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Looking around, it’s easy to see our world is changing. From crashing economies and quavering political paradigms to ever quickening technological development and its effect on our lives, we are undeniably living in those proverbially interesting times; but nowhere is the pace of change more relevant, and frightening, than in the natural world.
The artificial debate over Climate Change is passed, with all but the most intransigent agreed on the basic tenets: anthropomorphically driven rises in carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere means the Earth we’ve known for as long as Homo Sapiens has been sapient is disappearing fast.
Now the big question is: can we undo what we’ve begun?
One climate change canary is the Arctic, where temperature and chemical accumulation is transforming the region right before our eyes. Paul Beckwith is a part/time professor with the University of Ottawa’s Department of Geography. There, between climatology/meteorology classes, Paul’s doing research for his PhD dissertation on abrupt climate change. That degree will accompany his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Engineering Physics and Masters in Laser Physics. Beckwith says his is a study in “big-picture systems” and the many, nonlinear feedbacks, tipping elements, and complex feedback interactions. Paul Beckwith is also an active blogger, whose article ‘The Great Arctic Flush’ has garnered attention beyond the halls of academe, and some controversy too.
Paul Beckwith in the first half.
And; last month, the Calgary Herald’s resident choleric columnist, Naomi Lakritz penned a powerful condemnation-filled polemic aimed at the heart of Canada’s (ahem) Native problem. In her piece, headlined ‘Colonialism didn’t cause Phoenix Sinclair’s death’ in the Herald and ‘First Nations need to quit blaming the past’ in Vancouver’s Canada.com sister rag The Province, the former tabloidista boiled down lawyer Jay Funke’s summation to an inquiry into the violent death of the child Phoenix Sinclair that said: “First Nation leaders believe that the tragedy suffered by Phoenix was, in large part, the result of centuries of colonial-based policies and practices which have been forced upon the First Nations people of Canada.” to this pithy aphorism: “If First Nations leaders want to start somewhere, a good place would be with the concept of individual responsibility.”
Canadian writer, researcher, activist, and broadcaster, Andrew Gavin Marshall responded in kind to Lakritz with ‘A Brief Message for Canadians: Get Over It!’ Andrew is also Project Manager for the People’s Book Project, chair of the Geopolitics Division of the Hampton Institute, and as well as serving as research director for Occupy.com’s Global Power Project, hosts a weekly podcast show from BoilingFrogsPost.
Andrew Gavin Marshall getting over and getting on with It in the second half.
And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us news from our city’s streets and beyond. But first, Paul Beckwith and Arctic storms.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
