This week, Typhoon Pablo enters the Philippine area of responsibility and there is a good chance that its effects can be devastating.
Weather forecasters have warned that Pablo could develop into a superstorm, and cause widespread death and destruction. For all our sakes, we pray that the typhoon weakens rather than strengthens in the coming days.
About a month ago, in the run up to the US presidential elections, the New York/New Jersey area was struck by the worst hurricane in a hundred years. That, too, was considered a superstorm.
We have to wonder why there remain those who deny or reject the notion that the ever worsening weather is caused by climate change. At this late stage, only a fool would deny that global warming has resulted in Nature gone amok, battering country after country with superstorms, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.
This week, with UN climate talks ongoing in Doha, some countries still turn their backs on the latest warnings that increasing levels of greenhouse gases are threatening the very survival of Mother Earth.
Nations still cannot agree to extend the Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions of deadly gases, specifically carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels.
Typhoon Pablo is yet another reminder – as if one was still needed – that unless all countries do their part to drastically cut down emissions, that ridiculous “the world will end on Dec. 21” scenario may yet become reality. The date may be wrong, but the eventuality will not be.
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