"Our Land Is Changing - Soon Yours Will Too" - Guardian

[hatrack]

"While global warming is affecting the entire planet, there is a scientific consensus that it is impacting the Arctic much faster. Our elders and hunters have intimate knowledge of the land and sea ice, and have observed disturbing changes to the Arctic climate and environment, and to the wildlife.

These changes include melting permafrost causing increased erosion and damaging infrastructure; longer sea-ice free seasons; new species of birds and fish invading the region; the arrival of mosquitos and blackflies; unpredictable sea-ice conditions; and glaciers melting fast, creating torrents instead of streams.

By looking at what is already happening in remote Inuit villages in Alaska, such as Shismaref and Kivalina, you can understand the dangers for more populated areas of the world. Scientists tell us that polar bears, ice living seals, walrus, and some birds are very likely to decline, and that warming will disrupt or destroy our hunting and food sharing culture.

Our ancient connection to our hunting culture may well disappear, within my grandson's lifetime. My culture continues to see us through much tumultuous change. This change has resulted in confusion and despair, and all too often in early death for our young people from suicides and addiction."

EDIT

Sheila Watt-Cloutier is the elected chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which represents the 155,000 Inuit who live in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka, Russia


http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1391045,00.html

On edit: Added biographical note on author.

[ananda]

1. Whoa..

Mosquitos and blackflies in the polar regions? Whoa!

It's just so fukking sad that so many Americans are blinkered to the problems of the greenhouse effect and depletion of the ozone layer.. both facts on the ground, as it were.

Will I ever wake up from this nightmare called Amerika? Would MLK be delivering a speech called "I Have a Nightmare" these days, instead of, you know...?

I reallyreallyreallyreally hate malignant egophrenia. Levy did say that facing and integrating our dark side was the solution, right? Do the Reeps know how to do that? Do they even know that they need to?

Sue

[On the Road]

3. Mosquitos Live Much Farther North Than You Would Think

They have a much shorter warm season, and are particularly aggressive during their adult phase. Mosquitos in Alaska are nasty.

Having said that, I don't doubt that they are traveling farther north or that the Arctic is heating up. It's one thing to doubt scientific models. It's another thing entirely to refuse to acknowledge receding glaciers and melting permafrost.

[rkc3]

2. Who are you going to believe - bush or a guy who has lived in the

region his whole life?

Unfortunately, understanding the driving forces behind global warming is hard work, so most will believe bush's analysis and follow him.