December 20th, 2007
Global Warming Threatens Polar Bears
Global warming impacts all of us. Carbon pollution
traps heat, melting ice and threatening many species
with extinction because they cannot reproduce.
2004 Washington Post article: Study Says Polar Bears Could Face Extinction
2007 Science Daily article: Polar Bear Population Predicted To Dwindle WIth Retreating Ice
December 20th, 2007 at 7:40 am
My dad doesn’t believe global warming is real. Yes, my dad is a conservative =P
December 20th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Very important issue! Great post!
December 20th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Hey, that’s pretty funny Sera!
I once worked above the Arctic Circle and had to travel to Baffin Island by icebreaker during the time of no darkness. I stood alone on the prow of the ship at 3:00 am one morning, slightly stoned to be honest. The sun was low on the horizon (but not setting for weeks). In the surreal light we approached a tall blue iceberg and there sitting on it, looking my way, was a polar bear.
He or she wasn’t wearing an ice cap, but it was clear who was meant to be there and who was just visiting.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Heh. Ice caps.
Reminds me of the joke about the polar bear that goes into a bar and says:
“I’d like a rum and …
…
Coke, please.”
Bartenter says, “Sure, but why the big pause?”
Polar bear says, “I dunno. I’ve always had them.”
December 20th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
This is indeed a serious issue we all need to try to fix!
December 21st, 2007 at 5:54 am
2 years ago we were on vacation in Switzerland and visited a glacier. They had marked the retreat of the glacier since 1900. The glacier had retreated over a distance of miles, and the annual retreat intervals had become longer last years.
My father found that we could swim in cold water as long as if we would wear “warm swim shorts” made of polar bear fur. Big problem: how can we swim in cold water if there are no polar bears anymore!
December 21st, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Dont forget about the penguins….
December 21st, 2007 at 7:45 pm
We watched the Richard Attenborough - Life on Earth series this past autumn. It made me want to cry at the extraordinary beauty of this world. All we can do is what we can to help keep it that way.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 pm
very nice post abot dat great issue…..
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:22 am
All these issues make me wonder how longer humanity will make it in this planet..So awful and terrifying.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 am
Callie. Knit a cap for your favorite penguin.
Erik. I’m surprised the bears lent you their shorts. I imagined them being shy.
Gary. Being on an icebreaker at night sounds romantic.
GW. A horse walks into a bar. The bartender asked: “Why the long face?”
October. Warming/Cooling is cyclical, but we seem to be gaining uncommon momentum that may do catastrophic damage to the world as we know it. Being a conservative might not necessarily save him.
Romeika. Yes, these are real challenges for humankind. The will and the money to fix the problem isn’t universal yet.
Susan. We are blessed to live on this beautiful planet.
Carolina. Kalai. Stunner. Yes. Thank you! Hugs.
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Sera, believe it or not, I used to be an environmental scientist. When I was earning my degree, global warming was the #1 issue facing the health of this planet, and obviously it still is. Unfortunately, it’s taken a very long time before the general public has caught on to this idea, and honestly, I am not sure if we have the ability to “fix” things before it’s too late…for us, and for many other species.
My dad likes to say that this planet will live on. He’s right, it will. However, the death of our own species as well as countless others should not be by our hands. We do not have the right to do so, and I fully believe this.
And yes, you’re right, the earth has been cyclically heating and cooling since it was formed, unfortunately, the temperature still rises, and has risen most rapidly in the past 100 years than it ever has. And, it’s solely due to us.
I realize I’m preaching to the choir. You know this =)
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Mh.. I don’t know what to thinka bout global warming myself.. My father’s kinda the same way as he doesn’t think it’ll do a thing to us. He brought up an interesting point a while back, talking about the flooding that people think will occur.. Ever remember watchign Mister Wizard (Ooooold show, hehe.)? One of his little things was filling a glass of water up, putting ice in it ’till the ice is far above the waterline, the water almost overflowing.. and leaving it there until the ice melted.. No water ever spilled out of it.. Ice has more volume per weight then water, so when it melts, it doesn’t overflow the water. I don’t really know if that has any relevance to the world, but it does make sense.. :: Shrugs a bit, and smiles.::
Anyways.. more on topic with the comic.. wouldn’t ice caps be cold for the bear?