Newton Kansan
During the past few months, several pieces of information have serendipitously come to my attention:
• An article mapping the shrinking of the North Polar icecap from 1979 to 2007 in National Geographic’s April issue. The 2007 icecap was barely half the size of the 1979 icecap. • Discover’s July issue describing ocean acidification from absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide as well advanced. The implications are enormous since the organisms most affected are at the base level of ocean food chains. • James Hensen’s June testimony before Congress on the state of global warming. We have squandered the opportunity of the past 20 years to gracefully change our ways, and now, in his judgment, we have at most five years in which to make drastic carbon dioxide (C02) reductions. As near as leading climate experts and Hensen can judge, the C02 tipping point is 350 parts per million (ppm). We now are at 385 ppm and on the way up, not down. • Some scientists predict the North Polar icecap will be “ice-free” this summer. When I was a kid, nobody even imagined such an event might occur. A North Pole covered in a thick layer of ice year-round was a planetary given. From a global perspective, Kansas Heath and Environment Secretary Bremby and Gov. Sebelius are clearly the realists and heroes, while the coal-fire power advocates are living with the expectation, delusion, the future will be a duplicate of the past. We need to drastically reduce our carbon footprint. High speed light rail may be one answer to our transportation needs. Imagine a Kansas-wide commitment to connect all towns and cities of 5,000 or more with high speed light rail, commuter trains leaving and arriving every 20 or 30 minutes in the morning and evening, connecting Newton with Wichita, and a train link to Denver without having to go via Chicago. As I talk with those working on the downtown planning process, I’m encouraged. They, too, realize the asset our rail connection is and its future potential. In this season of elections, I’m looking for candidates at all levels of government who see a bigger picture, who advocate the long-term interests of all of us and our planet, who sense the urgency of our situation. — Jim Jantzen, Newton
