I was in SoCal last week and saw for myself what it looks like in the Santa Monica Mountains of the Southern Coastal Range. In 30 years of research in the Coastal Mountains studying the relationship between people, plants, and fire management strategies I have never seen it this dry--even mid-summer. 2012 was officially the driest on record for California, which has a 119 year record. The litter load is dropping to the ground, which may be good in the long run if they can last without any idiot dropping a cigarette butt in the next several months, yeah right. Furthermore, 30 years ago there were Smokey the Ranger signs everywhere warning about the fire risk. I drove around the Santa Monicas for two days and didn't once see a sign--funding cuts?
You know those crazy right wingers than want to bring the end of the world by deregulating industry and pushing war with Muslims and all their other destructive ideas? Well sometimes I wonder if they will win against all good reason. Burning Hollywood and Malibu with all their liberals might be something the wingnuts would consider as another step in the right direction. Surely Westboro Baptist Church will throw a party.
Are we not enabling the apocalyptos by our unwillingness to be more assertive in demanding sustainable energy, economic and environmental policies? What gets me is that we Americans now have the technology and the know how, just not the will. And the band played on.
Regarding the League of Conservation's FB photo:
https://www.facebook.com/LCVoters/photos/a.10150212534859735.318967.16477459734/10152017315469735/?type=1
No comments:
Post a Comment