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LNG, Plastics and Other Gas Industry Plans Would Add Climate Pollution Equal to 50 New Coal Plants
DeSmog 1-8-20

This week, plans to build one of the world’s largest plastics and petrochemical plants in St. James Parish, Lousiana — the heart of the state’s notorious Cancer Alley — inched forward as Lousiana approved air quality permits that could allow the plant to release 13.6 million tons per year of greenhouse gases — equal to three coal-fired power plants — and a host of other pollutants.

The St. James plant would be the single most polluting facility of 157 planned new or expanding refineries, liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects, and petrochemical plants that have sought or obtained air pollution permits in the U.S., according to a report published today by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).

Within the next five years, these plants could create as much as 227 million tons of additional climate-changing greenhouse gas pollution, bringing the industry’s cumulative annual emissions to 990.5 million tons by 2025. Those planned facilities create an impact equal to adding 50 new coal-fired power plants to the U.S. electrical grid, the report concludes.

Commentary: Jakarta, the fastest sinking city in the world faces the biggest flooding challenge
CNA 1-7-20

About 173,000 people from almost 40,000 households, were evacuated. Many offices and shops were forced to close. The domestic Halim Perdanakusuma Airport was forced to shut down.

There’s no doubt factors beyond human control including extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change, cyclical tidal waves and the seasonal monsoon have exacerbated flooding in Jakarta. ...

But human factors – including the destruction of the ecosystem due to deforestation, poor urban planning including the unchecked construction of settlements around the Ciliwung riverbank, and dismal garbage disposal choking up the riverbank and gutters around the city - have aggravated its effects. ...

Without an effective solution, experts have said the city could be entirely submerged by 2050. Economists estimate losses of 36 trillion rupiah in 2027, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Tens of Thousands Join 'Sack ScoMo' Protests Against Government Climate Inaction as Bushfires Rage Across Australia
Common Dreams 1-10-19

Tens of Thousands Join 'Sack ScoMo' Protests Against Government Climate Inaction as Bushfires Rage Across Australia

"These fires, heatwaves, and droughts are not just unprecedented—they're the direct result of decades of climate destruction at the hands of fossil fuel loving politicians."

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Australia Friday to protests their government's inaction on the global climate emergency as the country continues to battle catastrophic bushfires that have devoured millions of acres of land, destroyed hundreds of homes, and left over a billion animals and 27 people dead.

Australia is only halfway through its historically hot, dry summer, but the country is already in the midst of an "unprecedented national crisis" featuring "virtually unstoppable" blazes, particularly in the continent's southeastern states. As the fires have ramped up, so has public pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his coalition government.

Morrison was a primary target of the protests Friday. Uni Students for Climate Justice and Extinction Rebellion organized events in several major cities using the slogan "Sack ScoMo."

Tropical climate change acceleration found in study
UH News

Subtropical warming weakens Hadley cell, reduces clouds and upwelling of cold water—warming tropics.

Warming of the subtropics will accelerate future climate change in the tropics, according to a study published this week in Nature Climate Change.

In response to future fossil fuel burning, climate computer models simulate a pronounced warming in the tropical oceans. This warming can influence the El Niño phenomenon and shift weather and rainfall patterns across the globe. Despite being robustly simulated in computer models of the climate system, the origin of this accelerated tropical warming has remained a mystery. ...

A large-scale atmospheric circulation feature referred to as the Hadley cell and its surface branch, known as trade wind circulation, transport relatively dry subtropical air to the tropics. Due to the effects of Earth’s rotation, trade winds also cause upwelling of cold subsurface waters in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic.

“In response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, future subtropical warming will slow down the atmospheric Hadley cell,” adds Stuecker.

This will lead to a weakening of the surface trade winds, less upwelling of cold ocean water, and a resulting warming of the sea surface.

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magiamma's picture

Once again I have been preoccupied with the upcoming election. It appears that the ptb and the msm are desperately trying to disenfranchise Bernie. But I am hopeful. Two young women returned from canvassing in Iowa full of the Bern and are organizing here now on campus. Inspiring these young ones are. And determined to change the tide.

Cats for Bernie
Feline the Bern

Edit to add: We knew the attack on Bernie was coming — it’s just the beginning. Hang onto your socks.

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Is a good way to send a message and help his campaign. I have been sending a monthly donation to him for a long time now. I'm sending an additional $10 / day until after Iowa.

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mhagle's picture

@jbob

Yes, this is no surprise. But I expect Iowans to split this wide open.

[video:https://youtu.be/xV7ZcVFSWWU]

They won't be played the fool. Especially after last time.

Thanks for the OT!

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

magiamma's picture

@mhagle
Thanks for the music. Really perfect. Make it so. Have a good one...

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magiamma's picture

@jbob @jbob
Yes Bernie needs money now more than ever right now with everyone coming after him. And if people have time there are many other ways to jump in. Every little thing helps.

edit to add: E. War On, may you get what you deserve!

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hold on to your socks,
hold on. No kidding magi, things are getting dicey, and we knew/know it was/is coming.
Thanks for all you do, onward, as you all say.

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magiamma's picture

@randtntx
Dicey indeed. Thanks for the smile and the tune. Up, up and away...

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Lookout's picture

It was 57 degrees here this AM, but cooler weather is on it's way. Some 20 degree nights coming around the bend.

New XR newsletter this week...
https://rebellion.earth/2020/01/14/newsletter-34-hell-and-high-water/
Worth a look just for all the pictures. Also includes a story about a new bike tour for climate...

bike tour.jpg

I love my new ebike! Makes the ride to town so easy now.

Here's a person sharing their zero waste lifestyle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-kAOP-uvnQ (7 min)

Best of luck with the upcoming primary!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

magiamma's picture

@Lookout
Big storm coming here, but it's late. The climate crises is still unfolding in the midst of the political circus. Thanks so much for the link to the bike tour and to the zero waste article. I am finding it very hard to do zero waste and work on the campaign. Dayum, it should not be so hard. It is hard enough without it. There is paper, driving, copying, printing (even with the union on recycled paper and eco inks.) Here we have five (5) weeks to go. Onward.

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Wally's picture

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magiamma's picture

@Wally
Lol too funny. My best friend is a cat. heh. Thanks for bringing smiles.

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smiley7's picture

Onward Bernie!

Thanks a million!

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magiamma's picture

@smiley7
They are going to Bern. Coincidence? I think not. heh. Anyway, I wish them well, those that do the trek. Thanks for the link. Be well.

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enhydra lutris's picture

poisoning, industry continues to wage all out war on coastal Louisiana, and the politicians continue to permit encourage it. Money kills. 50 degrees out, allegedly today's high, already, and windy, with rain coming in.

Thanks for all you do. We have a load of socks on the line, so it is holding onto them, and they will surely be dry quickly in today's wind.

Just a thought -- One cannot hold onto their socks without bending over -- mebbe mo bettah da kine sandal up and go forth.

have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

@enhydra lutris Definitely mo bettah. The rain has come and gone, may be your way now. Money is waging war on all of us folks. Have a good one...

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Hawkfish's picture

Try volunteering for the data entry team.

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We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

magiamma's picture

@Hawkfish
Thanks for that. There is also phonebanking. The app is easy to use and can be done from home. Right now phonebanking into Iowa can make a big difference.

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ggersh's picture

January 15, 2020
Australia on the Chasm of Climate Catastrophe
by Evaggelos Vallianatos

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

magiamma's picture

@ggersh
I did a double take when I realized that was smoke instead of clouds. How fast it is unraveling. 'They' have no idea. Thanks for the startling image. Be well.

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lotlizard's picture

@ggersh  
relatively speaking . . . years ago I was blessed with an opportunity to visit.

Also a nature preserve called Lamington National Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamington_National_Park

Thoughts and prayers and global change of consciousness for Australia and also for all life on this planet.

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Lookout's picture

@gjohnsit

She hosted an antiwar meeting in NH the night of the debate with Dennis K and historian, Steven Kinzer moderated by Professor Lawrence Lessig
Here's 18 min highlights

Thanks for the article.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

magiamma's picture

@gjohnsit
Link is above folks...

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our state speaker is worse than useless. Speaks out of both sides of mouth. Ridiculous.

“There’s nothing Rhode Island can do to address climate change in a way that’s real or impactful. This has to be done at the national level --"

https://upriseri.com/2020-01-16-mattiello-climate-change/?fbclid=IwAR0yT...

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