Southern California Fires 2nd US Climate Change Disaster

Submitted by Leila Conners on October 24, 2007 - 9:06pm




The above satellite shot is of the smoke plumes originating from the tragic and massive fires that have blown through Southern California. These megafirestorms are unprecedented but not unpredicted. Climate models have long predicted massive brush fires in Southern California due to lack of rain and a very low humidity point over long periods of time. Trees are weakened, plant cover is dry, and when the seasonal Santa Ana winds blow, our whole region becomes a tinder box. (we had 3% humidity today!) Firefighters and firechiefs have said that the megafirestorms that they have to fight are just too big given the speed of winds (up to 100 mph!) and they fight bravely but are really helped only when the hurricane force winds subside.

There have been a few news stations who have had the wisdom of framing these fires within the climate change topic and that is good so that people can understand why these tragedies are happening. We had over one million people displaced which brought back memories of Hurricane Katrina as people went to live in a sports stadium. (Thankfully the experience there so far has not been like what happened in the SuperDome.) Meanwhile, out in the hills, hundreds of houses have been burned to the ground. We have a friend, who has lost everything and our office is gathering clothes and other items to give to our friends who are in need. We are also considering helping house people who are now homeless and have nowhere to go.

As we react and respond, we have to all recognize that this firestorm event and the million displaced people is the 2nd major climate change disaster in United States territory; the first one being Hurrican Katrina. It is even hard for me to really take that in and realize that we are all living the real consequences of climate change right here at home. As we all breath the toxic and dangerous air, I wonder how this region will do as we continue to experience drought and record temperatures. Climate Change is looking pretty tough already in my home town.

Thanks so much for the date

Submitted by Shynney on October 30, 2007 - 7:57am.
Thanks so much for the date for the DVD.  Hopefully when it is available on DVD a lot more people will see the film.  Hope it will be shown in schools too.  Finally, after a court battle, An Inconvenient Truth will be shown in some UK schools but think the upbeat ending of 11th Hour would be even more suitable for schools as well as covering the problems faced.  

thank you

Submitted by Leila Conners on October 29, 2007 - 9:13pm.
thank you for seeing the film. to have the film back in your community you can ask to have it screen and we can help you with that. The DVD comes out in April of 2008 so until then, we are working on getting the film back in some theaters and it is playing in different communities around the country. It's also playing internationally. thanks for your support!

fire

Submitted by Rhana on October 28, 2007 - 9:03am.

We are talking about the 11th Hour in all of our circles.  Truly the only coversation worth having today is on the topics of resources, toxic waste in land, water, and air, and what each of us can do and what we can and must do together.  Everything else is a distraction.   The violent fires we experienced this week have opened a gate for increasing awareness. We need to have the film available on DVD ASAP or back in theatres.  


Thank you, thank you.

 

thank you

Submitted by Leila Conners on October 25, 2007 - 12:36pm.
Thank you all for sharing your concerns. I'll let them know about the house. And the idea that Wales was burning due to being dry is very depressing! Today i have a terrible headache as the air quality is so bad. Being from LA, I am hypersenstive to bad air and this has really gotten to me. I have to still stay indoors!

Like the fires in Greece

Submitted by Shynney on October 25, 2007 - 7:35am.
Like the fires in Greece this summer these events seem to be increasing.  A friend who was in Greece at the time said she thought the fires there were mainly caused by the extreme heat and the winds.  Vast areas were affected there too.  We even had fires on our hills here in Wales last April after just a few weeks of dry weather,something people around here could not remember happening before.  The earth would appear to be drying out very quickly in any dry spell and the consequences of climate change are with us already I think.


Do sympathize with everyone caught up in the fires in California, it must be frightening. 

Helping People That Have Lost There Home

Submitted by Greenday on October 25, 2007 - 6:25am.
Hello
We are so sad people have lost their homes.  We have a vacation rental that we can volunteer from November 1-20 if you have someone that should need housing.  Please let us know if your friend's need help.  We will volunteer our place in Dana Point, which is only about 55 minutes south of Los Angeles.