JOIN ME DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY!

Theres no emergency need for a wall but therr is another crisis threatening us all.

Join me in declaring a Climate Emergency. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), levels of carbon dioxide, CO2, in the Earth’s atmosphere have reached the highest levels seen in 800,000 years. Levels of other global warming gases (methane and nitrous oxide) were the highest on record. In addition, 2017 was one of the hottest years on record since the 1800’s.

The Department of Defense calls climate change one of the two top threats to our National Security. The DOD also considers climate change a “threat multiplier” where communities, societies, countries, and regions experiencing shortages of food and water are more vulnerable to tension, conflict, and migration. They estimate that 65 million people are currently refugees internationally. By 2035, if not before, they estimate 400 million international refugees from climate change effects.

Coral reefs are dying, glaciers are melting, and our seas are warming resulting in increased magnitude and frequency of extreme storms, flooding, droughts, wildfires and thawing permafrost in Alaska that releases CO2 and methane.

Physicians in Los Angeles County report that they are seeing spikes of illnesses and deaths from a 2.5-month longer vector-borne disease season as a result of climate change. They issued a report in 2014 that details the impacts of climate change on health and talks about clinical interventions and concluded the following:

“The most common health effects that respondents have witnessed among their patients are injuries due to severe weather (88%), air pollution-related increases in severity of chronic disease (88%), increased allergic symptoms (80%), and heat-related effects (75%). Other conditions affecting patients include vector-borne infections (Lyme Disease or West Nile Virus) (58%), diarrhea from food/waterborne agents of infection (56%), and mental health problems related to these health issues (40%).” — National Medical Association, 2014

This fall I received an email from the town of Rye, New Hampshire notifying us that mosquitos collected on August 28, 2018, have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is about two weeks earlier than last year. Climate change is real and is affecting people in New Hampshire, the country and the world. Removing scientific data from NOAA websites won’t make it go away. We have to say no to the corrupt fossil fuel lobby.

Join me in a bold call for 100% renewable energy by 2035 and a carbon tax that will keep the industry polluters in check.

Before and after image of coral bleaching and later dying in March /May 2016, at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef (The Ocean Agency / XL Catlin Seaview Survey / Richard Vevers & Christophe Bailhache

Mindi Messmer, PG, CG

Written by

An environmental and public health scientist, elected to the NH House in November 2016 . Former Congressional Candidate #NH01.

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