The elephant in the US elections

Hurricane Sandy and the Climate ConnectionThere seems to have been a “gentlemen’s agreement” that the issue of climate change be avoided in the US Presidential debates. The elephant in the room had become a non-issue. And then along came the super-storm Sandy.

This video from Climatesilence.org shows how Sandy has made Romney’s disparaging comments about the climate issue look silly.

Romney vs. Sandy

And it seems that while the candidates have kept mum on the issue the voters are raising it themselves. This video shows Romney and his supporters really do want to silence the people’s concern on this issue.

Mitt Romney vs. Climate Protester – YouTube.

However, the storm seems to have done something the politicians couldn’t do – make discussion of climate change acceptable. As the storm approached landfall news of it became more important than election news. Now, after the storm, there is a growing public awareness that these extreme events may actually already be occurring more often because of climate change. As the International Business Times wrote Sandy Pushes Climate Change To Forefront At Election Finish Line.

Of course, the climate change deniers are working hard to dig up historical example of extreme storms. They think these “prove” that climate change cannot be behind Sandy. But they are attempting to hide the real issue which is not about specific or direct causes – but about the frequency of extreme weather events. Those once a century disasters now seem to have become once a decade.

It seems that while climate scientists can’t prove direct links between climate change and Sandy a number of the factors which came together were amplified by climate change. Factors like the sea level rise, effects of melting ice in the Arctic and the increase in sea surface temperatures.

Have a look at the following articles for more information:
Hurricane Sandy and the Climate Connection
It’s Global Warming, Stupid
Bloomberg Businessweek: ‘It’s Global Warming, Stupid’
Weather or Climate: What Caused Hurricane Sandy?
Scientists: Global warming didn’t brew superstorm, but it might have heated up key ingredients
The Science behind Superstorm Sandy’s Crippling Storm Surge
US Media Covering Hurricane Sandy Mostly Ignore Whether Climate Change Fueled Storm’s Fury
Climate change, or crap shoot? Experts weigh Sandy’s causes
Scientists believe climate change may have given Sandy more punch
3 Ways Climate Change Made Hurricane Sandy Worse

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