We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Friday, November 19, 2010

India faces warming climate, study says

from UPI.

Before I found this article, I looked at about eight media sources to learn more about this report after seeing a news article in the NY Times. All failed to satisfy me in some way. I found the following weaknesses: too brief such as the BBC report, too dry by merely listing some findings without any implications for the effects on humans (link), distorting the effects of dramatic climate changes by implying that they are a mixed blessing (Indian Express), or as in the NY Times article which merely cites a "report" issued from India without clarification as to the qualifications of the people issuing the report and no links which might provide this important information. 

Through a circuitous route I managed to find this report from UPI which I believe is the best. Do you think I am being a bit paranoid when I start wondering that the poor coverage is motivated by capitalist interests in suppressing news reports about climate change?
Conducted by 220 Indian scientists and 120 research institutions for the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment, a governmental organization, the study predicts an increase in rainfall, particularly in the Himalayas, with extreme precipitation to increase by up to 10 days in all regions of India.

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