Tag: climate change

System change for climate change
Opinion

System change for climate change

This opinion is printed with permission of TucsonSentinel.com  Original can be found at: http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/091719_cease_climate_op/cease-system-change-needed-fight-climate-change By MIKE CEASE Special to TucsonSentinel.com Climate change is the most catastrophic environmental, social and economic crisis that the human species has ever faced. Impacts include rising average temperatures, vanishing polar ice, melting glaciers, stronger storms, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, worsening droughts, growing deserts, increasing wildfires, more disease, hunger, world-wide climate refugees and human misery. While the ruling class mostly denies or ignores the issue, young people get it. Sixteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sailed into New York l...
Doing the ‘Impossible’ at Burger King
Opinion

Doing the ‘Impossible’ at Burger King

By ELLIANA KOPUT The Amazon rainforest is aflame, global temperatures are rising and a decrease in biodiversity continue to minimize the survival attempts of a myriad of species.  “(In the Southwest) increased heat, drought and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires,” according to NASA. “Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns.”  It can be easy to throw pebbles of blame and rage at the corporate entities that, arguably, control the Earth, but make no mistake: We singletons can walk, talk and appoint change to the speed, direction and intention of our own choosing.  A study conducted by Viva!.org points out, “As food production expands ...
Youth Climate Strike rallies Downtown
News

Youth Climate Strike rallies Downtown

  By JOSHUA SHAVER  and JOE GIDDENS Inspired by teenage Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a series of international protests demanding action have taken place in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit on Sept. 23.    Other topics raised by protesters included indigenous rights and inequality. Globally, over 2,500 events were scheduled in over 160 countries, according to Vox. Tucson residents came out with signs in hand for the Arizona Youth Climate Strike rally Sept. 20 in Downtown Tucson in El Presidio park. The event was co-led by University of Arizona students Daniel Casanova and Lyle Klein.    “Climate change is one of the areas we’ve worked on the edges on,” said Tucson mayoral candidate Regina Romero. “But we really need to have a much mor...
News

Aztec Press editor fact checks local politician

By JOE GIDDENS Locally, Ally Miller, Pima County District 1 supervisor, took to Twitter to weigh in on climate rallies and teenage activist Greta Thunberg. “To to all the young folks screaming that the end is near!  To follow this woman??? Kidding right? In the ’70s, when I was a young high school graduate they said the Ice age (sic) was coming. Yes ... they said that.  Don’t be a tool! #GlobalWarmingHoax,” Miller tweeted on Sept. 23.  However, Miller represents Pima County where the climate now has 24 more days above 100 degrees than it had in the 1970s. This makes it the second-largest increase in the nation, according to Climate Central.  As previously reported in the Aztec Press and the Phoenix New Times, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey repeatedly has balked at using the phrase “climate cha...
Romero: Tackling climate change starts at the local level
Opinion

Romero: Tackling climate change starts at the local level

  Posted with permission from www.TucsonSentinel.com orginal piece can be found here: http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/091719_romero_climate_op/romero-tackling-climate-change-starts-local-level/   By REGINA ROMERO My career in public service and the central pillar of my mayoral campaign has been opportunity; Tucson has given me educational and economic opportunities that I would never have dreamed of as a child. But there won't be any additional opportunity in Tucson for future generations if we don't do something about climate change immediately. "Think globally, act locally." We have all heard that phrase but does it make a difference? When it comes to the greatest challenge of our time, climate change, the answer is "you bet!" The unfortunate reality is that ...
Gov. Doug Ducey won’t say “climate change.” “Drier future” is his preferred phrase
News

Gov. Doug Ducey won’t say “climate change.” “Drier future” is his preferred phrase

Gov. Ducey visits Pima College Story and multimedia by JOE GIDDENS Gov. Doug Ducey has repeatedly refrained from referring to climate change in his pitch to get the Drought Contingency Plan passed, instead branding less water in the Colorado River as part of a “drier future.”  This rhetorical device also was used by Budget Director Matthew Gress during his Budget Roadshow meeting Jan. 23 at Pima Community College’s District Office. The Aztec Press asked the governor about his use of the phrase “drier future” rather than climate change during his visit to Pima’s Aviation Technology Center on Feb. 15.  “We’ve been specifically talking about water. So when you have less water, what that means is that it will be drier,” Ducey said. “It’s also a way for us to bring the public along in terms...
Climate change: Swann song for saguaros?
News

Climate change: Swann song for saguaros?

By PARKER BROCK   Climate change is a global pressing issue that will continue to affect our environment and local ecosystems; including our National Parks. With varied and extreme weather patterns becoming more frequent, we will see more apparent effects on our National Parks. Saguaro National Park is one that Pima Community College students are familiar with and often frequent. Saguaro National Park can also be used to help perceive the effects of our ever changing climate. Don Swann, a rangeland manager for Saguaro National Park, sat down and talked on climate, saguaros and Pima students’ roles in helping preserve our national wonders. Q: How has Saguaro National Park changed how it presents information about the changing climate? One of the things we are interested in from a...
Letter from the Editor: Star Trek and what we don’t talk about
Opinion

Letter from the Editor: Star Trek and what we don’t talk about

By JOE GIDDENS The most British man who’s playing a Frenchman is slated to return to “Star Trek.” The trend of the reboot continues onward with Patrick Stewart’s announcement on that he will reprise the role of Jean-Luc Picard made famous on the small screen’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and its later film adaptations. Thoughts looking forward and back at his tenure.   Perhaps the passage of time will curb the film’s portrayal of Picard as a tank top-wearing action hero and Picard now being portrayed by a 78-year-old man will return to being a subdued, thoughtful diplomat.   Secondly, one of the hallmarks of the science fiction genre is showing a glimpse into a possible future that is more about the audience’s present time. The original series had episodes that were mo...