Is Sandy a Sign of Things to Come?

In view of the Superstorm that has descended upon us, I don't feel comfortable writing about the usual political shenanigans so common on a local, state and federal level. I've never been better prepared for a storm, thanks to all the warnings that were repeated all weekend.

Why did Sandy make a sudden left turn and come inland, instead of going out to sea like a good little hurricane? How often are we to expect 1,000-mile wide storms, pushing 11-13' of water right into the heart of New York City?

Are we at the forefront of some major climate change? Is it man made, or just the way of things?

According to The Nation,

"[I]t’s not our imagination that hurricanes have grown more ferocious than in the past. Multiple scientific studies in the past few years have found that rising sea-surface temperatures linked to global warming are causing an increase in the number of stronger hurricanes. Sandy, right now, is approaching the east coast atop Atlantic sea-surface temperatures a full five degrees Fahrenheit above normal. One study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that hurricane wind speeds have doubled in the past 30 years. This may account for the fact that among the six most powerful hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic Basin—going back 150 years—three occurred over 52 days in 2005: Katrina, Rita and Wilma. And Sandy, as measured by its area of influence, is now the biggest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic."

Rendell Aide Will Raise LV Climate Awareness This Week

Sixty Canadian scientists and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, dispute "alarmist forecasts" about global warming. But these are just a few stray voices.

Overwhelmingly, scientific consensus is that, not only are we experiencing global warming, but we are the chief culprits. That's the opinion of 2,500 scientists at The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. International science academies, The American Meteorological Society, The American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Geophysical Union all express similar sentiments.

What the hell do they know?

Rush Limbaugh snorts, "This hysteric global warming is unsupportable by facts." He and others like him needlessly politicize a question of scientific fact having nothing to do with liberal or conservative ideologies.

Fortunately, the Lehigh Valley is taking a very proactive approach. The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement was endorsed last July by Mayors Ed Pawlowski of Allentown, John Callahan of Bethlehem and Phil Mitman of Easton. Mitman's words at the time, "It's a no-brainer, right?" By October, Don Cunningham and John Stoffa, the execs in Lehigh and Northampton County, had a similar, county-level, agreement. And for the first time in years, heavy hitters from all sides of the political spectrum are looking seriously at some form of rail transportation.

The latest forward step is a series of two area presentations this week by Lance Simmens, Special Assistant to the Governor. Lance is one of 1,000 people selected and trained to promote awareness and education by The Climate Project. What I like is that there are things we can do, individually, that really help.

“The easiest thing I found that makes a huge difference is properly inflated tires. You can cut out 250 pounds of carbon dioxide emission per year and save $840 in gas if your tires are inflated properly. If everyone did it, nationwide, pollution would come down by two percent in one year.” What's so hard about that? Nothing very political there.

On Tuesday, Cedar Crest College will host Simmens at 7:30 PM in the Alumnae Hall Auditorium. On Wednesday, 7 PM, in Moravian College's Foy Hall, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan will introduce Simmens.

LVDC to Sponsor Climate Action Day

The Lehigh Valley Democratic Coalition is one of many sponsors inviting everyone, left and right, Green and Libertarian, to attend a climate action day this Saturday in south side Bethlehem. I've been asked to post this message.

YOU ARE INVITED TO CLIMATE ACTION DAY!

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2007, is the National Day of Action on Climate Change. On April 14, citizens across the country will hold more than 1,000 rallies to demand strong action on climate change. Thousands of people will come together with the message that we need to act on climate change now: Step It Up Congress! Cut Carbon Dioxide Emissions 80% by 2050!

LEHIGH VALLEY RESIDENTS will come together on the southside of Bethlehem at 1 pm. Please Join us on the southside of Bethlehem! We will have a bandshell in the parking lot by 3rd and New streets. We have plenty of activities planned to raise awareness of the climate change issue while having fun. The schedule:

1 pm to 5 pm
* Create messages to let our elected officials know we need to act on climate change
* Talk to more than 15 organizations and get ideas of positive things YOU can do to make a difference on climate change
* See demonstrations including a car that runs on biofuels
* Ask the expert! Get your climate change questions answered

1 pm to 2 pm
Music: Singer Songwriter Prem Siri Kaur 2 pm to 2:30 pm
Speakers:
Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan (confirmed)
Northampton County John Stoffa (invited)
Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham (invited)
State Representative Steve Samuelson (confirmed)
Staff of U.S. Representative Charlie Dent (invited)

2:30 pm to 2:40 pm
Pictures! Group picture in front of banner (to be sent to Step It Up and local elected officials)

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Music: The Paul Thiessen Band

3:30 pm to 4 pm
Speakers: From Lehigh Valley organizations (to be determined)

4 pm to 5 pm
Music: The Octave Below

CAN YOU JOIN US and spread the word?If you can, let us know you are coming. Then, please spread the word about April 14 by forwarding this message. The more people, the more effective our voice will be.

NEED MORE INFORMATION? Visit Step it Up to learn more about the day's events, both in the Lehigh Valley and nationally. Or, contact Clothesline Organics at 610-691-0111.

THANK YOU! We will see you and your friends April 14 at 1 pm on the southside of Bethlehem for a day of actions, community-building, and fun!

Sponsoring Organizations: Clothesline Organics * Home & Planet * Alliance for Sustainable Communities - Lehigh Valley * Bethlehem Freecycle * Circle Of Stones Ritual Theatre Ensemble * Coalition for Appropriate Transportation * Comfort & Joy * Edge of the Woods Nursery * Green Valley Coalition * The Heat Shed * The Illick's Mill Project * Joanne Kostecky Garden Design * Joyce Moore Financial Services * Lehigh Valley Biodiesel Cooperative * Lehigh Valley Beyond Oil * LEPOCO * Lehigh Valley Democratic Coalition * Lehigh Valley Green Builders Forum * Lehigh Valley Vegetarians * MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association * Quiet Creek Farm * Sierra Club - Lehigh Valley Chapter * Students for Sustainable Development - Lehigh University * Sustainable Business Network of the Lehigh Valley * Wadsworth & Co. * Wildlands Conservancy

Latest Victim of Global Warming - Santa Claus

(I originally posted this story in early May, but it seems more appropriate now).
NORTH POLE - Global warming claimed its latest victims this weekend when Santa Claus and his entire team of reindeer fell through thinning ice at the North Pole, plunging to watery deaths. President Bush did send condolences to Mrs. Claus, but disputed claims that global warming caused St. Nick's demise. "Let's face it, Santa was fat. I loved the guy, but he was no Lance Armstrong. Maybe he should have spent a little less time eating Christmas cookies, and a little more time riding a mountain bike. Besides, the science is not in on whether the globe is warming."

Homeland Security officials actually breathed a sigh of relief. Secretary Chertoff explained, "This guy in a goofy red suit was dropping stuff off at millions of homes every year without so much as a 'how do you do' to customs. How do we know he wasn't dropping chickens infected with Avian flu? Ever think about that? Ho. Ho. Ho. What's so funny about that? And what's up with all that peeping through bedroom windows at little kids?"

ExxonMobil reacted to the news by immediately dispatching oil exploration teams. Drilling is expected in the next month, and oil industry officials predict big savings at the pump, possibly as much as a penny per gallon. One energy expert noted, "We don't have to worry about preserving reindeer habitat with Santa out of the way. Now they're as useless as an appendix." When asked about the dwindling polar bear population, an oil industry official said, "That's why we have zoos. And if people really need to see white bears, we can just grab a few grizzlies and spray paint 'em. Conservationists must learn to think outside the box."

Most world leaders did express grief, but this sentiment was by no means universal. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for example, released the following remarks: "I dance on his grave - Santa Claus is a silly myth - we will wipe the North Pole off the map - right after we're done with Israel - arrrghh." Tehran officials privately acknowledged that Ahmadinejad was miffed after being placed on Santa's "naughty" list last year.

Northampton County Signs Climate Protection agreement But Stops Recycling

On October 16, 2006, the county execs for Lehigh and Northampton County, Don Cunningham and John Stoffa, signed a climate protection control agreement to reduce global warming. Pretty impressive stuff, huh? But will they follow through?

Almost immediately after signing this agreement, Lehigh County purchased its first hybrid vehicle. And Northampton County? It has stopped recycling.

That's right, bippy. Although the ink is barely dry on a climate protection agreement that calls for increasing the recycling rates in county operations as well as the community, Northampton County officials have recently instructed row officers to just mix recyclables with other trash.

Adult probation was sending people on community service or work release to county offices for recyclables, but unilaterally stopped when some suspected these trustees were removing more than white paper and empty cans. I'm not sure whether adult probation, which reports to the judges, bothered even to tell the executive branch.

This latest incident is just the most recent example of a judicial branch that simply has too many executive responsibilities. And now it is simply defying an executive branch that is trying, in a small way, to curb global warming.

It's only our planet.

Bethlehem's City Council Prez - Highways? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Highways

J. Michael Schweder, President of Bethlehem's City Council, is leading a press conference 3:00 PM today at Bethlehem City Hall to announce his public opposition to LVPC's proposal to expand Route 22. The LVPC and Lehigh Valley Partnership have been clamoring to add more lanes to Route 22, although this will simply invite more driving, congestion and traffic deaths. Instead of encouraging us to conserve fuel (and increase safety) by reducing our speed, officials have increased speed limits to 65 mph along Route 33.

Maybe it's an attempt at population control.

LVPC's transportation study deals with peak oil and global warming by ignoring them. In a lengthy discussion of factors affecting travel demand, these very real problems don't merit a whisper. The report blissfully and mistakenly assumes we will remain the beneficiaries of a bountiful oil supply. As a result, light rail and other alternative transportations options are peremptorily dismissed.

This type of thinking comes from the mistaken belief that our diminishing oil supplies and increasing temperatures are "political questions" or "global issues." But as local light rail advocate Pratima Agrawal asks, "Is the Lehigh Valley not part of the world?"

The Lehigh Valley's three mayors think so. Mayors Ed Pawlowski of Allentown, John Callahan of Bethlehem and Phil Mitman of Easton have all endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. And the Lehigh Valley's two county execs, John Stoffa and Don Cunningham, recently followed suit, committing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, greener building operations, reduced urban sprawl and the use of cleaner, alternative energy. They apparently think the Lehigh Valley is part of the world.

Other Lehigh Valley officials are expected to join Schweder today when he condemns LVPC's myopic plan, but we'll have to wait and see.

Update: I've just been informed today's press conference will be at Bethlehem's Public Library, 2nd Floor, Family Place (instead of City Hall). Schweder will be joined by Easton City Council Prez Sandra Volcano and Allentown City Council Prez Dave Howells.

Dent Proposes Converting Interstate 78 to Hydrogen Highway East

No one disputes we're running out of gas. Our global gas gauge is flickering on E. We could argue about just when that might occur, but it's a simple fact that oil is a nonrenewable energy source. There's only so much. Another simple fact is that we depend on foreign sources for our oil.

Grassroots groups like Lehigh Valley Beyond Oil (LVBO) have sprung up to address this problem. Charles Dertinger, Democratic candidate for Congress (Pa. 15th), joined LVBO in an oil independence rally early this summer. But it may surprise you to know that Congressman Charlie Dent has proposed a practical solution to ease our diminishing oil supply.

When I met Dent this summer, he spoke enthusiastically about hydrogen as an alternative energy source. I honestly didn't think he was really serious until last week's debate, when he spoke of converting Interstate 78 into a "hydrogen highway." I did some research and was surprised to learn that, although he's only a freshman Congressman, Dent is actually one of the four founders of the House's bipartisan House & Fuel Cell Caucus.

Dent's congressional website tell us "Interstate 78 is uniquely situated and suited to be a gateway to the hydrogen economy - the Hydrogen Highway East." A hydrogen network will (1) decrease our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels; (2) protect our citizens and preserve our environment from the harmful effects of vehicle emissions; and (3) mitigate traffic and congestion. Right now, hydrogen infrastructure is being planned along the highway. Yesterday's Morning Call tells us Lehigh Valley's Air Products is already at work on a permanent hydrogen fueling station as an important link in "Hydrogen Highway East." And Allentown's Da Vinci Center is the recipient of a $400 thousand federal grant to develop hydrogen fueled cars.

But is hydrogen safe? We all remember the Hindenberg. Surprisingly, it is not inherently explosive, and is actually safer than gasoline.

There are also questions about the energy and cost consumed in hydrogen production, the relative difficulty in storage, and a worry that hydrogen will be produced from fossil fuels instead of other sources.

Hydrogen is no silver bullet, but it's nice to see local solution taking shape to combat a global problem. And, as LVDem tells us, Lehigh County is also making environmental strides with its recent purchase of a hybrid.

An Inconvenient Truth About "An Inconvenient Truth"

I'm an old fart. I spend most evenings at home, guzzling coffee and assailing poor newspapers editors, reporters, and local politicians with snotty emails. Most are never delivered; they're intercepted by the devil. Yes, the devil exists. On the Internet, the Evil One is called the Mailer-Daemon, and he regularly blocks hundreds of my instructive emails. But a few get through, and so the battle rages. Last weekend, however, I suspended hostilities to see "An Inconvenient Truth."

Now, this movie is coming to Allentown's 19th Street Theatre on July 15-29, but I had to see it now. Let me explain why. First, those I know who've seen it have all raved about it with frightened looks in their eyes. Hmmm. Second, taking a lady to see that flick would definitely impress her with my sensitivity to our environment and all that crap. I might even get lucky. It was a win win situation, so we shlepped on down to Doylestown's County Theatre, plowing through the mud left by floodwaters along the Lehigh Valley's river roads.

Have you ever been to Doylestown on a Saturday night? I felt like I was on another planet. I was with the artsy-fartsy crowd - the hottsie-tottsies, the foo-foo lovers, the intelligentsia, the upper middle class, baby, and lovin' it. I even wore clean sneakers. And Doylestown is totally off the hook. (I heard that expression this past weekend, too). I parked right next to a store that sells nothing but organic soaps. I walked past another that sells nothing but all these exotic coffees and has its own gigantic roaster. Beat that, Starbucks!

My companion suggested we get seated early, so we walked in. Instead of the usual popcorn and candy, this place was serving Pellegrino, cappucino, and every kind of 'ino you could imagine. There were biscottis, veggies, and gourmet chocolate instead of nachos and that gooey cheese I use to cement things together when I get back home. And while we waited for the movie to start, the theatre had a local art slide show and ads for all kinds of local artisans.

The movie started with the voice of Al Gore, talking about a river or something. He's the star! But he didn't sound at all like the automaton who was once "the next President of the United States." He was very much alive, alternately amusing and quite passionate. He demonstrated unequivocally, with power point presentations and monitors, that we're heading down the path to perdition. We're in a world of hurt. Had Gore acted like this during his presidential campaign, he would have won. Oops. I forgot, he did win.

At various points during this riveting movie, the audience reacted visibly. When Gore presented a graph showing that American cars have lower fuel standards than cars anywhere else in the world, the audience gasped in disbelief. People were visibly upset at the sight of polar bears, swimming mile after mile for ice to keep from drowning. What's really depressing is that we have the technology and means to stop global warming, but just don't seem to care.

At the movie's conclusion, the audience applauded, although I don't really know why. And here's the inconvenient truth about "An Inconvenient Truth." The movie ended with example after example of steps we could take, on our own, to reverse global warming. And this is when the artsy-fartsy crowd left. No one in that crowd, it appears, is interested in actually doing something about the problem, even individually. Too inconvenient.

And by the way, in case you're curious, I did not get lucky. My companion has decided to follow Al Gore and all my emails to her have been blocked by the Mailer- Daemon. And so the battle rages.

Latest Victim of Global Warming: Santa Claus

NORTH POLE - Global warming claimed its latest victims this weekend when Santa Claus and his entire team of reindeer fell through thinning ice at the North Pole, plunging to watery deaths. President Bush did send condolences to Mrs. Claus, but disputed claims that global warming caused St. Nick's demise. "Let's face it, Santa was fat. I loved the guy, but he was no Lance Armstrong. Maybe he should have spent a little less time eating Christmas cookies, and a little more time riding a mountain bike. Besides, the science is not in on whether the globe is warming."

Homeland Security officials actually breathed a sigh of relief. Secretary Chertoff explained, "This guy in a goofy red suit was dropping stuff off at millions of homes every year without so much as a 'how do you do' to customs. How do we know he wasn't dropping chickens infected with Avian flu? Ever think about that? Ho. Ho. Ho. What's so funny about that? And what's up with all that peeping through bedroom windows at little kids?"

ExxonMobil reacted to the news by immediately dispatching oil exploration teams. Drilling is expected in the next month, and oil industry officials predict big savings at the pump, possibly as much as a penny per gallon. One energy expert noted, "We don't have to worry about preserving reindeer habitat with Santa out of the way. Now they're as useless as an appendix." When asked about the dwindling polar bear population, an oil industry official said, "That's why we have zoos. And if people really need to see white bears, we can just grab a few grizzlies and spray paint 'em. Conservationists must learn to think outside the box."

Most world leaders did express grief, but this sentiment was by no means universal. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for example, released the following remarks: "I dance on his grave - Santa Claus is a silly myth - we will wipe the North Pole off the map - right after we're done with Israel - arrrghh." Tehran officials privately acknowledged that Ahmadinejad was miffed after being placed on Santa's "naughty" list last year.