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It is now time for us all to focus on saving planet Earth from climate change. After recently researching the avalanche of new scientific data and scary climate-change forecasts from reputable federal agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Global Change Research Program, I am now motivated by fear to get active on the climate-change issue.

As the river administrator of the Great Egg Harbor River, I have seen firsthand the unusual 2007 flash flooding in Atlantic County that resulted in a federal disaster-area declaration and the new "ghost forests" of standing dead trees killed by saltwater intrusion expanding along Lakes Creek, English Creek, South River and other tidal tributaries as the head of tide moves steadily upstream as sea level continues to rise.

These and other observations have led me to believe that climate change is happening now, and it's actually beginning to affect our lives. It's beginning to show up in our own back yards. One new report clearly states that some barrier islands are likely to disappear entirely from sea-level rise and that there may be an increase in the number of hurricanes and other severe weather incidents that could cause more frequent flooding.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) will require putting a cap on U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change. As usual, there are political differences as to how best to approach a cap-and-trade system. But I think now is the time for us to put forth a united effort to stop climate change despite our political differences. I urge everyone to get involved as if your family's future depends on it - because it does.

FRED AKERS

Newtonville

If we don't change,

nature will change us

Regarding the June 20 letter, "Humans cannot stop climate change":

There is no controversy with regard to the source of global warming. The scientific consensus is that global warming is a consequence of carbon dioxide emissions. Any other argument is merely a ruse and a tired excuse for inaction, which is especially appealing in light of the current global economic meltdown.

But the global-warming emergency is real and must be accepted as such by the citizenry, since the painful and difficult process of not treating the atmosphere and the oceans as a carbon sewer must now begin to preserve the world as it is today for future generations.

President George W. Bush once said, "The American lifestyle is not negotiable." The hard truth is to the contrary, since in general one is not paying the full cost of all material goods produced and consumed as long as the Earth is treated as a carbon dump.

The full cost of our lifestyle can only be reflected through a carbon tax or a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade system that will internalize the true cost of our seemingly endless acquisition of goods.

Also, fossil fuels must be abandoned in their entirety in favor of renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy resources.

Science will determine the American lifestyle, and the requisite modifications may be made willingly, or nature will force more drastic alterations at a later point without negotiation.

JOHN RAYMOND STANKS

Pennsauken

12 comments:

• Yugocif (92) posts 2:45 pm

  Slowly recite the following out loud: "Frankly , it is time for a concentrated effort to fight those who will take away liberty by exploiting unfounded fears." Then slowly recite " No, I am unwilling to give up my rights to speak, to own land as I see fit or to the right to protect myself. That is why I moved out of New Jersey." Then recite "Anyone want to try to take away my rights over a "fear"? Let them try." You may have to repeat this a few times, as you seem rather dull. Then ask yourself if these missives are not from a big pompous poop? Or perhaps, to paraphase the gasbag from a few days ago "This guy must be having his period." Knowing that you left New Jersey solves two major mysteries. First why the aggregate IQ of New Jersy suddenly went up and at the same time, the gas emissions were reduced. I am always amazed when gasbags like you are questioned about your mighty proclamations, you never answer, but always change the subject, attempt to show some bravado,and try to justify your ill behavior. Good luck with that and one other thing; before you start storing toxic waste in your yard (remember:"to own land as I see fit") you may wish to check with the locals.

• MrWhite (94) posts 12:40 pm

  Yugocif, don't pull any of your smarmy crap with me. You know well that the subject was global warming. You and I did not have to meniton it,as it was the context of the letter. Anyone want to try to take away my rights over a "fear"? Let them try.

• roller137 (205) posts 7:02 am

  Roe V Wade and Gun Control was beaten to death and no one is rally listening any more. So now there's lots of political power and money in pushing this newest and biggest scam called global warming on the American people. Some of these so-called scientists are in it for the all the government money they can snag. Traders are in it to drive energy futures in the financial markets into the stratosphere, making billions in profits.

• stick236 (61) posts 7:01 am

  Chesterfield: Everything you say is correct, especially about water and air but the main focus was global cooling. I just find it ironic that this is problem that will require decades or centuries and we have changed the whole thing in 30 years.

• Yugocif (92) posts 6:25 am

  Hey Whitey, stop being a big pompous poop and learn to read. I never made any claim one way or the other about global climate change. I asked you who would determine which ferars are to be considered unfounded and which are real and if a fear is real that is reason to give up liberty.

• MrWhite (94) posts 5:16 am

  Yugocif, do some reasearch and you will see that man-made global warming is a scam. Many climatologists, meteorologists,oceanographers,and astrometers credit the past warming to the sun. Now they say we may be into an era of cooling since solar activity has dramaticaly decreased. No, I am unwilling to give up my rights to speak, to own land as I see fit or to the right to protect myself. That is why I moved out of New Jersey.

• Chesterfield (4) posts 5:22 pm

  Mr Stick236: My memories are different. I remember Senator Gaylord Nelson sperheading an effort in which the focus was clean air and clean drinking water. The problems thing included oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife. Let us not forget the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire and the near death of Lake Erie. Zero population growth was also a concern, but I cannot remember anything about worries of it getting too cold.

• stick236 (61) posts 4:52 pm

  I remember well the major focus of the first Earth Day some 30 years ago or whatever. We were scared to death of Global cooling. Global warming IMHO is another Y2K, scare the hell out of us and then nothing happens. Remember this is supposed to be a decades or century old process but 30 years ago we were terrified of global cooling. Go figure

• Yugocif (92) posts 11:54 am

  Who decides what fears are unfounded? and are you willing to give up freedom and liberty if a fear is proclaimed real?

• MrWhite (94) posts 10:29 am

  Frankly , it is time for a concentrated effort to fight those who will take away liberty by exploiting unfounded fears.

• todfiat (0) posts 9:43 am

  "Science will determine the American lifestyle"?? Yikes! Have you ever met a scientist? Strange birds. (Imagine Isaac Asimov as president.) Earlier grandiose notions such as "Better living through chemistry," or "Peace in our time", or "Never lend money to your brother-in-law" have also come a cropper. The mind boggles! Rank Skinnerian behavioral determinism that will soon have America looking like Atlantic City if left unchecked. Aux la barricades!

• njdlmkr (309) posts 7:11 am

  Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah ... keep drinking the kool-aid. I cannot believe how gullible people are ... if you believe this cr*p I've got a bridge I want to sell you.

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