Al Gore Statement on Hurricane Sandy

[limpyhobbler]

Statement on Hurricane Sandy October 30, 2012 : 1:21 PM

This week, our nation has anxiously watched as Hurricane Sandy lashed the East Coast and caused widespread damage--affecting millions. Now more than ever, our neighbors need our help. Please consider donating or volunteering for your local aid organizations.

The images of Sandy’s flooding brought back memories of a similar--albeit smaller scale-- event in Nashville just two years ago. There, unprecedented rainfall caused widespread flooding, wreaking havoc and submerging sections of my hometown. For me, the Nashville flood was a milestone. For many, Hurricane Sandy may prove to be a similar event: a time when the climate crisis—which is often sequestered to the far reaches of our everyday awareness became a reality.

While the storm that drenched Nashville was not a tropical cyclone like Hurricane Sandy, both storms were strengthened by the climate crisis. Scientists tell us that by continually dumping 90 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every single day, we are altering the environment in which all storms develop. As the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, storms are becoming more energetic and powerful. Hurricane Sandy, and the Nashville flood, were reminders of just that. Other climate-related catastrophes around the world have carried the same message to hundreds of millions.

Sandy was also affected by other symptoms of the climate crisis. As the hurricane approached the East Coast, it gathered strength from abnormally warm coastal waters. At the same time, Sandy's storm surge was worsened by a century of sea level rise. Scientists tell us that if we do not reduce our emissions, these problems will only grow worse.

Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must heed this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis. Dirty energy makes dirty weather.

http://blog.algore.com/2012/10/statement_on_hurricane_sandy.html

[2on2u]

1. We are all New Orleans now. n/t

[goclark]

2. Thank you for doing so much to

get America to realize that your cause is a worthy one!

[jenw2]

3. Too bad the media has hit the mute button on him

I don't think I've heard his name mentioned in well over five years on the national news. They hate him for trying to save us.

[limpyhobbler]

4. They don't talk about it.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/04/16/study-climate-coverage-plummets-on-broadcast-ne/184103

I guess the oil/gas/coal industry has started spending a lot on TV ads. Media can't cross the industry.

[cprise]

6. Noticed Shell's "Lets be reasonable/centrist" climate ads on NYT's storm coverage

That was a treat.

[Ilsa]

5. And Zero coverage in the debates.

VP Gore called it on climate change a decade ago. He said Manhatten would be flooded. I heard Cuomo say today that they are getting 100 year floods every 2-3 years in NYC now.

[limpyhobbler]

7. I saw Cuomo on the TV today too.

talking to Brian Williams. I'm glad he at least brought up the issue. I keep hoping somebody will step up and take the lead on the things that need to be done, to make it a top priority. Who knows maybe he'll be the one.