Everything is on fire and no one cares

[niyad]

Everything is on fire and no one cares
By Mark Morford on August 24, 2015 10:19 AM



2015 is fast on track to have more firefighters, more money spent, more resources dedicated to fighting wildfires than any time in modern history











. . . . .

This year, there were wildfires. Not the typical wildfires, mind you. Not the normal smattering of (relatively) easily controlled seasonal blazes that nature herself always ignites to help purge and clear; I mean all the massive, drought-amplified, state-engulfing wildfires you’ve been hearing about all season long – nearly all of them larger, earlier and more frequent than any time in modern history, ranging from a few thousand acres to the largest in the country, the Soda fire, currently engulfing upwards of 265,000 acres in southern Idaho, which joins with all the other Pacific Northwest fires burning throughout Washington, Oregon and Montana. And here you thought just California was ablaze.

Do you know about Alaska? Nearly five million acres have burned throughout that unusually hot, dry state this year, which is a record, which is something like the size of Connecticut (combined), which is more staggering than your heart can process. Go ahead, try it. And then add in Canada’s staggering wildfires, and you hit upwards of 11 million scorched acres – that’s 17,000 square miles, and still going strong. That’s terrifying.

The scariest part? Fire season, historically speaking, doesn’t even begin until September. Did you know 2015 is already officially the hottest year ever recorded on Earth? Did you know Alaska recorded its hottest month ever, in 91 years of record keeping, in May? Or that Washington’s biggest fire could keep burning until it snows? The worst – as nearly every scientist, climatologist, environmentalist in the world is all too sick of saying these days – is yet to come.


How dire do you want it? What’s it going to take? As Eric Holthaus over at Slate recently put it WRT the huge and immediate changes needed right now from the UN and various self-serving, combative, greedy world leaders to combat this downward spiral: Where is everyone? (Here’s your must-read of the month: The New Yorker profile of the amazing Christiana Figueres, head of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change – the U.N.F.C.C.C. – and just what she’s up against in trying to rally member nations to make real changes, right now).

. . . . .
http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2015/08/24/everything-is-on-fire-and-no-one-cares/

[seveneyes]

1. I see the problem ...

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

57. more like

[unblock]

81. i was thinking harry chapin's "what made america famous"

It was the town that made America famous
The churches full and the kids all gone to hell
Six traffic lights and seven cops and all the streets kept clean
The supermarket and the drug store and the bars all doing well

Now they were the folks that made America famous
Our local fire department stocked with short haired volunteers
And on Saturday night while America boozes the fire
Department showed dirty movies, the lawyer and the grocer
Seeing their dreams come to life on the movie screens
While the plumber hopes that he won't be seen
As he tries to hide his fears and he wipes away his tears

But somethings burning somewhere
Does anybody care?

We were the kids that made America famous
The kind of kids that long since drove our parents to despair
We were lazy long hairs dropping our, lost confused, and copping out
Convinced our futures were in doubt and trying not to care

We lived in the house that made America famous
It was a rundown slum, the shame of all the decent
Folks in town, we hippies and some welfare cases
Crowded families of coal black faces, cramped inside
Some cracked old boards, the best that we all could afford
But still to nice for the rich landlord to tear it down

And we could hear the sound of something burning somewhere
Is anybody there?

We all lived the life that made America famous
Our cops would make a point to shadow us around our town
And we love children put a Swastika on the bright red firehouse door
America, the beautiful, it makes a body proud

And then came the night that made America famous
Was it carelessness or someone's sick idea of a joke
In the tinder box trap that we hippies lived in
Someone struck a spark at first I thought that I was dreaming
Then I saw the first flames gleaming and heard
The sound of children screaming coming through the smoke

And somethings burning somewhere
Does anybody care?

Oh it was the fire that made America famous, the sirens wailed
And the firemen stumbled sleepy from their homes and the
Plumber yelled, Come on let's go, but they saw what was burning
And said, Take it slow, let 'em sweat a little, they'll never know
And besides, we just cleaned the chrome, said the plumber
Then I'm going alone

Well he rolled on up in the fire truck and raised the
Ladder to the ledge where me and my girl and a couple of kids
Were clinging like bats to the edge, we staggered to salvation
Collapsed on the street and I never thought that a fat man's face
Would ever look so sweet

I shook his hand in the scene that made America famous
And a smile from the heart that made America great
We spent the rest of that night in the home of a man
I'd never known before it's funny when you get that close
It's kind of hard to hate

I went to sleep with the hope that made America famous
I had the kind of a dream that maybe they're still
Trying to teach in school of the America that made America famous
And of the people who just might understand that how together

Yes we can create a country better than the one
We have made of this land, we have a choice to make
Each man who dares to dream reaching out his hand
A prophet or just a crazy god damn dreamer of a fool
Yes a crazy fool

And something burning somewhere
Does anybody care? Is anybody there?
Is anybody there?

[hunter]

2. It reminds me of Donald Trump's hair...

.


.


.








The 21st century certainly isn't what I was expecting.

[Hydra]

3. I care, and it scares me

We don't want to put the resources toward something like this- Wall St. is still busy stealing every penny they can lay their hands on.

The whole world may end up burning or flooding before we see the end of this...and the people at the top are STILL fighting to keep status quo in place.

As Nero fiddles indeed...

[staggerleem]

58. I guess, even if we all die at the same time, ...

... the one who does so with the most toys STILL wins!

[bvar22]

70. NO, He loses.

He can sit surrounded by his toys on the Last Day.

I will be surrounded by family and loved ones.

[Arugula Latte]

4. I think a lot of people care.

It's just that they feel helpless.

[PasadenaTrudy]

6. +1 n/t

[daleanime]

8. +1

[Starry Messenger]

19. +1

This is one of those disasters that is so huge, I don't really know what to do with my feelings. The smoke reached all the way down here in the Bay Area. I know it is bad.

[niyad]

43. according to a map, the smoke has reached the gulf of mexico. it has certainly been`

wreaking havoc in colorado this last week, as in so many other places.

it is hard to wrap one's mind around millions and millions and millions of acres on fire.

[JDPriestly]

72. I understand it has been terrible in Portland, Oregon.

We need a moratorium on the use of fossil fuels in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Texas just to start. Maybe Nevada and parts of Utah should be included.

We could phase in this total moratorium over a period of 15 years. That's about the life of many cars (although ours are older; we use them relatively little).

We need to invest in solar panels in the Southwest and in rail. I'm seeing more and more electric cars. That's a good sign.

Bicycles are great, but you have to get cars off the roads first (or at least many of the cars). That's how bicycles can become safe and popular.

If you have bicycles and cars sharing roads, the bicycle riders will inevitably get the bad end of the deal. Not only are they small and hard to see if they ride up next to a truck or parked car or at night (especially if the riders wear dark clothing and have no reflectors), but they are easily knocked over, hard to stop and start (which causes bike riders to ignore traffic stops and signals), have no rear view mirrors and cause a lot of other safety problems on the streets of a big city like Los Angeles that has heavy traffic.

But if we had really good public transportation, subsidized so it is nearly free, then people would get out of their cars.

We have to do these things to save our environment.

It is already too hot.

In Southern California, the drought may not be totally due to climate change, but I have to report that, judging from the number of avocados on our trees, the drought has decimated our squirrel population. We still have skunks and raccoons (in the middle of the city), but I'm not seeing squirrels, and they are leaving our avocados alone.

We need stronger action on climate change. There is no denying it is here. I'm hoping that Alaskans will wake up and lead the call. They are feeling it the most right now.

[niyad]

44. where there is smoke:

?itok=Znjog8zj

[Starry Messenger]

52. It's insanity. Thank you niyad.

[niyad]

53. you are most welcome

[PotatoChip]

56. Wow, that is horrible!

But there is no such thing as climate change. No siree!

I hope there are no DU members in the path of these monster fires. If there are, my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Not good. Not good at all.

[uppityperson]

73. Here is today's map from somewhere else. I am hoping the smoke is waking people up all over

that there is a problem, and I don't mean just us plebs, but the politicians. Where is your map from, I like it showing Canada and Mexico also? Mine is from http://wildfiretoday.com

[Lorien]

80. It looks like all of Alaska is on fire

<iframe height='580' scrolling='NO' src='http://widgets.climatecentral.org/firemap/index.html?utm_source=external&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=wildfiremap' width='720'></iframe>

[progressoid]

5. Trump, Ashely Madison, emails, Caitlyn Halloween costumes. These things are so much more important.

[niyad]

45. I know, how utterly silly of me.

[artislife]

7. Washington State is practically on fire

A friend in Fremont, a neighborhood in Seattle asked what fire was happening in the area. The smoke was so thick.

Well, so far the nearest fire isn't a danger but the amount of fires to the north and east (and some in the RAIN forest!!) is so high. It is crazy...

We have had the dryest last 3 months that I can remember.

Link to the memorial service for the 3 who died at Twisp.

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/wildfires/2015/08/25/memorial-service-for-fallen-firefighters-sunday/32346021/

[moondust]

23. Across Washington,

12 large fires have already burned more land than the entire state of Rhode Island.

[daleanime]

9. kick, kick, kick....

[LiberalElite]

10. I care. nt

[KT2000]

11. why does the author think

no one cares? I am lucky to not be close to a fire but our area is getting smoke from the fires in British Columbia and at other times from the Olympic National Forest. Many people have lost their homes , their livestock, their livelihoods and I feel for them. Our area has seen commercial farmers having to be limited to 60% of their normal crops because of drought. The state has an emergency fund for the farmers but what about next year?

We are in trouble.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. my question also

[Fast Walker 52]

36. I really hate that expression-- obviously a lot of people care

it just there's so little most of us can do. Of course, what we really need is major action on climate change, but that will never happen as long as the GOP has any semblance of power.

[niyad]

46. mark was referring to the powers that be, the ones who slash the budgets, who deny`

catastrophic climate change, who fiddle while the country burns.

[Juicy_Bellows]

12. But but... snowballs!

Seriously, those huge red areas in the oceans means crazy ass storms are coming. Hot oceans lead to bad news.

[niyad]

47. the climatologists are already talking about a super el-nino

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. we care

[cleanhippie]

14. Because it's happening in relatively under populated areas.

When SoCal ignites and Malibu homes are burning, it's a whole different story. For many reasons, not all very good.

It sucks, but that's why.


My State is literally going up in flames. I care. I care a lot.

[murielm99]

21. I care.

I don't live anywhere near it, but I care. But what are we supposed to DO? Caring is all we can do.

Do you need anything? I don't think there is anything I can give or do about it.

[cleanhippie]

26. Thank you, but no, I don't need anything.

I feel as helpless as you do.

It's really sad.

[Throd]

16. I live in NorCal. We care. A lot.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, niyad.

[Zorra]

18. We care. We just don't know how to stop the 1% and their neoliberal minions

from burning the earth to a toxic waste crisp.

[laundry_queen]

28. +1 nt

[Fast Walker 52]

37. the only way is to fight like mad to get the toxic GOP out of power

[suffragette]

75. + 1,000

[SoLeftIAmRight]

20. Smoke has been thick in the Denver area

when the rain forest in the northwest are burning like this it is way past time to stop and think

[Hekate]

22. Some of us care very much indeed...Dear grandkids: I'm sorry....

[Moostache]

24. The protests need to become more strident and, yes, destructive.

When people stalled the Shell arctic drilling rig from leaving Seattle earlier this month, they should have sunk it instead.

Here's the rub....people who understand basic science have known for DECADES that the danger was real, the cause was anthropomorphic and the impact was something that time only makes worse. People in positions of power have only used their resources to protect their wallet and muddy the waters.

The dirty secret that no one likes to mention in polite company?

Its already game over.
The releases of methane from the arctic tundras was the last trigger of irreversible feedback loops that will thwart any too-little, too-late half-measures that the world's technological powers will roll out in about 5 years or more. We are on the runaway portion of the warming curve, and its starting decades earlier than the too conservative, too weak international models were ALLOWED to say...

Take a good, long last look at the best things are going to be for the rest of humanity's brief run on the surface of this planet. We're going away and sooner than anyone expects. Civilization will fail. Agriculture will collapse. Extinction is stalking. 30 years ago we had a chance to divert this metaphorical asteroid and avoid the biggest impact. Now?

Zero barrier has been breached.



"The End Of The Innocence"

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standin' by
But "happily ever after" fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly

But I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by men
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie

But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say goodbye

Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence


Writer(s): Don Henley, Bruce Hornsby

[former9thward]

29. Protests against lightning strikes?

Good luck with that...

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

74. Thanks for that..

I believe most people don't understand. You do.
No tin foil hat anymore.
It's here. We must learn to adapt.
But it may be to late for that also.

[romanic]

25. I care.

I may not live in the West but i definitely care. These fires will affect the planet for years to come.

The silver lining is that Mother Nature always heals and brings about new life; question is, will mankind be around to see that happen?

[Cleita]

27. What do you mean nobody cares?

We care. We have cared since we were warned about this fifteen years ago. The yo yos that could do something about this don't care.

[niyad]

48. mark was referring to the powers that be.

[mahina]

30. I care very much

not just because we have ohana out there fighting fire. It is overwhelming emotionally though,, to grasp what is happening. The loss is on a scale that's bigger than our minds can really get around. But I care and I know everybody else cares too.

[akbacchus_BC]

31. I care, lots of wild fires in BC too.

Most importantly, I hope we get some rain soon. Here in BC, we will get some reprieve as rain is expected this week.

I just pray that more families are not going to be losing their homes, here in BC or the US.

[Ichingcarpenter]

32. Remember when the 'National Guard' was called upon to help fight these National fires?

I do.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

33. The Washington National Guard are fighting fires

here in Washington State. We are getting all kinds of help. We have fire fighters from New Zealand, Australia and all over the US. DNR even asked for volunteers to pitch in. We're balls to the wall.

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. How many National Guard members?

Can you find that data? I suspect half are overseas

Use to live in Washington State and I'm concerned about this too.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

86. The National Guard, US Army and Air Force are pitching in.

There are so many fires burning in Idaho, Oregon and Washington that I can't find the data. I just see numbers of fire fighters for different fires.

Also the military personal are undergoing a week of fire fighting training before they go into the field - so numbers are changing all the time.

I don't have time to try to dig up numbers right now but maybe this will be of help.

http://mil.wa.gov/

We were early victims of this years fire season back in June.

Good news is there maybe some rain in the mountains this weekend.

[Ichingcarpenter]

35. Just 250 National Guard members activated to fight fires

vs. 8,200 end strength in the guard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_National_Guard


250 National Guard members activated to fight fires

http://koin.com/2015/08/22/250-national-guard-members-activated-to-fight-fires/

[niyad]

49. yes, I remember.

I also remember the insane turf war going on during the waldo canyon fire here, when we learned that there is a ridiculous hierarchy about who can be called when, instead of bringing all resources to bear when the damned thing starts.

[B Calm]

38. We are sending firefighters from all over the world along with US troops to

fight the fires and you say no one cares?

[A HERETIC I AM]

65. I heard yesterday (Tuesday) that crews from Down Under are there or on their way. n/t

[octoberlib]

39. The author of this piece is referring to politicians in western democracies and

the UN when he says that no one cares. Huge and immediate changes are needed right now and it's just isn't gonna happen.

How dire do you want it? What’s it going to take? As Eric Holthaus over at Slate recently put it WRT the huge and immediate changes needed right now from the UN and various self-serving, combative, greedy world leaders to combat this downward spiral: Where is everyone?

[niyad]

50. thank you for understanding that point.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. I reject that theory. He wrote an absolute headline which either means no one cares or implies that

those who do do not count. He says 'no one cares' orders his luncheon and yet thousands care so much they are fighting the fires, coming from all over the world to do so. But Mark cares, not the people fighting the fires. If this guy needs that for himself, he does not really see the emergency.

[niyad]

88. you might try reading the last quoted paragraph.

[Lorien]

78. True. While Scotland, Denmark, Germany, and Saudi Arabia

work towards getting off fossil fuels within the next 5-10 years, Obama talks about switching to 30% renewables by 2030, and gives Shell the go ahead to drill in the Arctic. It's insane.

[LWolf]

40. It's so smoky here

that we canceled our plan for hiking and enjoying the great outdoors and natural beauty of our area this last week before school starts. It's ugly out there, and even in doors my eyes are burning and my throat is raw.

[99th_Monkey]

77. Yep. I live in Portland. Same here. our local weather forecast was "Smoky" over weekend. nt

[LWolf]

89. It's breezy right now

on this side of the Cascades. This can't be helping.

[sylvanus]

41. That's not strictly true...

45% of Americans simply don't believe in global climate change.
30% of them are worrying about eating tonite and where to sleep.
20% of them think the new iPhone app or other miracle of technology will fix the problem.
and the last 5% of us are wonder where and how will spend our days when
the food riots start.

[n2doc]

42. If people cared about Climate Change like they do about Abortion or Gun Rights then things would be different

I am not suggesting those two groups would be inclined to believe in climate change or want to do anything about it. Just that it will take that level of dedication, even fanaticism, to get our politicians to pay attention and do something significant about it.

[niyad]

51. sadly, I think you are correct.

[underahedgerow]

54. The earth has its own natural cleansing system. For 400 million years forest fires were crucial to

countless species of plants and animals actually thriving in the years following fires. It's a natural balance. Very often, species that had previously died out re-emerged in the years following fires. The giant Sequoias are a prime example; their seeds can only burst and propagate with the heat of forest fires.

Yes, climate change is an issue, especially in terms of pollution and the massive harms to people and the environment, but this is also part of earth's natural cycles. She's her own washing machine, and cleanses and rejuvenates herself.

This is an article that articulates well the cycle of fire and how it actually benefits the earth. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fire/plants.html

[niyad]

55. thank you for that link.

[Stargazer99]

76. Mother Nature is probably getting rid of the problem: selfish man

[Dont call me Shirley]

59. The smoke from the fires dipped down into New Mexico. Very difficult breathing.

STOP! destroying our home! Billionaires! STOP! Destroying the earth.

[GitRDun]

60. I think the answer is most people don't care, at least not right now...

There is no "Forest Lives Matter", if you will, to represent nature.

The rest of us are struggling under the weight of decades of ever increasing living costs with no real wage increases.

In effect, the rest of us are trying to put out our own fires.

That's how much we've lost our way...

[IDemo]

61. Boise smoke

It's not as bad as it has been, but the sky over the past few weeks has reminded me of my childhood in Southern California:

[SleeplessinSoCal]

62. The smoke from these fires will raise temps dramatically

Where are the color coded warnings of immanent danger when you need them?

[blackspade]

63. Heart breaking and infuriating

This goes back to at least the 70s.
Scientists knew about the problem then and we had a President that was willing to start the conversation about conservation and clean energy. But the American electorate wanted more money, more stuff, and jingoistic fantasies rather than common sense and the preservation of the future. Thanks Reagan Democrats, you fucking idiots.

[Punx]

64. I care

My wife’s family has property in the N. Oregon Coast Range. We have had two serious forest fires nearby in the last 13 months. In the last couple of years we have had Red Flag warnings from the NWS in January, FREAKING JANUARY in the north Oregon Coast Range! Normally you would need napalm to get something to burn that time of year. The Olympics in Washington state which are even wetter had a serious forest fire this summer and that is unheard of up there. I have never seen smoke in the Portland area like I did this weekend. It reminded me of the San Fernando Valley in LA when the hills were burning.

But I also care about this world as a whole and for others who are hurt by the fires and climate change, and my children and their generation and what they are going to inherit.

What can I do about it? Well I rode my bike to work this morning. I try to ride as much as possible, we hang dry our laundry as much as we can. Little things I know.

I can, do and will support politicians that address climate change, support renewables, and good community planning.

[jtuck004]

67. No one driving their kid to soccer practice, or pissing away a little extra gas to increase sales of

their chinese made widget, or....

sees themselves as part of the problem. The problem is the 100%. But it is curious - we are burning the place up, and can't seem to stop ourselves.

I don't really know if "we" "care" or not, but I do know a solution is coming. People should learn how to eat on less to prepare.

[octoberlib]

82. +1

[NCjack]

68. We are in big trouble when the RW Rethugs shutdown gov't Oct 1st. /nt

[CrispyQ]

69. The third photo is stunning and horrific.

I think most people feel hopeless when they think about it so they don't think about it.

We should have listened to Jimmy Carter's message of conservation & started taking action then. But Americans didn't want to be told that they weren't exceptional & that they should turn down their thermostats & drive 55. Fast forward 40 years & we have a huge contingent of our population still in denial about climate change while the world burns around them.

Didn't the Bible predict the second destruction would be by fire? Any by our own making, no less. The irony.

[Zorra]

71. I grew up in the Okanogan and one of my boys, his wife, and 2 other family members

have now been evacuated from their homes because of the Tunk Block fires.

[99th_Monkey]

79. K&R nt

[flamingdem]

83. These firemen should be given medals of honor

and recognized nationally in every possible forum.

[libodem]

84. Climate Change

At work. I have a feeling it contributed to this:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hiker-burned-dog-dies-after-leaping-idaho-hot-spring-n416026

[Ilsa]

85. Picture #3 could easily have been used

In the movie "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage.

[Utopian Leftist]

87. It's tragic

And in the future they will look back at our time with shame and disgrace, as we look upon those who perpetrated slavery or genocide: "How could you let this happen?" they will ask us.

And like Kurt Vonnegut wrote, the only excuse we'll come up with is that we were rolling drunk on petroleum.

[onecaliberal]

90. But but but, trump!

[dixiegrrrrl]

91. Those pics are a "terrible beauty" in a way.

I am totally overwhelmed by the magnitude of the fires, both in our West and across the Globe, which has not been as widely reported.

Happened to be reading this, today:

But the most ominous thing about these fires is that they are not merely an effect of climate change,They are a cause.
The burning of the forests and tundra is releasing astounding quantities of carbon, stored for centuries in the wood and the permanently frozen subsoil. Melting permafrost releases methane, a greenhouse gas many times more destructive of the world’s climate than carbon dioxide. The fires are in fact a feedback mechanism, accelerating climate change as climate change accelerates them.

In one of Ray Bradbury’s searing, never-to-be-unread short stories, an astronaut in a space suit is floating languidly in space, musing on his existence and the wonderful perspective he has on the blue planet Earth below him. Shortly we learn that these are the musings of a doomed man, as he is in fact hurtling toward that earth and will die a fiery death when he hits the atmosphere. Just before that happens, we leave him, and join a mother and small child taking an evening walk as the child looks up in wonder and says, “Look, Mom! A shooting star!”

Somewhere in the northern hemisphere tonight, a small child will look up in wonder and say, “Look, Mom! What a pretty sunset!”

http://www.dailyimpact.net/2015/07/22/the-fires-this-time/#more-2993

[niyad]

92. thank you for your excellent post. would you consider making it its own op, so we can rec it?

[dixiegrrrrl]

93. It IS a powerful bit of writing, isn't it?

I had posted it also in another thread about the fires.

Lemme think over the idea of an OP.

I am really liking the writer at that web site.