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

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Here’s Where Ocean Acidification Will Hit the U.S. Hardest

Click here to access article by Brian Kahn from Climate Central.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I am well aware of the fact that the acidification of the ocean due to the excessive burning of fossil fuels is a huge problem for shellfishery companies. This science oriented website calls attention to the problem; but the implications they draw about corrective actions falls far short of what is required. Are they like the Post Carbon Institute dependent on corporate-connected foundations for their support? The author leaves us with a quote from a researcher calling for more studies and community actions to adapt to this problem. 
“Developing these types of studies that bring the results into a greater community context is extremely valuable to policymakers that need to make decisions for their areas,” Jeremy Mathis, director of ocean and environmental research at Pacific Marine Environmental Lab, said.

“Now is the time to start planning. We don’t want to wait until there is a disruption. These documents provide that incentive for communities to start developing adaptation strategies now that will hopefully provide for them in the future.”
Local communities can create adaptations to a world-wide problem that will save the shellfisheries??!! And to do this "especially if we want scallops, oysters and other shellfish to keep appearing on our dinnerplates"?