Voices of Central Pa

by Michael Mann


Climate change is real. Those who assert otherwise do not have the science on their side.

This nation’s highest scientific body, the National Academy of Sciences, is firmly on record in concluding that the scientific case for human-caused climate change is clear. The evidence includes independent assessments of thermometer records documenting the degree and extent of modern warming. It includes the unprecedented melting of glaciers and, as documented in more recent years, the diminution of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet. As a consequence of melting ice and warming oceans, the global sea level is rising and at an accelerating rate. Continental drought is becoming more pronounced in many extratropical regions, such as the deserts of the U.S. Southwest, and there is an increase in the destructive potential of Atlantic hurricanes that influence the east and Gulf coasts. Theoretical climate models predict these things to happen, but only when human influences—
in particular, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations due to fossil fuel burning—are included.

Those same models project far more profound and potentially damaging impacts of climate change if action is not taken to stabilize greenhouse gas levels this next decade. The Union of Concerned Scientists with scientific input from a large number of Penn State researchers, recently published an extensive report documenting the threat that future climate change could pose specifically to Pennsylvania, where both my parents grew up and where I am raising my daughter.

And what of the so-called "climate change deniers?".

 By Tamara Conrad and Suzan Erem
This story produced with assistance from Janelle Applequist

“Penn State: Party School” is a moniker that makes many State College residents over 30 groan in dismay and many under 30 cheer with mischievous glee. Borough officials juggle limited resources and complicated relationships. Downtown restaurant and tavern owners watch alcohol and food sales skew out of balance. The state pulls millions in taxes out of the community to help balance its budget. And Penn State officials repeat a mantra about how complicated the issue is, how we all need to work together and how it’s a national, not just a Penn State, problem.

The basic statistics are startling.

In the 2008-2009 academic year, 30 percent more students were admitted to Mount Nittany Medical Center for alcohol related problems than the year before. Police issued 29 percent more citations to students for public drunkenness. In a recent university survey, more than half of Penn State students identify themselves as moderate to heavy drinkers, and almost half report not remembering some of what happened the night before. More than 77 percent of the students who drink had Blood Alcohol Content above the legal driving limit. And more students are launching their college careers with drinking patterns in place.

Meanwhile, business is booming at the state liquor stores, especially here. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reports the liquor sales in 2007 averaged 3.51 gallons per Centre County resident for the year, well above the state average of 2.92 gallons.

cartoon by Tom Baker 2010

Remember Black History Month in Central Pa!

PDFs of the VOICES Feb 2010 Issue:
Frontcover, Contents, Editorial - challenges for 2010
Politics and Economics - state cuts funding for small business
Community and Lifestyles - shamanic poses offer path to subconscious
Environment - has Centre county embraced hybrids?
University - competing interests cloud alcohol debate
Arts and Entertainment - local jazz scene at risk
Opinions and Backcover - climate change science

Pick it up at a distributor, or at our online archive.

USN Rear Admiral (Retired) and Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak, interviewed by Voices editor Suzan Erem.

How much do you want to bet that the Dem party elite will take exactly the wrong message from this, and bend even farther to put their corporate big-money lobbyists first?