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<font size="+1"><i>September 12, 2017</i></font><br>
<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pruitt-opportunistic-misplaced-hurricane-harvey-climate-change">Pruitt:
'Opportunistic' And 'Misplaced' To Tie Harvey To Climate Change</a></b><br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pruitt-opportunistic-misplaced-hurricane-harvey-climate-change">http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pruitt-opportunistic-misplaced-hurricane-harvey-climate-change</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
BBC News <b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41231288">Hurricane
Irma: Pope Francis condemns climate change sceptics</a></b><br>
The pontiff said the recent storms meant the effects of climate
change could be seen "with your own eyes".<br>
There have been four major Atlantic hurricanes in less than three
weeks.<br>
<font size="-1" color="#666666"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41231288">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41231288</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/09/10/sunday-shows-largely-fail-mention-climate-change-hurricane-irma-coverage/217895">Sunday
Shows Largely Fail To Mention Climate Change In Hurricane Irma
Coverage</a></b><br>
<font size="-1">Media Matters Dina Radtke</font><br>
CNN's State of the Union was the only Sunday morning political show
to mention climate change when discussing Irma<br>
Three out of four* major Sunday morning political programs neglected
to discuss climate change during their coverage of Hurricane Irma,
the second category four hurricane to hit the United States in a
matter of weeks.<br>
As Hurricane Irma tore through the Caribbean and approached Florida,
Sunday morning political news programs reported on the storm's
remarkable strength and size and the potential damage it could
cause, but three major Sunday shows -- Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox
News Sunday, CBS' Face the Nation, and ABC's This Week - failed to
mention the effects of climate change during their coverage of the
storm, even though experts have linked extreme weather events,
including Irma, to global warming.<br>
The only Sunday morning political show to discuss climate change was
CNN's State of the Union. During an interview with Sen. John McCain
(R-AZ), host Jake Tapper said, "I would be remiss if I didn't
mention, the fact that many experts say that the storm is more
intense because of climate change" and asked why many Republicans
"act as if it's not real, even though the overwhelming scientific
consensus is that it's real, and it's man-made":<br>
[see video on page]<br>
Television news programs have repeatedly avoided discussing climate
change in their coverage of devastating natural disasters, including
Hurricane Harvey. The reluctance to discuss climate change on this
week's Sunday news shows follows a pattern that seems to be getting
even worse.<br>
Methodology<br>
Media Matters searched SnapStream for discussions of climate change
and global warming using the search terms "climate change" or
"global warming" on Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, CBS'
Face the Nation, and ABC's This Week, and CNN's State of the Union.
Segments were counted if climate change or global warming was
discussed in reporting on Hurricane Irma.<br>
*NBC's Meet the Press was not included because the show was
preempted for Hurricane Irma coverage.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/09/10/sunday-shows-largely-fail-mention-climate-change-hurricane-irma-coverage/217895">https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/09/10/sunday-shows-largely-fail-mention-climate-change-hurricane-irma-coverage/217895</a></font><br>
<br>
<i><br>
(Dharma [Hinduism & Buddhism] the basic principles of cosmic
or individual existence : divine law : conformity to one's duty
and nature.)</i><br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://oneearthsangha.org/articles/dharma-teachers-statement-on-climate-change/">The
Earth as Witness: International Dharma Teachers' Statement on
Climate Change</a></b><i><br>
A group of Dharma teachers from Africa, Europe, Asia, Canada, and
the U.S. have issued a statement describing core Buddhist insights
into the root causes of the climate crisis and ways to minimize
its potentially tragic consequences. Over 100 leading Dharma
teachers from around the globe have already signed it. The
teachers seek the endorsement of the statement by other Dharma
teachers as well as Sangha members worldwide. </i><b><br>
The Earth As Witness: International Dharma Teachers' Statement on
Climate Change</b><br>
As a starting point, the Dharma states that to formulate meaningful
solutions to any problem we must first acknowledge the truth of our
suffering. As shocking and painful as it may be, we must recognize
that without swift and dramatic reductions in fossil fuel use and
major efforts to increase carbon sequestration, global temperatures
will rise close to or beyond 2 degrees C. This increase will lead to
injury and death for millions of people worldwide and the extinction
of many of the Earth's species. Millions more will experience severe
trauma and stress that threaten their physical, emotional, and
psychological wellbeing. These stresses will, in turn, trigger
social and political unrest. In a grave injustice, low-income
communities, poor nations, and people systematically subjected to
oppression and discrimination, who contributed little to climate
change, will initially be harmed the most. Even worse, as
frightening as it is, if we fail to make fundamental changes in our
energy, manufacturing, transportation, forestry, agricultural, and
other systems along with our consumption patterns with utmost
urgency, in mere decades irreversible climate shifts will occur that
undermine the very pillars of human civilization. Only by
recognizing these truths can we adopt a meaningful path toward
solutions.<br>
The Dharma teaches us the origin of our suffering. The majority of
the world's climate scientists are unequivocal that on the external
physical plane climate change is caused by the historic and ongoing
use of fossil fuels and the greenhouse gases they generate when
burned. Destructive land management practices such as clearing
forests also contribute by reducing nature's capacity to sequester
carbon. The Dharma informs us, however, that craving, aversion, and
delusion within the human mind are the root causes of vast human
suffering. Just as these mental factors have throughout history led
to the oppression, abuse, and exploitation of indigenous peoples and
others outside the halls of wealth and power, craving, aversion, and
delusion are also the root causes of climate change. Climate change
is perhaps humanity's greatest teacher yet about how these mental
forces, when unchecked in ourselves and our institutions, cause harm
to other people and the living environment. Led by industrialized
nations, the desire for evermore material wealth and power has
resulted in the reckless destruction of land and water, excessive
use of fossil fuels, massive amounts of solid and toxic waste, and
other practices that are disrupting the Earth's climate. However, by
acknowledging and addressing these internal mental drivers, we can
begin to resolve the external causes of climate change.<br>
The Dharma offers hope by teaching us that it is possible to
overcome the detrimental forces of craving, aversion, and delusion.
We can use the climate crisis as a catalyst to acknowledge the
consequences of our craving for more and more material wealth and
the pursuit of power and realize we must change our assumptions,
attitudes, and behaviors. We can use the climate crisis as a
catalyst to educate ourselves about planetary processes so we
understand that the Earth has ecological limits and thresholds that
must not be crossed. By learning from our mistaken beliefs and
activities, we can create more equitable, compassionate, and mindful
societies that generate greater individual and collective wellbeing
while reducing climate change to manageable levels.<br>
Finally, the Dharma describes a pathway of principles and practices
we can follow to minimize climate change and the suffering it
causes. <br>
<b>The first principle is wisdom. </b>From this point forward in
history we must all acknowledge not only the external causes of
climate change, but the internal mental drivers as well, and their
horrific consequences. To be wise we must also, individually and as
a society, adopt the firm intention to do whatever is necessary, no
matter what the cost, to reduce the climate crisis to manageable
levels and over time re-stabilize our planet's climate.<br>
<b>The second Dharma principle is ethical conduct,</b> which is
rooted in a compassionate concern for all living beings in the vast
web of life. We need to make a firm moral commitment to adopt ways
of living that protect the climate and help restore the Earth's
ecosystems and living organisms. In our personal lives, we should
recognize the value of contentment and sufficiency and realize that,
after a certain modest level, additional consumption, material
wealth, and power will not bring happiness. To fulfill our wider
moral responsibility, we must join with others, stand up to the
vested interests that oppose change, and demand that our economic,
social, and political institutions be fundamentally altered so they
protect the climate and offer nurturance and support for all of
humanity in a just and equitable manner. We must insist that
governments and corporations contribute to a stable climate and a
healthy environment for all people and cultures worldwide, now and
in the future. We must further insist that specific scientifically
credible global emission reduction targets be set and means adopted
to effectively monitor and enforce them.<br>
<b>The third Dharma training, and the one that makes all of the
others possible, is mindfulness. </b>This offers a way to
heighten our awareness of, and then to regulate, our desires and
emotions and the thoughts and behaviors they generate. By
continually enhancing our awareness, we can increasingly notice when
we are causing harm to others, the climate, or ourselves, and
strengthen our capacity to rapidly shift gears and think and act
constructively. Mindfulness increases awareness of our inherent
interdependency with other people and the natural environment and of
values that enhance human dignity rather than subordinate people,
animals, and nature to the craving for more material wealth and
power....<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://oneearthsangha.org/articles/dharma-teachers-statement-on-climate-change/">https://oneearthsangha.org/articles/dharma-teachers-statement-on-climate-change/</a><br>
<br>
<br>
Key findings from our <b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ea-apa-psych-report-web.pdf.">"Mental
Health and Our Changing Climate" Report, </a></b>published
earlier this year by ecoAmerica in collaboration with leading
psychologists and the American Psychological Association <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ea-apa-psych-report-web.pdf">The
full report is here
http://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ea-apa-psych-report-web.pdf</a>.
<br>
These key tips from the report focus on supporting individual mental
health. <br>
<b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b><br>
In order to support individuals' success in becoming resilient, the
following are tips to consider that address personal attributes and
support social cohesion:<br>
1. Build belief in one's own resilience.<br>
2. Foster optimism.<br>
3. Cultivate active coping and self-regulation.<br>
4. Find a source of personal meaning.<br>
5. Boost personal preparedness.<br>
6. Support social networks.<br>
7. Encourage connection to parents, family, and other role
models.<br>
8. Uphold connection to place.<br>
9. Maintain connections to one's culture.<br>
We encourage you to make use of these recommendations, and link to
the report, in your communications about the Hurricanes (they are
relevant, too, for the earthquake in Chiapas). There are also
recommendations for supporting and building resilience at the
community level. <br>
We hope you are safe or getting the help you need during this
challenging time of heavy climate impact.<br>
Excerpt of pages 42 -44 of ecoAmerica's "Mental Health and Our
Changing Climate"<br>
<b>TIPS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS</b><br>
Some people seem to function more effectively in difficult
situations than others do. No single factor sets highly resilient
individuals apart (Bonanno & Diminich, 2013). Instead, an
individual's ability to recover from trauma, or to experience post-
traumatic growth, depends on a complex and dynamic set of factors.
Here, we provide tips on the factors of personal attributes and
social support designed to help practitioners, policymakers, and
communicators support individuals' success in becoming resilient.<br>
<b>PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND ACTIONS </b><br>
<b>1. Build belief in one's own resilience.</b> Several personal
dispositional characteristics are associated with individual
resilience. People who feel positive about their ability to overcome
a source of stress and trauma do better than people with lower
self-efficacy. Belief in one's own resilience has been correlated
with fewer symptoms of PTSD and depression after disasters (Shenesey
& Langhirichsen-Rohling, 2015).<br>
<b>2. Foster optimism.</b> People who are able to reframe and find
something positive in their circumstances tend to do better than
people who are less able to regulate their thinking, emotions, and
actions (Bonanno & Diminich, 2013; Hanbury et al., 2013; Harper
& Pergament, 2015; Iacoviello & Charney, 2014; Petrasek
Macdonald, Ford, Cunsolo Willox, & Ross, 2013; Prince-Embury,
2013). Positively reappraising one's circumstances helps move one
forward rather than becoming stuck in a cycle of negative emotions.
Additionally, optimism likely contributes to a person's ability to
feel positive emotions during a hard time, which may help people
better recover and cope (Terpstra, 2011). In a study of low-income
mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina, Lowe et al. (2013) found
that optimism helped the mothers adjust and grow after a disaster.
Of course, excessive optimism may result in disappointment or
surprise if the expected outcome does not come to pass; therefore,
the right balance is needed.<br>
<b>3. Cultivate active coping and self-regulation. </b> Another
strength is active coping, which involves cognitive dimensions, such
as maintaining an awareness of one's own thoughts and appraisals,
and behavioral dimensions, such as continuously seeking solutions
and support (Iacoviello & Charney, 2014). Self-regulation, or
the ability to control one's immediate impulses in favor of a more
considered, long-term strategy, is another characteristic of
resilient individuals (National Scientific Council on the Developing
Child, 2015).<br>
<b>4. Find a source of personal meaning. </b>Involvement in a faith
community has been cited as a protective factor for mental health in
several interview studies with people experiencing trauma (e.g.,
Cline, Orom, Child, Hernandez, & Black, 2015; Fernando, 2012;
Harper & Pargament, 2015; Weine et al., 2014). For many, faith
gives a sense of peace during difficulty (Marks, Hatch, Lu, &
Cherry, 2015), and studies have shown that having a spiritual
practice tends to boost an individual's well-being and can be an
important coping resource. In addition to the social support that is
often provided by a faith community, having a spiritual practice can
help people manage and find meaning in suffering during significant
adversity (Ramsay & Manderson, 2011). Mindfulness can be another
type of practice, through yoga and meditation, that gives people a
greater sense of purpose and meaning (Garland, Farb, Goldin, &
Fredrickson, 2015). In each case, the ability to flexibly reappraise
adverse events in a way that enhances a sense of meaning is key for
promoting personal well-being. <br>
<b>5. Boost personal preparedness.</b> Mental health can be
incorporated into existing disaster preparation efforts.
Recommendations for short-term disaster or emergency kits often
include things like food, water, supplies, and medication. Yet items
that can preserve and shore up mental health are also equally
important to include (Missouri Department of Mental Health, 2006).
These items might include comfort items, such as spiritual or
religious objects, pictures, blankets and toys for small children,
favorite foods or treats to supplement stable shelf food,
recreational items such as books and games, and paper and writing
instruments to journal or write down important information. Pets,
which also provide some with a sense of comfort, must also be
considered when making emergency kits and plans (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2016; American Red Cross, 2017). Public
agencies and other organizations may also want to encourage
community members to incorporate these items into their disaster
preparation kits. Other facets of preparedness, including family,
neighborhood, school, and work response plans and other measures,
can help increase confidence and the feeling of safety and reduce
fear.<br>
<b>SOCIAL CONNECTION</b><br>
<b>6. Support social networks.</b> Individuals' personal capacity to
withstand trauma is increased when they are connected to their
networks off-and online. One strategy frequently noted in resilience
studies is cultivating and maintaining strong social connections
(Iacoviello & Charney, 2014). Connectedness to others is a core
psychological need and an essential foundation for well-being (e.g.,
Deci & Ryan, 2011). During difficult times, people turn to those
they are close to, such as family, friends, and neighbors, for
emotional support, as well as material help (e.g., money, food, or a
temporary place to stay). Resilience scholars note that social
support is a critical protective resource during adversity
(Kaniasty, 2012). Researchers have found that higher levels of
social support during and in the aftermath of a disaster are
associated with lower rates of psychological distress (Greene,
Paranjothy, & Palmer, 2015; Self-Brown, Anderson, Edwards, &
McGill, 2013). The positive mental health impact of a strong social
support system, or the negative impacts of lower social support, can
persist for years after a disaster, such as a hurricane (Banks &
Weems, 2014). As described above, a faith community, or any other
tight-knit and supportive social network, can provide significant
emotional and material support (Cain & Barthelemy, 2008; Marks
et al., 2015). People living in areas most impacted by Hurricane
Katrina reported in an interview study that their "church family"
(p. 256) offered them a listening ear, empathy, and moral support in
the extremely difficult aftermath of the hurricane (Marks et al.,
2015).<br>
<b>7. Encourage connection with parents, family, and other role
models. </b>The supportof family and close connections are
particularly important for children. Parents are likely the most
central source of support for children during trauma and adversity,
and children are at higher risk of long-term physiological and
mental health stress burdens when parents themselves suffer acute
levels of distress (Simpson et al., 2011; Weine et al., 2014).
Petrasek MacDonald et al. (2015) reported that spending time with
family and friends helps protect the mental health of youth enduring
the impacts of climate change on their land and environment. Parents
and caregivers also serve as buffer against trauma and protect
children from neglect and abuse by providing necessities, such as
shelter and food (Kousky, 2016).<br>
Support for children can come from outside the family as well. The
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2015) found
that children and youth optimize resilience during adversity if
they have the help of non-caregiver role models, such as teachers or
coaches. These role models are especially important following
natural disaster events. Children look to parents and other
caregivers as models in managing their emotions. Effective coping
strategies should be taught during this time, such as encouraging
children to talk about the event or turning to other resilient
communities that have endured natural disasters and recovered
(Lazarus, Jimerson, & Brock, 2002). Support networks, such as
the National Alliance on Mental Health's Parents and Teachers as
Allies program, can help these role models identify children with
mental illness and relay the proper resources to parents. <br>
<b>8. When possible, uphold connection to place. </b>As climate
change alters the landscape,it also forces change upon cultures tied
to the land. As already noted, indigenous communities are
experiencing rapid cultural change as the climate warms and makes
many traditional cultural practices difficult. Research in affected
communities indicates that people do not wish to leave their homes,
despite the changes they may experience (e.g., Cunsolo Willox et
al., 2012). Staying in a place to which one feels connected can
increase resilience because people are more likely to take adaptive
actions, such as preparing for flooding (Adger et al., 2013).<br>
<b>9. Maintain connections to one's culture. </b>New immigrant and
refugee communities are another vulnerable group whose mental health
benefits from a connection to culture, especially during adversity.
Weine et al. (2014) interviewed Burundian and Liberian refugees,
many of whom were adolescents who had recently moved to the United
States. The authors noted family cohesion, participation in
religious traditions, and cultural connectedness were resources that
protected individuals' mental health during difficult times.
Refugees may find it particularly important to maintain cultural
connections as their homes have been disrupted (Fullilove, 2013).<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ea-apa-psych-report-web.pdf">http://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ea-apa-psych-report-web.pdf</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-america-2017-north-dakota-cara-mund-wins/">(poetic
irony) Miss North Dakota Cara Mund crowned new Miss America</a></b><br>
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- North Dakota's Cara Mund ...In one of her
onstage interviews,<b> Mund said President Trump, a Republican, was
wrong to withdraw the U.S. from the climate accord aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global
warming.</b><br>
"It's a bad decision," she said. "There is evidence that climate
change is existing and we need to be at that table."<br>
In an interview with The Associated Press before preliminary
competition began, Mund, who lives in Bismarck, North Dakota, said
her goal is to be the first woman elected governor of her state.<br>
She said she wants to see more women elected to all levels of
government.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-america-2017-north-dakota-cara-mund-wins/">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-america-2017-north-dakota-cara-mund-wins/</a><br>
<b><br>
<br>
</b><b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.theonion.com/americanvoices/hurricane-irma-most-powerful-atlantic-storm-histor-56887">(sarcasm)
The Onion Hurricane Irma Most Powerful Atlantic Storm In
History</a></b><br>
With winds of over 150 mph, Hurricane Irma is now the most powerful
Atlantic Ocean storm in recorded history. What do you think? <br>
<blockquote> "This is a huge stride for female-named storms of all
kinds."<br>
Lauren Clancy<br>
INVENTORY COUNTER<br>
<br>
"I hope it enjoys its week at the top."<br>
Jeremy Enright<br>
LENTIL GROWER<br>
<br>
"Wow. Just imagine how bad an even worse storm would be."<br>
Luke Silha<br>
BALMIST<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<font size="+1"><b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202391.html">This
Day in Climate History September 12, 2007 </a> - from D.R.
Tucker</b></font><br>
September 12, 2007: US District Judge William Sessions III issues a
240-page decision upholding Vermont's right to regulate greenhouse
gas emissions from vehicles. <br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202391.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202391.html</a></font><font
size="+1"><i><br>
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