AIDemocracy.org | global warming

The Ice Caps Are Melting…Melting!

October 4, 2012 by Matt L Leave a Comment

Recently, an article was published in the New York Times regarding the new wealth of “rare earth metals” now attainable in Greenland. Due to a massive recession in the Greenland ice caps, one of the world’s largest stores of rare earth metals is now within reach. Now that that pesky ice has melted (much like the Wicked Witch of the West), Greenland’s government seems overjoyed with this new development and is poised to capitalize on this recent tragedy, claiming that this opportunity will create jobs, boost the country’s economy, increase … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, global warming

Does the Keystone Pipeline really support national security?

January 19, 2012 by Ron 3 Comments

Many from the right have been harking on the immediate construction and opening of the Keystone Pipeline. Obviously, economic reasons are given as job creation is a huge topic during an election year, especially with 8.5% unemployment rate. Lately, there has been another issue raised, supporting the pipeline; national security. It's not a new concept, people have been citing America's dependence on foreign oil as a national security concern since 1979 when oil production dropped and increased prices caused economic shocks to rock the country. But does … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: alternative energy, climate, climate change, corporate responsibility, economy, energy security, global warming, Homeland Security, keystone pipeline, national security, natural resources, Obama

Get Used to the Orange Jumpsuit

December 27, 2011 by Patrick McDermott 2 Comments

The date is Tuesday, September 11th, 2012. I had just gotten back from seeing my family for the Christmas holiday. I’m sitting in the living room of my apartment, and I’m on my computer getting ready to write a critique of US foreign policy 11 years after 9/11. But just when I’m about to begin, there’s a knock on my door. I’m wasn't accustomed to getting knocks on my door, as I lived in an apartment complex and visitors were few and far between. In looking through the peephole, I realized there were two police officers standing outside my door. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, aid, China, climate change, Congress, democracy, education, foreign policy, global warming, Iran, Iraq, law, Libya, military, nuclear weapons, Obama, poverty, Somalia, terrorism, war, Yemen

New Budget Increases for US Foreign Assistance and EPA!

April 1, 2011 by Mukul

The latest and final budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have favored U.S. foreign assistance! Rather than reduce the budget for the State Department and USAID, both parties agree that these budgets need to be increased for the remainder of 2011. Although the new budget will not be made official until next Friday April 8th, political analysts in Washington predict that hundreds of millions will be added to the USAID budget and nearly an addition $1 billion to the State Department. What caused such a change of heart? Some believe … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Hunger Tagged With: Africa, aid, global warming, USAID

Climate Action Now! Rally Demands Action of Obama

December 2, 2010 by Lisa Seyfried

Yesterday, on Dec 1, groups of environmental organzations and concerned students and community members gathered in front of the White House to demand that President Obama take action on climate finance. What is climate finance, you ask? Climate finance is the idea that in order for people to adequately adapt to climate change and to take mitigating action against climate change, there needs to be the funds to do so. Proponents of climate finance believe that those funds should come from those nations that have contributed so much to the problems of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change Tagged With: climate change, global warming

When our planet calls, youth will we be there to answer

October 8, 2010 by Moustafa Hassab-Allah

By Moustafa Hassab-Allah Moustafa is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Moustafa below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. I dream of seeing my generation changing the world, I envision them as change makers rather than conformers. Climate change is not just a hot month in the summer, it is more catastrophic than we can imagine, probably because nature did not provide its final kick. Tsunamis, floods, iceberg meltdown are just cautionary events for what is bigger. We – young people – should not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change Tagged With: Climate Change, climate change, global warming, youth

Catastrophe gets worse in Pakistan

August 17, 2010 by Leah Jarvis

The recent floods in Pakistan (watch videos here) caused an initial wave of 1500 deaths, but that number may quickly begin to mount as rain continues to inundate parts of Pakistan and displaced and stranded Pakistanis face shortages in food and clean water. United Nations officials say that approximately 6 million Pakistanis, mostly children, are at risk for water-born diseases that could be potentially lethal.1 This humanitarian disaster clearly shows the linkages between environmental issues, governmental instability, development, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Hunger, Security, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Climate Change, global warming, Human Rights and Social Justice

Adaption to Climate Change: Is This the Answer?

April 19, 2010 by Lisa Seyfried

Last week I had the opportunity to attend two events on adapting to climate change. I was initially excited to attend, as the speakers were excellent and I had done research on adaption to climate change in the past. My research had been on the necessity of adapting to the effects of climate change like building sturdier houses to withstand flooding, or making changes to water storage methods to prepare better for droughts. These events brought up a completely different aspect of adaption to climate change. Rather than discussing how people will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Hunger Tagged With: agribusiness, agriculture, climate, Climate Change, global development, global warming, Human Rights and Social Justice

Shoppers going green despite struggling economy

November 25, 2009 by Sarah Frazer

Cool article from Reuters... Go consumer power! How many of y'all are buying organic, free-range turkey this year? By Basil Katz NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite the worst U.S. recession in decades, sales of organic and sustainable products have continued to grow, experts say, with shoppers willing to spend a few more dollars in a bid to become more green. U.S. supermarket sales of environmentally sustainable or "ethical" products -- from energy-efficient light bulbs to organic produce -- will rise about 8.7 percent in 2009 to nearly $38 billion, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change Tagged With: Barack Obama, Climate Change, financial crisis, global warming, recycling

What's Happening in October: Shifting the Power, State by State

October 23, 2009 by ethanfrey

With 50 days left before the COP-15 international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, we'll need a serious shift in climate (figuratively speaking) for any significant shift in climate (literally speaking) to happen after the close of negotiations on December 18th. Developed and developing nations remain at an impasse over two major points of negotiation--who will incur the brunt of the costs to help developing countries adapt to climate change, and who will take the lead and stop pouring green house gases into the atmosphere. So, what are young people … [Read more...]