Global warming? No...Global burning? Yes!

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Europe swelters under devastating heat wave

France marks the hottest day in recorded history.

MARY JO DILONARDO

June 28, 2019, 10:53 a.m.

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Teenagers play volleyball in in a fountain near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Photo: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)

An intense heat wave has settled over Europe, with France setting the highest temperature in recorded history at 45.1 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit.)

French officials declared a "red alert" weather warning, another first, and other countries across Europe stepped up precautions, from closing schools to making sure water is provided to the homeless and anyone in need.

Hitting the 45-degree C mark was historic because it beat a temperature record set in 2003, when a heat wave killed 15,000 people in France. It's the memory of that heat wave that has many governments staying ahead of the crisis and fending off criticism they are being too conservative. 

Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest-ever June temperatures, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, firefighters in Spain are still trying to contain wildfires that have devastated 10,000 acres of Catalonia.

Because these temperatures are so high above the average, they increase the danger for residents, who aren't used to such soaring heat and aren't prepared for it. People have been advised to drink lots of water, stay out of the sun, and avoid strenuous activity when temperatures are hottest from midday through the afternoon.

"When it is 105 (degrees Fahrenheit) in Phoenix or Kuwait, it is not nearly as big of a deal as if it is 105 in Chicago or Paris," said CNN senior meteorologist Brandon Millerearlier this week. "But when summer temperatures are routinely in the 70s, like in northern Europe or the West Coast of the U.S., many places do not have air conditioning. This can turn deadly fast if heat waves strike and last for several days."

Animal keeper Claudia Beck puts sunblock on a South American tapir at the Serengeti-Park animal park in Hodenhagen, Germany, during a heat wave. (Photo: MOHSSEN ASSANIMOGHADDAM/AFP/Getty Images)

Though Europe does experience some heat waves, this one is occurring relatively early in the summer, and it was preceded by an ominous warning from Spanish meteorologist Silvia Laplana that "hell is coming."

Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research told the Associated Press, "monthly heat records all over the globe occur five times as often today as they would in a stable climate."

He added, "This increase in heat extremes is just as predicted by climate science as a consequence of global warming caused by the increasing greenhouse gases from burning coal, oil and gas."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information since it was first published in June 2019.

From MNN: EARTH MATTERS.

These students came up with an ingenious way to keep buildings cool

No electricity. No moving parts.

CHRISTIAN COTRONEO

June 27, 2019, 8:22 a.m.

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The student team took a page from mother nature to develop this sun-thwarting insulation. (Photo: Phalanx)

From Mount Everest's slushy summit to the fading ice fields of Greenland, the dial on the global furnace ticks ever upward.

And so, too, the air-conditioning dial.

Climate may change, but old habits, they die hard. No one wants to sweat out a heat wave. And, indeed, air conditioning can save lives — even as it also takes the long way around to taking lives.

All those AC units chugging away in homes and offices work tirelessly to stave off heat. At the same time, the emissions and particulate matter they dump into the atmosphere makes our lot even worse.

It's a dilemma scientists have been grappling with for decades: How do we keep our living spaces, well, livable, without adding to the planetary problem that is global warming?

And yet, termites seemed to have worked it all out ages ago. The cathedral-like mounds they build — often as tall as eight feet — may function much as giant lungs, cooling and heating the small inner chamber where the insects actually dwell.

Termite mounds like this one in Australia were just one element of inspiration for the student inventors. (Photo: Martin Horsky/Shutterstock)

It's the kind of setup that has weathered all kinds of weather extremities over the millennia. And the kind that's inspiring student engineers to emulate.

Taking a page from the termite construction manual, a team from the Industrial Design program at California State University, Long Beach has developed an insulation that could revolutionize how homes and offices are cooled.

They've dubbed the material, which is still in early testing, Phalanx.

"The idea for Phalanx started out with us discovering that the cooling and heating of buildings contributed the largest amount of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere," team member Albert Gonzalez explained to MNN via email. "Our goal was to find a passive way to cool buildings and limit the use of HVAC units. We began by looking at the eons of research and development done by mother nature."

They came up with a system of panels that could be attached to existing structures, particularly in places where the sun bears down most.

Those insulating sheets comprise three layers, each taking its cue from the natural world. While termite engineering inspires the middle layer, the first looks to the cactus — a plant renowned for its ability to stare down the sun. Wavy, waxy patterns on that layer, much like cactus flesh, dissipate and reflect heat.

The insulation comprises three layers, each inspired by the natural world. (Photo: Phalanx)

The final outer layer channels the sun-coping strategies of camels and even wheat. It gathers cooling dew from the air or draws up gray water from a trough installed beneath.

It all adds up to a passive cooling system that the student engineers maintain can dramatically dial down our reliance on air conditioning.

What's more, it draws no electricity, there are no moving parts, and — unlike other promising new materials like super-strong sun-cloaking wood — it can be attached relatively easily to existing structures.

The system doesn't use electricity and can pull morning dew out of the atmosphere. (Photo: Phalanx)

The first test for Phalanx, however, didn't go quite the way the team had hoped.

They were vying for this month's Ray of Hope Prize — an annual award given to innovations that tackle real-world problems by drawing inspiration from the natural world. That prize was awarded earlier this month to startup company Watchtower Robotics for its use of robots to find and patch leaky city pipes, an innovation that could save an estimated 20 percent of the clean, freshwater that's lost to the world.

Not being among last week's finalists may make the road for Phalanx a little more arduous — winning concepts certainly benefit from having the prestigious prize under their wings — but for this team it's hardly a dead end.

They're looking to raise enough funds to help move Phalanx into a second phase of testing.

"During our alpha testing, we saw very promising results," Gonzalez noted. "There was a 30 degree Fahrenheit difference between our Phalanx setup and our control. Now, we want to apply Phalanx to a small building and test a variety of materials for the first and second layer to see which yields the best results."

As students, they have time on their side to hone their ideas. But their most important ally in developing Phalanx may be an ever-warming planet that's in dire need of fresh ideas, if it's ever going to breathe easy again.

Related on MNN:

Yes, air conditioning is a basic necessity

Related topics: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Research & Innovation

WANTED! A GREAT IMAGINATION.

If We Can Imagine It, We Can Build It

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Jagmeet Singh <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>	Fri, Jun 28, 1:34 PM (2 days ago)
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As we enjoy the summer and celebrate our country's 152^nd birthday, let's remember that we are really lucky to live in a country like Canada – a beautiful land filled with amazing people. We have a lot to be proud of, but we still have a lot of work to do.

 

To me, celebrating Canada means imagining the kind of country we can build together. Imagining a Canada with an economy that works for everyone, where people can access the healthcare services they need when they need them, with a pharmacare program that covers everyone's medication costs. Or imagining a Canada where everyone has a safe place to call home, because we are building new, affordable housing across the country – and a Canada where the environment is protected and people are fighting climate change, while creating new sustainable green jobs so that families and communities can look forward to a secure future.

 

If we can imagine it, we can build it. With compassion for each other, we can work together to create a Canada where no one is left behind, and we can act with courage to protect the planet we call home.

 

I wanted you to know I'm on your side in building that Canada together.  Explore our New Deal for People -- and discoverwhat matters to you.

 

All the best, Jagmeet

 

Building an Affordable Life for You

 

While the richest corporations and individuals keep getting richer, everyday Canadians are finding it harder to make ends meet. Young families no longer dream of owning a home while seniors on a fixed income are struggling to keep a home.

 

But it doesn't have to be that way. New Democrats have a plan to making your life more affordable, to putting more money in your wallet.

 

We have a plan to help Canadians caught in the housing crisis – we'll build 500,000 quality, affordable housing units, kick-start the construction of co-ops and non-profit housing, remove the GST/HST on the construction of new affordable rental units, and help low-income renters.

 

Our pharmacare plan will make sure every Canadian gets the medication they need – saving families $500 a year or more whether they have insurance or not.

 

What's more, we'll cap the cost of cell phone plans and high-speed internet at the global average and make sure the big telecoms expand connectivity for rural communities.

 

Affordability also means making sure the next generation starts out on the right foot. This means parents having access to affordable, quality child care when they need it. And, our children having access to a good education, from kindergarten to career, without the barrier of cost. We'll make this happen by capping and reducing tuition fees, increasing access to post-secondary education and apprenticeship programs, and creating a roadmap for post-secondary education to be part of our public education system.

 

Building an Action Plan for the Climate Crisis

 

Canadians across the country are seeing first-hand the impact of climate change in their communities. We know it's time for leadership on the climate crisis – a plan for climate action and good jobs.

 

New Democrats have a plan that will give all Canadians the opportunity to play a part in moving Canada to a sustainable economy. We'll create at least 300,000 new jobs and keep workers and their families from falling behind. We'll build the clean energy future with bold ideas like retrofitting all housing stock, free public transit, investing in electric buses and high-speed rail, bringing back critical rural and northern transit routes, and ending subsidies to big polluters. Our climate action plan will help the environment and save you money!

 

We also know true reconciliation means working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis as full and equal partners in the climate crisis fight.

 

You can see more details on our climate commitments here: "Power to Change: a New Deal for Climate Action and Good Jobs”.

 

Building a Better Life for Seniors

 

Canadians deserve to retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. That's why New Democrats have a plan to protect your retirement savings. We want to make sure employee pensions are at the front of the line if a company goes bankrupt. What's more, we're proposing a mandatory, industry-funded pension insurance program to protect and guarantee your pension. And, we'll enhance OAS, boost the GIS, and strengthen the CPP.

 

We want Canadian seniors to have access to quality services.  An NDP government will implement a National Seniors Strategy and work with the provinces on improving seniors' health care, tackling poverty, reducing isolation, and ending elder abuse and neglect.

 

Building a Canada that Cares for Everyone

 

Decades of Conservative cuts and Liberal inaction have undermined the public services we all count on. New Democrats want to build a future where we take better care of one another.

 

We'll do it by completing Tommy Douglas' dream of having head-to-toe health coverage. An NDP government will expand health care to include drug coverage, dental care, eye care, and mental health care.

 

We'll tackle poverty by building more affordable housing, launching a national school nutrition program and a national basic income pilot project. And, we'll extend EI sickness benefits to 50 weeks for Canadians facing a serious illness.

 

We also think it's time to unlock the potential of all Canadians. That's why we'll work to remove barriers faced by persons living with disabilities. What's more, our plan includes a national Autism strategy.

 

And, for those who've put on a uniform to defend our country, we'll step-up and do right by our veterans. We'll ensure benefits are in place before a veteran leaves the service, and enough caseworkers are available to get results for veterans and their families when problems arise. What's more, we'll launch a national strategy to end homelessness for veterans for good.

 

Building a Stronger Democracy

 

Canadians want their vote to count! But Prime Minister Trudeau disappointed millions of Canadians when he broke his promise to end first-past-the-post voting.  

 

A New Democrat government will make sure every vote counts!  We'll bring in a mixed member proportional representation (MMP) – and we'll do it in our first mandate. We'll set-up an independent citizens' assembly to recommend the best way to put the new system in place for the next election and, after two election cycles, prepare a referendum on it.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.

1. PROBLEM. Too much plastic pollution.
   SOLUTION. From recled plastic and with the use of large modeling printers I suggest creating strong and durable but inexpensive inter-connecting plastic planks and large Lego style blocks of plastic, preferably insulated. The operating word is inexpensive. Home owners can then easily assemble with the use of plans or create with their own imaginations back-yard Gazebos and tool sheds and large indestructible play houses for children without threatening our natural forests. The plastic planks and blocks can be dissassembled for different projects and when they have reached thier useful limit, returned to the plastic producer for remelting and remolding. Plastic should never again be a problem for life on Earth.

2. Problem: Too many cheap and almost useless products are mass marketed and aimed at under-priveleged people by business and psychology trained marketing experts.
   Solution...rethink the school systems and teach children: Botany, Biology, Social Science and sports. Create millions of Doctors and Nurses and Technicians and leave business psychology out of the curriculum until the final years of University. Use Finland as a model for teaching children. Another solution is to strengthen product guarantee laws. Extending the life of a product will slow it's run to the recycle or garbage bins.

Who, Not How

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Peter Diamandis <peter@diamandis.com> Unsubscribe	Jun 16, 2019, 3:13 PM (3 days ago)
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When most entrepreneurs (including me) face a challenge, our first reaction is to ask: “how do I solve this problem.” My coach, Dan Sullivan (CEO of Strategic Coach), taught me a powerful management shortcut for success. Don’t ask “how.” Instead, ask “who.” This blog explores that concept. It’s a summary from the podcast I do with Dan Sullivan called Exponential Wisdom. Start to Ask WHO, not HOW… How much value are you leaving on the table because you don’t have a WHO or because you are caught in the minutia of implementing a project? As entrepreneurs, each of us has a constant stream of ideas and new projects that might add massive value -- if they ever get implemented. Now, the idea is that as soon as I come up with an idea, my sole responsibility is to ask, “Who am I going to tag in to implement this project?” It has been an absolute game-changer. Ultimately, asking WHO, not HOW, has transformed my ability to multiplex across my constantly increasing number of business ventures and projects. Now if an idea comes to me during a moment of overload, I can still move it forward. I’ll spend 30 minutes creating an Impact Filter (a Strategic Coach client tool) explaining why the project is important, defining measurable criteria for success, and then hand that document to the right “who” in my ecosystem. Simple enough, right? So why are we programmed to dive right into the HOW without thinking to ask WHO? The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma… As Dan Sullivan explained, “Our education system plays a major role in why we ask HOW and not WHO from the get-go. With the exception of a few exceptional schools, the education system is designed to prepare people for a life of ‘HOW.’ Kids in traditional classrooms around the world are graded on HOW they solve particular problems on their own. When you leave school, you need to collaborate and delegate to thrive. But in school, they don’t call it collaborating and delegating -- they call it cheating.” The education system engrains asking HOW and discourages asking WHO. If you want to create a massive impact, you need to overcome old habits and begin to view human capital as an abundant resource. From there, curate a strong and passionate team to support you and act as your WHOs. By delegating the HOW to my WHOs, my productivity and my overall passion go through the roof because I can remove myself from the mental weight and obligation of unfinished projects, allowing me to focus on what I truly love to do. A final note for this section: you can even ask WHO when you build your team -- go ahead and find yourself a WHO that finds WHOs! Digitizing and Delocalizing WHOs Over the past two decades, we’ve seen various forms of software emerge as the WHOs that figure out HOW. I can verbally ask my phone (through Siri) ‘what is the GDP of Guatemala’, and Google serves as the WHO that executes the research task. Before the advent of search engines, you’d have had to go to the library and do the research to find the right book, or you would have had to instruct an employee to travel and do that research for you. Platforms and services like Amazon, Google and Baidu are all WHOs that entrepreneurs can tap to carry out the HOW. In a similar vein, in a world soon to be electrified with gigabit connection speeds, entrepreneurs anywhere in the world can find their WHOs anywhere else in the world. Eventually, our ultimate WHO will be an artificial intelligence software shell (think: Jarvis) that’s always on, always listening, always watching… always there to help and be the WHO for your every HOW. Closing Thoughts Finding your WHOs will make your HOWs happen faster and cheaper than ever before. At the end of the day, while it’s really important for you as a leader to be smart, driven, ethical and visionary, the only way for you to scale your impact is to build an incredible team of WHOs behind you. Right now is the greatest time in human history to find your WHOs. What are you waiting for?

Dear Mike Hudema:

1. The Canadian government sends me a small basic survival pension once a month. 

2. The government makes money for pensions and social security by extracting bitumen from Tar sand and refining the Bitumen into Oil.

3. After the refining process, our government ships the oil to buyers around the world and the profits go to Tar Sands investors. The trans-mountain pipe line will speed up the distribution process and that will satisfy the large international companies who dominate the world economy and who invested in developing the Tar Sands.

4. Destroying the planet with Oil pollution is not a factor in the way these people operate. All they care about is power and making money.

5. Canada is one of the largest polluters on the planet.

6. We have to develop an agricultural and ecological as well as a biological economic system directly opposing the present Oil based economy, and we have to do it with a government willing to change our Canadian school system so that our children learn to protect and to survive with Bio-diversity. Where helping each other takes priority before helping yourself.  

7. P.S. I remain yours truly, broke!

8. P.P.S. I recommend giving the New Democratic Party a chance to control the Canadian federal government. The Liberals and the Conservatives are both Oil and money oriented. Maybe the N.D.P. will do better?

Nelson Joseph Raglione. 

 human4usbillions@gmail.com