Greenland: roar of melting glacier sounds climate change alarm

The signs are everywhere, but the politicians just aren't listening.

Does anyone really believe anything can happen. That we will reverse this process. Instead of spending money on preventing global warming which isn't preventable, spending money on stupid devices that aren't going to do a damn thing. Let's spend the money on the future to figure out what we are going to do with all the people who mill haft to move around because of this. The people who will need saving. It is such a depressing matter to think that we mite all die because of global warming if not war first. If anyone really believes that we can save ourselves please don't be over optimistic but give me an idea of what you think. I would like to hear people's opinions and those who think we can still save ourselves. Without being ignorant about it and pretending that global warming doesn't exist.

We are already past the point of no return. The only thing that can happen is this. Make some energy saving crap. Spend tons of money doing it. Boost the economy and such. Years down the road. Ice has still melted. Droughts still happening. People still dying. Oceans still rising. Sh*t has already hit the fan. But for right now it is just sticking to it. Soon it will spray and fall on everyone. So we are all basically f'ed.

About climate change and the environment in general... Offshore drilling and drilling in Alaska to provide more smack for our oil addiction is like taking out more credit when you know bankruptcy is coming.
I also like to use the analogy of a beautiful woman. They say Anwar, Alaska is so large that the amount destroyed would be negligible. (Ignoring the problems oil use causes.) So we have this 'goddess' and we think, cut off a finger and she won't miss it. Since that hand is maimed, why not take it too?
*I understand that the world runs on oil but we need to cut consumption and re-think our basic way of life. Everything is connected - we need to start acting that way again.

This is truly one of the worst stories & best example of climate change in the northern hemisphere. I firmly believe that we're all part of the problem & can therefore be part of the solution. By doing anything & everything possible in our own households while making positive lifestyle changes to combat an overwhelming condition, we at least have a fighting chance.

The federal gov't is in such a wretched condition that maybe this should be handled by individual states. Even dealing with it on a local level by county, town or neighborhood is an option because of how well people know their own backyard. Now the tough part-financing the project that will keep humans alive, well & continuing to live planet Earth.

Greenland got it's name because it was GREEN a thousand years ago. Now it appears to be turning green again. Man did not cause it then, and did not cause it now. Get a life.

Yeap! It is happening and the old business goes as usual.

When ice begins to melt, the melting increases exponentially, unless it freezes again. As I'm sure you all know.
The best case scenarios that I have read about say: If we start right now and cut CO2 emissions completely off, it will take about 20 years for the effect of those emissions to be healed.
There is also the problem of melting tundra which releases methane, which in turn mixes with oxygen, which forms a greenhouse gas. (but I don't remember the exact formula)
There is also the fact that our oceans are already more acidic, which causes them to warm, which helps to release the atronomical amounts of methane that is trapped by the cold, deep waters.
I am not saying it is hopeless, each one of us can do our part by driving less, recycling, etc., whatever it takes.
But when I hear about emission cutbacks in 20 years, I gotta laugh, because if I don't, I'll go nuts.
Write your congressman and senators. If they start getting enough emails and phone calls, perhaps we can get through to them.

It's so great to read all of your comments. Thank you guys. Your effort and goodwill inspires others to march on.

Revelations....it appears that the political and financial global leaders behind the Club of Rome have been extremely effective....

"It would seem that humans need a common motivation, namely a common adversary, to organize and act together in the vacuum; such a motivation must be found to bring the divided nations together to face an outside enemy, either a real one or else one invented for the purpose."

Let me repeat that last part....

"...either a real one or else one invented for the purpose."

Progress is not progress once it becomes destruction... How true.

....onepersonsopinion....I like the name you chose....opinions are an individualized item.....they may be placed before another.....but not in a forceful way like many try to do...and I am not talking about any of you....what needs to be done at this time on this planet...can not be individualized.....it is going to take a concentrated effort....for those aware to help others realize that the direction we are going must be turned around....and then give an all out effort to heal so many wrongs.......it is very sad to think they we need to live much as people did many years ago....that we have traveled so far in the wrong direction.....they all knew that this Earth is like a Mother....it gives you everything....is respect too much to ask.....progress is not progress once it becomes destruction.........Golden Ruler...Johnie Hargrave.....

Yes twodee: many people are part of organizations. So am I. But the ice caps are still melting. The point however is, are they being heard by those who need to listen, or are we spinning our wheels? Doesn't look like we are being heard when you look at the political landscape. It still seems that corporate interests outweigh all of this in Washington Dc. And that is what I'm talking about. If all of these organizations came together at one time to focus just on putting pressure on Washington Dc we just might see the laws we need to enforce the carbon caps we must have in order to make any dent at sustaining this planet for future generations. I didn't mean to imply that no one is doing anything, I simply feel as if we are still all looking at this unfolding in slow motion and every year we say the same things with the same results. And there still are many people who simply do not see this as important. We move at a snail's pace while the Earth continues to change much faster than we can act.

Long before Global Warming became a well known issue Al Gore and his Club of Rome colleagues stated that they would use the threat of global warming to unite humanity and "set the scene for mankind's encounter with the planet." They decided to employ a natural phenomenon as their 'enemy' in order to terrify their followers and achieve their objectives. But then they state that although Global Warming would be presented as the initial enemy, with the real ultimate enemy being humanity, which would be portrayed as man himself. Are you not noticing how frequently the terms climate change and overpopulation are being uttered in the same breath. Quotes from the Club of Rome follow:

“This is the way we are setting the scene for mankind’s encounter with the planet. The opposition between the two ideologies that have dominated the 20th century has collapsed, forming their own vacuum and leaving nothing but crass materialism.

It is a law of Nature that any vacuum will be filled and therefore eliminated unless this is physically prevented. “Nature,” as the saying goes, “abhors a vacuum.” And people, as children of Nature, can only feel uncomfortable, even though they may not recognize that they are living in a vacuum. How then is the vacuum to be eliminated?

It would seem that humans need a common motivation, namely a common adversary, to organize and act together in the vacuum; such a motivation must be found to bring the divided nations together to face an outside enemy, either a real one or else one invented for the purpose.

New enemies therefore have to be identified.
New strategies imagined, new weapons devised."

onepersonsopinion: As we know from the last eight years and many years before, 'elected' representatives (and I use that term very loosely in regards to Bush) many times do not know how to make decisions or only make decisions for the few over the many... that is when the people are supposed to come in. Maybe you can think about that and joining your friend or alias at the beginning of this who responded and actually do something instead of spreading the same unsubtstantiated off topic crap in my threads. Do you have anything to state regarding the topic or what we can do to face it? You know, an actual idea or solution? If not, you are then only part of the problem and your cutting and pasting serves no purpose.

“Sacrilegious though this may sound, democracy is no longer well suited for the tasks ahead. The complexity and the technical nature of many of today’s problems do not always allow elected representatives to make competent decisions at the right time.”

Club of Rome: Members include
- Al Gore
- Maurice Strong
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Kofi Annan
- David Rockefeller
- Bill Clinton
- Jimmy Carter
- Bill Gates

Sorry Megan, we can't play politics with this. Obama is no better than McCain if he continues to call for clean coal and nuclear and continues like the rest to push the 80% by 2050 line. If people who support him cannot hold his feet to the fire on this as well we will not make progress on this. I don't give a damn who gets the crown, if they do not embrace Al Gore's 10 year challenge within 100 days of ascending to the American throne, I will call EVERY DAY and barage them with letters and do all in my power as a citizen to hold them accountable. This is how we got into this mess to begin with... people playing partisan politics and stating one side as being wrong while the other one was perfect when that is simply not true. If I recall, Al Gore spoke on Capitol Hill to Republicans ^and^ Democrats... now, what Democrat has come out and publicly and fervently embraced his 100% renewable in 10 yr challenge? I can't think of one.

...every action has a reaction...we are doing so many things large and small that have an affect on this balancing act...we call Earth....take a globe...spin it....now glue a rock to it...all the different large cities built around the world affect the course of this planet....so many other things...Mankind lived on this planet for so long without doing much damage......so much has been done in the last hundred years....the heating and cooling would go on just like it has forever...also meteors would move the path of this planet...as in the past....but that in no way is a reason to stick your hands in the air and ignore what is being done to this glorious planet.......please stop all the bickering about whether it is happening or whether you should do anything....your ship is sinking.....it will sink again in the future...there is no doubt...but you can do something to prolong it....it is the ultimate recycler....but all of you are responsible for the stewardship of this planet...stop arguing and do something...whether it be large or small....Golden Ruler...Johnnie Hargrave......

For the first responder: Yes, humans are their own worst enemy and we need to do something about that NOW. So how about you get off your butt and do something to fight those looking to gain an advantage from this besides spreading the same spam in my threads.

The ice is melting. Sea levels are rising. Global warming has been eclipsed by the economic meltdown. If we do not pay attention quickly it will be too late. It seems that reputable scientists throughout the world are saying the USA needs to act NOW. All other countries "get this" and 78% of US citizens believe it. So why yet have a President who has sabotaged all efforts to address this issue and has silenced US scientists and their studies?

The US stands ready to possibly elect a President who does not see global warming as a priority and who has a vp pick that doesn't believe global warming is caused by humankind. It is unbelievable to me that we are facing a presidential race that is this close and that will likely be the tipping point on global warming.

There is no where to run and no place to hide. We are all in this together and yet US policies are causing the rapid increase in this disaster. No wonder the rest of the world is angry with us.