A Hot Topic                                                #215   

By Hank Silverberg

War is raging in Europe, the pandemic is still hanging over our heads as more variants show up, and hostile confrontational politics continue to dominate the headlines. But the biggest threat to mankind may once again have provided strong evidence of impending worldwide disaster, and it is pretty much being ignored. 

The coldest place on Earth, Vostok on the ice shelf in eastern Antarctica, is 50 to 90 degrees above normal right now, warmer than it's ever been before. The sudden rise has scientists who study such things a bit flabbergasted. 

It's not exactly balmy, but a heat wave has raised temperatures in Vostok sheet UP to zero. This time of year, it usually averages about -63 degrees Fahrenheit.  Zero is the warmest it's ever been there in Vostok which is about 808 miles from the South Pole. 

  University of Wisconsin scientists told MSN it is even more noteworthy because Antarctica at this time of year only has 25 minutes of sunlight each day.  

What's the big deal? 

(Satellite image of Antartica temps)

The abnormally high temperatures have caused some ice melt in an area where that usually doesn't happen. This by itself doesn't forecast climate change, but the scientists say it does help create more conditions that could lead to climate change. 

Of note, the western part of Antartica has produced solid evidence of climate change where warmer ocean temperatures have destabilized a glacier the size of Florida. That has contributed about four percent of the annual global sea level rise.  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/it-e2-80-99s-70-degrees-warmer-than-normal-in-eastern-antarctica-scientists-are-flabbergasted/ar-AAVfk4m?ocid=uxbndlbing

Over time, even a few feet of rising sea levels could present disasters for coastal cities around the world.  

Hate Groups

Since the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol we have heard a lot about a number of hate groups who had representatives participating in that riot. We hear almost daily about hate crimes across the country. Many of these are prompted by the built-in prejudice of an individual who in his own mind feels some minority group has somehow taken something from him. A number of them are hyped up by fake news, hate speech or propaganda they can find on-line. It is often spread by fringe hate groups, which have always been around, but now find support and encouragement on-line from those of like minds and the general right-wing turn in American politics since 2015.  

How many of those groups are there? The Southern Poverty Law Center says there are 733 active hate groups across the United States, and 98 of them call themselves white nationalists. Contrary to the belief of some people, they are not concentrated in the south or mid-west.   https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map   California has the most, with 65 hate groups. 

The U.S. Justice Department says 55.1% of those convicted for hate crimes were White, 21.2% were Black, and another 15% where the race of the offender was unknown.

Sixty-one percent of the victims were targeted because of their race, ethnicity or ancestry, 20 % because of sexual orientation, and 13.3% because of their religion. (The DOJ figures are all from 2020.)  

Anti-Jewish attacks were the most common form of anti-religious group hate crimes in the US. in 2021, anti-Islamic hate crime was a distant second. 

Why do I bring all this up? 

 The proliferation of right- wing media and the increase in right-wing politics by the GOP has combined with the unrestricted worldwide chatter on the internet to create a perfect storm. 

Hate has to be taught. You are not born with it. Be careful what you read and what you spread. And confront those who promulgate this type of hate. It's not easy, and it doesn't make you popular with friends, family or acquaintances. But it's worth it. 

Dejoy No Joy Again!

There was some celebration last week when the US. Senate overwhelmingly approved about $50 billion to revive the financially struggling United States Postal Service. It was a rare display of bipartisanship. It means mail may arrive at your front door or office on time for a change and will continue to come six days a week. 

The Postal Service had net losses of $90 billion since 2007, and the current Trump-appointed Postmaster General, Louis Dejoy, had been making all kinds of cuts that kept slowing down the mail and depressing most postal workers.  

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-approves-50-billion-postal-service-relief-bill-2022-03-08/

That's the good news. But Dejoy is still making more moves that are raising eyebrows and frustrating those trying to save the mail. 

Last month, DeJoy approved the purchase of 148,000 desperately needed new delivery trucks for the Postal Service. Oshkosh Defense will build them. But only 10% of them would be electric. The others will be gasoline fueled and will get about 8 miles to the gallon. 

To make matters worse, the thousand jobs created by the $11.3 billion government contract would not go to the skilled union workers at the plant in Wisconsin, but instead to non-union labor in South Carolina. 

There's a bill in Congress which could change this. Virgnia Congressman Gerry Connolly is pushing legislation that would require at least 75% of the trucks to be electric. (The bill has 68 co-sponsors.)

Dumbest Quote of The Week!  

There were a lot of dumb quotes to choose from this week. This one caught my eye because of who said it. Hershel Walker won the Heisman Trophy for the University of Georgia back in 1982. He's now running for the U.S. Senate from Georgia, using his football fame as a catalyst. 

(Georgia)

At a campaign appearance this past week, while speaking to a pastor at a local church, Walker for some reason brought up the Theory of Evolution. 

There was some kind of conversation on science and religion. But there was no question asked about evolution specifically. Here is what Walker said:

"At one time science said man came from apes, did it not? ... If that is true, why are there still apes? Think about that."  

I don't know what kind of science department they have at the University, but if you are going to try to criticize a scientific theory you should really have some basic understanding of what it is. Or maybe Walker just got hit in the head too many times while he was playing football.

I note that Mr. Walker, who has had no political experience in the past, is the front runner to get the Republican nomination for Senate in Georgia. I wonder if he is getting advice from Georgia Congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene? 

(Your comments and suggestions are welcome)

(My book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:

HankSilverberg@gmail.com  for instructions on  how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature. )                       

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796