GAIA

Global Warming - has its time passed?

Is the mantra of Global Warming or Climate Change (and overuse use of these shorthand labels) waning?   Have scientists and reporters altered their mindsets?

I ask this because of 2 recent articles which avoid the above labels or find more commonplace explanations: namely, cyclical variations in normal climate .

In its Jan. 18, 2016, p. 11, "Your getting warmer" Bad News item, Maclean's magazine notes the temperature at the North Pole in late December was above zero Celsius which is  20* C above normal.  Canadian meteorologists linked this thaw to the excessive stormy weather affecting Britain and the almost spring-like conditions across North America this Christmas.  While the words Climate Change or Global Warming were not used, there is little doubt it was intended when the article's focus was on future repercusions "due to the warming climate's effect", but the loaded labels -- surprisingly -- were avoided.

At the same time,  a major drought across Africa and especially Ethiopia is causing major concern at the UN and immediate  food aid shipments are being arranged to feed 4,000,000 people . Surprisingly, Global Warming is never mentioned, just the "super cycle El Nino" which alone is blamed by USAID administrator Gayle Smith. (G&M, Feb. 1, 2016, A9).

 As anyone who has  read  this  bog recently should remember,  the super wet and torrential storms that whacked Britain and Northern Europe have universally been attributed to the super El Nino, which from its home off Peru affects temperature and rainfall around most of the world: less so in most years but far more forcefully in others --  with past recorded super cycles  in 1982-83 and 1997-98.

Put simply,  the North Pole's recent warming is an El Nino effect and the area will, as always, revert to 'normal' temperatures and thick ice.

And areas in Africa and elsewhere whose once productive soil is currently suffering from prolonged drought, parched earth and food shortages will eventually revert  as did the lands of the Bible.

 inally,  if, as geologists claim, we are are scheduled  to return to another Ice Age lasting centuries and millenia, as it has been over 10,000 years since the end of the last era when ice covered Canada, Nothern USA, Euopre and parts of Asia, lets enjoy civilization and dry land while it lasts.

GAIA

Nature’s Godzilla rises again

Now that the recent international climate change conference is over -- with its 'promises' to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon in the atmosphere so Global Warming temperatures will rise by just 2^o C by 2030 –  the buzz in the media has returned to reality.

El Niño is reality and in 'super cycle' mode this winter.  It will alter the weather throughout the planet and it has nothing to do with greenhouse gases and the Human Ant.  

The Pacific Ocean area off the coast of Peru regularly undergoes substantial water warming around Christmas and this alters the strength and even direction of the planet's major wind patterns.  

 El Niño will cause traumatic changes to the world's weather that are far greater than any Human Ant  greenhouse gas emissions. 

 According the video clip on the CBC 6 p.m. TV newscast on New Years Eve, this year's El Niño will be a "Godzilla" just like the ones in 1997 and 1982.

It has been blamed for the massive flooding in England and Scotland, numerous American tornadoes and. massive rain and flooding in Midwestern USA: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

On the positive side, trees are now -- in late December-early January --  again in bloom in Washington, DC and elsewhere.

But, extended droughts are predicted for already water parched Africa and elsewhere.

As for Canada, the temperature changes this December compared to December averages is as follows (from Globe and Mail, Dec. 23, 2015, A8-9).

ZONE		December 2015 Celsius	December average Celsius	CHANGE Celsius	HOTTER  vs COLDER
East Coast	Halifax	2.4	-0.8	+3.2	HOTTER
	St. John’s NF	-0.3	-1.5	+1.2	HOTTER
Central	Quebec City	0.5	-8.5	+9.0	HOTTER
	Montreal	2.6	-5.8	+8.4	HOTTER
	Ottawa	2.3	-5.6	+7.9	HOTTER
	Toronto	5.5	-0.5	+6.0	HOTTER
Prairies	Winnipeg	-4.9	-13.1	+8.2	HOTTER
	Saskatoon	-6.1	-12.4	+6.3	HOTTER
	Edmonton	-5.6	-8.8	+3.2	HOTTER
	Calgary	-2.7	-6.8	+4.1	HOTTER
West Coast	Vancouver	6.7	3.6	+3.1	HOTTER
Far North	Whitehorse	- 10.5	-12.5	+2.5	HOTTER
	Yellowknife	-14.4	-21.8	+7.4	HOTTER

When most of Canada has a December temperature SPIKE of 3^o C and up to an Everest peak of 8+^o C, you have a major climate transformation in action.

Put simply, Mother Nature or Gaia is in 'heat' mode irrespective of the Human Ant -- whose scientists mistakenly believe rising global temperatures are man-made.  

YOUR MONEY

Sanity starts to Return

Wednesday, December 16, 2015, will go down in history as the official end to almost 8 years that History will describe as a moderate Depression. 

Yes, Depression.  

For almost 8 years US interest rates (and those throughout the Western World)  have been near ZERO to prop up an economy in rigor mortis and only now is the US on a recovery roll.

The  psychological moment and tipping point has arrived and soon all governments and countries will have no option but to follow suit and raise interest rates or have trillions of dollars currently hoarded by corporations, Sovereignty funds and other Wealthy flee to the USA.

It's capitalism 101.

So why am I happy with rising interest rates?

Even if the prime goes to 4 or 5 percent -- which is the historic norm -- it will keep company and union pension plans solvent as they must hold vast sums in cashable accounts to pay out retires; and are currently in the RED.  The same with national pension plans which may run out in the near future at near zero percent interest rates. 

Same with Insurance companies and annuities.

And those who have saved money over the years and been losing money  held in their bank accounts (thanks to monthly fees) or near zero investments will again be rewarded for their frugality and "saving for a rainy day" or retirement. 

Put simply, with over  25% the population now over age 65 and pensionable seniors in Western countries and Japan and China– with long lives still ahead of 20 years or more --  raised interest rates are essential so governments and companies and insurers can continue to supply the necessary ‘safety nets’ that sooner or later we all need.

 Media

 Style, politics and TV
 

Yesterday Canadians voted and contrary to the expectations of the numerous, almost weekly survey polls, it was not a close 3 way race but a Liberal Party landslide!

If Donald Trump had been asked, he would have predicted the great Liberal victory just as he has almost destroyed the Jeb Bush run for the White House with two words: "low energy".

Mr Bush has excellent job experience and is a progressive Republican but wears a suit and tie too often and is usually subdued in his body language and speech: i. e., no waving arms and theatrical jesters,  no bellowing or pounding the table.  Put simply he, like most of the candidates from both U.S. parties, comes across on TV as subdued if not wimpy. 

In a media universe where Iron Man and 007 and gross humour comedies rule the big screen, and the walking dead and vampires and bloody medieval tales rule the small screen, and when violent video games make more money than movies, movie rentals and movie streaming, boredom sets in quickly.  Put simply, politicians who dress conservatively -- tie and suit - and who often resemble wooden statues , have minimal appeal.

In our recent Canadian election, Prime Minister Harper continued to look and speak and physically move in the old school fashion and so too the staid NDP leader, Thomas Mulcair. 

As for the election winner, Justin Trudeau,  only 7 years in politics and just  2 1/2 years as a party leader, he was a breath of dramatic fresh air as one would expect from a teacher of drama.

Trudeau, in media clips and ads, was almost always seen without jacket, often tie-less and with sleeves symbolically rolled up. He always flashed his great and friendly smile, walked in a fast, energetic pace -- when on the street and meeting people, and was constantly moving his arms and speaking with passion.

The Liberal advertising slogan proved true: people wanted "change now", and as The Donald would have predicted, if 2 of the 3 competitors are stiff and dull, the winner will be Mr. Energy.

Hopefully the Liberal promises and plans will work too, because in the end, substance, i.e., government policies, is far more important than the glowing face of an energized leader with good hair -- or one with a bad comb over job.