Libby, Montana, is one of those old mining towns that got the short stick environmentally after the logging and mining companies closed down, leaving severely polluted earth and air behind them.  It was designated as a Superfund site in 2000 as a result of the asbestos-contaminated soils left in the area when W.R. Grace closed down the last vermiculite mine.  Much has been written and chronicles about the asbestos dangers to the population of 2900 remaining folks.

There appears to be a very clear linkage between the increased severity of wildfires and a little as 1-degree of increase in global warming.  Kevin Drum writes at Mother Jones about why California's wildfires have been getting worse, larger, and more frequent.  It may be even worse in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.  Drum says that roughly half of the increase in western wildfire activity is due to land use issues - people building in undeveloped areas they ought not to build in, basically.  The other half is due to global warming.  Higher temperatures lead to reduced snowpack and an earlier melt, producing a longer and drier fire season. 

The military now says that climate change will be damaging for this country and our national security.  According to a recent article in the NYT, "a growing number of policy makers say that the world’s rising temperatures, surging seas and melting glaciers are a direct threat to the national interest. . . Recent war games and intelligence studies conclude that over the next 20 to 30 years, vulnerable regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia, will face the prospect of food shortages, water crises and catastrophic flooding driven by climate change that could demand an American humanitarian relief or military response."

Seattle residents can apply to get free apple and cherry trees under a pilot program provided by the City of Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund.  If interested, check out Seattle's ReLeaf Web site.  The program, the City of Seattle's Tree Fund, created to absorb carbon dioxide emissions, filter air pollution, reduce noise pollution, and provide habitat for birds and wildlife.

A new poll out of the University of Maryland by Global Public Opinion suggests that Americans place a lower priority on addressing the climate change crisis than 18 other nations polled.  The question was, "How high of a priority should the government place on global warming?" with answers from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest priority.  The poll sampled 18,578 people in the 19 countries.   Americans said 4.71.  Chinese said 8.86.  Mexicans said 9.09.  And so it went.  Even in India, which has recently refused to commit to lower pollution rates, 7.52 percent said they wanted their country to address the issue.  Russians said 7.39.  Americans places the priority at the lowest of all the nations polled.

Our neighboring city to the north, Vancouver B.C., is fast becoming one of the most innovative, green cities in the world.  It draws 90% of its energy from renewables.  Under the progressive governance of Gregor Robertson, the just-reelected mayor, they are looking to become a hub for green jobs and sustainable industry.   Unlike most other North American cities, Vancouver appears to be meeting the coming climate crisis head-on.