's case, many of Diamond's other factors for disaster had as much, if not more, of an impact as any overall climate change in the case of the Katrina disaster. First of all, no one is arguing that anyone is _more_ concerned about ecology than eating. The argument is; are they worried about eating to the exclusion of any kind of ecological concerns. Secondly, because other factors played a part in the disaster does not mean that NO residents are not cognizant of the one factor that not only could continue to haunt them in the form of storms but that in fact could doom their city altogether due to rising sea levels. Third, you may recall that hurricane Rita, a second cat 5 storm was on a path very similar to Katrina and actually did hit Western Louisiana. So while one 100 year storm in a season might not fuel the imagination too much, the prospect of a second hitting shortly after the first had to have given the residents there food for thought. I just disagree with Alberto's statement that ecology is for rich people. Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world and is most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Do you think that theyâll be shouting "Jobs, not dry land?" If they had money, they could move to higher ground. -- Ronn! :) "Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot remain in the cradle forever." -- Konstantin E. Tsiolkovskiy ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Jim Sharkey wrote: I am generally a "believer" in global warming, but you're citing a city below sea level, situated on the hurricane-prone gulf, whose commerce lifeblood eroded what protections the terrain had provided, as a counterargument to the point that the poor are more concerned about eating than conservation? I would argue that in NO's case, many of Diamond's other factors for disaster had as much, if not more, of an impact as any overall climate change in the case of the Katrina disaster. First of all, no one is arguing that anyone is _more_ concerned about ecology than eating. The argument is; are they worried about eating to the exclusion of any kind of ecological concerns. Secondly, because other factors played a part in the disaster does not mean that NO residents are not cognizant of the one factor that not only could continue to haunt them in the form of storms but that in fact could doom their city altogether due to rising sea levels. Third, you may recall that hurricane Rita, a second cat 5 storm was on a path very similar to Katrina and actually did hit Western Louisiana. So while one 100 year storm in a season might not fuel the imagination too much, the prospect of a second hitting shortly after the first had to have given the residents there food for thought. I just disagree with Alberto's statement that ecology is for rich people. Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world and is most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Do you think that they’ll be shouting "Jobs, not dry land?" -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Jim Sharkey wrote: Julia Thompson wrote: The wedding dress I could have danced in all day, but the shoes were not at all kind to my feet. I was amazed at how Charlene wore hers for over 10 hours without complaining. Her only complaint that whole day was her brothers - who are prone to *serious* flop sweat - wanting to dance with her. :) Though she did have a complaint that night when I walked into the hotel and looked at her puzzled at she stood at the threshold behind me, for some reason not coming in. It was pretty funny. I did make up for my brain lapse later, though. Jim It's nice and cool in this doghouse Maru Nice and cool is usually good. :) Dan remembered that detail. Getting through the door was a bit awkward, though. (HINT: do NOT bang the bride's elbow on the doorframe. Watch out for that particular problem, if she's as klutzy as I am, it could really be a problem. Seriously.) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Doug wrote: >That may be true but how many low income people in New Orleans do you >think need convincing that there _might_ be a problem? I am generally a "believer" in global warming, but you're citing a city below sea level, situated on the hurricane-prone gulf, whose commerce lifeblood eroded what protections the terrain had provided, as a counterargument to the point that the poor are more concerned about eating than conservation? I would argue that in NO's case, many of Diamond's other factors for disaster had as much, if not more, of an impact as any overall climate change in the case of the Katrina disaster. Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Jim Sharkey wrote: > It's certainly hard to convince people without food that the red- > footed gnatcatcher's needs are greater than their own. Even if you > can convince them in the abstract that the extinction of another > species is a Bad Thing (tm), convincing them in the "real" when > their priorities are more along the line of survival is something > else entirely, I'll warrant. That may be true but how many low income people in New Orleans do you think need convincing that there _might_ be a problem? Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Julia Thompson wrote: >The wedding dress I could have danced in all day, but the shoes were >not at all kind to my feet. I was amazed at how Charlene wore hers for over 10 hours without complaining. Her only complaint that whole day was her brothers - who are prone to *serious* flop sweat - wanting to dance with her. :) Though she did have a complaint that night when I walked into the hotel and looked at her puzzled at she stood at the threshold behind me, for some reason not coming in. It was pretty funny. I did make up for my brain lapse later, though. Jim It's nice and cool in this doghouse Maru ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Jim Sharkey wrote: Jim Off like a prom dress tomorrow Maru I always found it something of a relief to remove the prom dress Bridesmaids dresses were somehow worse. (Maybe it was the shoes the brides forced me to wear with them, I got to wear very flat but very pretty sandals with the prom dresses.) The wedding dress I could have danced in all day, but the shoes were not at all kind to my feet. (I am never, ever again wearing enough heel that you could say I was wearing "heels".) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jobs, not trees! (Collapse, Chapter 2)
Doug Pensinger wrote: >So was any part of this post serious? 8^) Probably this part: >People who lose their jobs don't give a f--- about the environment. >Ecology is for rich people, poor people want to get fed, and if they >must kill the last whale or the last cockroach to get food, the Hell >with Ecological Balance. It's certainly hard to convince people without food that the red- footed gnatcatcher's needs are greater than their own. Even if you can convince them in the abstract that the extinction of another species is a Bad Thing (tm), convincing them in the "real" when their priorities are more along the line of survival is something else entirely, I'll warrant. Jim Off like a prom dress tomorrow Maru ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l