It seems to be fairly well established that the climate is changing, and it seems to be warming up at an unprecedented rate - at least, unprecedented during human history.

An article in "The Independent" today caught my eye, and one paragraph stood out from the rest:
"April was so warm (contributing to the warmest spring on record) that the natural world was put completely out of sync: swifts arrived (from Africa) a month early, as did the hawthorn flowers - known as May - which prompted suggestions they should be renamed April blossom."

I find it strange that the swifts arrived here early, i had always believed (because i was so taught at school) that they migrated when the daylight hours reached a certain duration.

What i can't understand is why they would leave Africa so early, the daylight hours haven't changed....

It's not only swifts, but swallows and other birds also.

http://environment.independent.co.uk...cle2901009.ece


Peace, Love, & Light

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The Peaceful Place: http://www.agedhippy.plus.com/

"An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object. "
Patanjali - Sutra 4:17

It is HOT HOT HOT! Here in Nashville (TN) we've just gotten relief from what was 21 days of 100+ temps. Each day's weather forcast would remind us how long ago the "old record" had been set (also in the 100's) and most were back in the '50's! It's hot.

It's been hot before, it's been wet before, it's been dry before.

Everyone who is currently enduring these extremes and suffering their consequences need our prayers that they may, despite losses personal and material, be blessed with the understanding they are growing stronger and closer as a result. God loves you and has provided challenges like these on our path so we may learn to be more supportive and helping and loving of one another.

Malcolm, nature adapts don't you think? Can it be that birds and other migratory creatures are just following their food, who is also adapting? That food is going where it's food is flourishing. Theirs a bug in Florida called the love bug (no kidding, so-called because their only purpose is to procreate and get stuck on the grills and windshields of cars). It used to show up during May and September, ONLY, over the last decade or so they're about most of the year. They're so foul tasting, so I've heard, no predator will take them up. So without natural control, they're out of control.

I don't see it related to climate change, though who among us can see the whole picture?
I guess my point is I'm not as worried so much about global climatic catastrophies, by our influence as most seem to be. Knowing me as you might, I don't seem to worry about much. Am I not taking responsability? The planet as been in God's hands for a while now. I really can't choose to believe we, despite how powerful we think we are, that we could change such a complex and balanced infrastructure, as is in place, to any degree or magnitude as to upset that perfectly, divinely designed balance. That balance includes dynamic tectonic shifts, climatic and oceanographic upheavals that many have trouble surviving, the planet is alive and still growing. Our use and disuse of the planet is part of that balance and it will continue to grow and exchange impurities for the good of it's own health just as it has in the past during species ending events. Invariably, it always comes out betterthan it was before. Can we claim the same after life changing events?

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Only Love Prevails,
Don

First of all, there's not much doubt at all that we're seeing significant environmental change and that most or much or it is man-made. A recent estimate from mathematical models have the average Earth's temperature being raised about 4 degrees by the end of this century. That would be catastrophic. The last time we "saw" such activity, it caused the extinction of many organisms. Most scientists feel that we could only handle about a 2 degree difference, but even if that were to be sustained, it would cause the glaciers and polar ice-caps to melt, putting many coastal cities under water.

Can we afford to guess wrong or expect G-d to bail us out? According to Torah, didn't He give Earth to us to take care of?

The problem did not occur overnight, and the solutions necessary don't have to be implimented overnight as well. But we better start working on it.

Shalom,
Vern