tagged w/ Media Failure
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Global warming gases have hit record levels in the world's atmosphere, with concentrations of carbon dioxide up 39 percent since the start of the industrial era in 1750, the U.N. weather agency said Monday.
The new figures for 2010 from the World Meteorological Organization show that CO2 levels are now at 389 parts per million, up from about 280 parts per million a quarter-millenium ago. The levels are significant because the gases trap heat in the atmosphere.
WMO Deputy Secretary-General Jeremiah Lengoasa said CO2 emissions are to blame for about four-fifths of the rise. But he noted the lag between what gets pumped into the atmosphere and its effect on climate.
"With this picture in mind, even if emissions were stopped overnight globally, the atmospheric concentrations would continue for decades because of the long lifetime of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," he said.
Negotiators from virtually all the world's nations will gather later this month in South Africa to try to agree on steps to head off the worst of the climate disruptions that researchers say will result if concentrations hit around 450 parts per million.
That could happen within several decades at the current rate, though some climate activists and vulnerable nations say the world has already passed the danger point of 350 parts per million and must somehow undo it.
The WMO said the increase of 2.3 parts per million in CO2 in the atmosphere between 2009 and 2010 shows an acceleration from the average 1.5 parts per million increase during the 1990s.
But there are seasonal fluctuations, too. During the summer growing season, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In winter, the concentration of C02 rises as vegetation and other biomass decompose.
Since 1750, WMO says, atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have risen 39 percent, those of nitrous oxide have gone up 20 percent and concentrations of methane jumped 158 percent.
Its report Monday cites fossil fuel-burning, loss of forests that absorb CO2 and use of fertilizer as the main culprits.
More at the linkGlobal warming gases have hit record levels in the world's atmosphere, with... more
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Israel laying foundation for Iran war
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:29:32
I’M SCREAMING -- SCREAM WITH ME! NOT IN MY NAME = I’M AN AMERICAN HEAR ME ROAR -- WE DON’T NEED MORE STINKING WAR!
THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO STAY SILENT! DO THEY PLAN TO BOMB IRAN? ARE THEY PREPARING FOR WAR? OTHER COUNTRIES ARE HAVING DRILLS, WARNING THEIR CITIZENS, MAKING PREPARATIONS. WHERE IS OUR PREPARATIONS? DO THEY THINK IF WE PREPARE, WE WILL BE AWARE? WAKE UP, ASK THE QUESTIONS???? UNDER OATH DOESN’T MATTER, IN FRONT OF CAMERA WOULD WORK. ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. DO YOU REALIZE, TACTICAL NUKES* ARE TACTICAL WMD’S. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! IF GEORGE W. ISN’T PLANNING TO BOMB IRAN, HE SHOULD LET THE OTHER COUNTRIES KNOW HE’S ONLY JOKING. HE'S NOT REALY A 'DECIDER', DECIDING TO START WORLD WAR III, IN PLAIN SIGHT NO LESS. BLIND FAITH IS A MISTAKE! FOOL US ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, FOOL US TWICE, SHAME ON US!
ADMIRAL FALLON HAD SAID IN 2007 THAT AN ATTACK ON IRAN WOULD NOT HAPPEN UNDER HIS WATCH. WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR US NOW? THIS ADMINISTRATION AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA ARE USING THE SAME SCRIPT THEY USED AGAINST IRAQ, BUT NOW WE MAY USE *TACTICAL WMD'S*? GEORGE W. WON'T TAKE ANYTHING OFF THE TABLE. *TACTICAL WMD'S* IS WITHIN HIS CAPABILITIES. CONGRESS HAS REFUSED TO TAKE AWAY THAT OPTION, OR ADD ANY CHECKS AND BALANCES. Oh yes, John Conyers said if George W. bombs Iran, he will call for Impeachment? That's a real threat, I feel so much more secure now.
Israel has reportedly unveiled plans to prepare for missile strikes it believes will be launched by states like Iran and Syria.
During the five-day preparation operation, Israel will reportedly simulate conventional and non-conventional missile strikes to test emergency response against Iran and Syria as well as the evacuation of cities.
The operation is slated to begin on April 6, according to the WorldTribune.com.
Although the operation seems to be an innocent attempt to improve defense capabilities, pundits are beginning to question whether the exercise may be aimed at laying the foundation for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Analysts claim this news echoes the latest developments and points to a war on Iran as it follows a recent report that a US nuclear submarine had been deployed to the Persian Gulf.
Another reason that has caused speculation that the Islamic Republic will come under attack is the sudden resignation of US Admiral William "Fox" Fallon.
Admiral Fallon played one of the most decisive roles in US foreign policy by overseeing military operations in the Middle East. He was well-known for his opposition to the Bush administration rattling sabers with Iran.
Another development that has worried analysts is that Saudi Arabia reportedly started taking measures to prepare for nuclear fallout a day after US Vice President Dick Cheney met with Saudi officials during his Mideast tour.
Israel laying foundation for Iran war
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:29:32
I’M... more
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TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE!
Iran in the Crosshairs
A Third American War in the Making?
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
The US Congress, the US media, the American people, and the United Nations, are looking the other way as Cheney prepares his attack on Iran.
If only America had an independent media and an opposition party. If there were a shred of integrity left in American political life, perhaps a third act of naked aggression--a third war crime under the Nuremberg standard--by the Bush Regime could be prevented.
On March 30, the Russian News & Information Agency, Novosti, cited "a high-ranking security source: "The latest military intelligence data point to heightened US military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran."
According to Novosti, Russian Colonel General Leonid Ivashov said "that the Pentagon is planning to deliver a massive air strike on Iran's military infrastructure in the near future."
The chief of Russia's general staff, Yuri Baluyevsky, said last November that Russia was beefing up its military in response to US aggression, but that the Russian military is not "obliged to defend the world from the evil Americans."
On March 29, OpEdNews cited a report by the Saudi Arabian newspaper Okaz, which was picked up by the German news service, DPA. The Saudi newspaper reported on March 22, the day following Cheney's visit with the kingdom's rulers, that the Saudi Shura Council is preparing "national plans to deal with any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards that may affect the kingdom following experts' warnings of possible attacks on Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactors."
And Admiral William "there will be no attack on Iran on my watch" Fallon has been removed as US chief of Central Command, thus clearing the way for Cheney's planned attack on Iran.
The Iranians don't seem to believe it, despite the dispatch of US nuclear submarines and another aircraft carrier attack group to the Persian Gulf. To counter any Iranian missiles launched in response to an attack, the US is deploying anti-missile defenses to protect US bases and Saudi oil fields.
Two massive failures by the American media, the Democratic Party, and the American people have paved the way for Cheney's long planned attack on Iran. One failure is the lack of skepticism about the US government's explanation of 9/11. The other failure is the Democrats' refusal to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush for lying to the Congress, the American people, and the world and launching an invasion of Iraq based on deception and fabricated evidence.
If an American president can start a war exactly as Adolf Hitler did with pure lies and not be held accountable, he can get away with anything. And Bush and his evil regime have.
This was written by, Paul Craig Roberts, but well worth repeating. These facts need to be repeated until Americans realize, It could happen, they need to speak up NOW! We need to tell them **NOT IN OUR NAME**! WE NEED TO PROMOTE DIPLOMACY, NOT MORE WAR!
'SO' IS NOT THE CORRECT ANSWER!TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE!
Iran in the Crosshairs
A Third American War in the... more
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The Saudi government is now preparing plans to deal with "any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards" that may arise from an attack on Iran's nuclear reactors. This was reported by a top Saudi newspaper, Okaz, and relayed by a leading German news service, DPA -- one day after Dick Cheney paid a visit to the kingdom. As we noted, no one knows exactly what was said at that confab of allied authoritarians -- but something sure lit a fire under the Saudis, and convinced them that urgent action is needed to brace for the lethal overspill from a strike on Iran.
Floyd points out that nothing in Saudi Arabia becomes the top news story without government approval. That such a story should be released the day after Cheney's visit, sends a message to everyone about what’s on Cheney's mind.
Americans need to stand up now, to get George W. and Dick Cheney to stand down! John Conyers stated that if George W. goes to war with Iran, he will call for Impeachment. I say too little, too late! He(We) need to stand up now! After the bombs start falling on Iran, it will be too late to stand up. We may need to ‘Duck and cover’! Russia has said “War with Iran” means war with them? Get the picture? These guys could start WORLD WAR III. They have not been held accountable for what they have done to Iraq, what makes anyone think they will be afraid of John Conyers after they bomb Iran?
The Saudi government is now preparing plans to deal with "any sudden nuclear and... more
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Pressing Issues by Greg Mitchell
Greg Mitchell's new book is "So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq." It features a foreword by Joe Galloway and preface by Bruce Springteen.
(March 25, 2008) -- Given the current tragedy in Iraq--hell, given the past five years--you would think the many pundits who agitated for an attack on that country, largely on false pretenses, would have take the opportunity of the arrival of the fifth anniversary of the war (or the 4000 dead milestone) to drop to their knees, at least in print, and beg the American public for forgiveness.
With more than 60 percent of their fellow Americans now calling the war a "mistake" and agitating for troop withdrawals--and the president's approval rating still heading south, thanks to their war--it would seem to be the right thing to do. We won't even mention the maiming of more than 20,000 young Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis.
You can probably name your favorite candidate. Let's take David Brooks of The New York Times, for example, and what he wrote exactly five years ago. He hasn't bothered to revisit his errors in judgement lately. At least Richard Cohen, another favorite whipping boy of antiwar critics, has accepted responsibility for some of his lapses.
Pressing Issues by Greg Mitchell
Greg Mitchell's new book is "So Wrong... more
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