climate change smilate change, as long as i got my SUV

[Guest guest]

Ancient empires crushed by changing climate -- not that you should worry

 

Elizabeth Kolbert continues her exploration of climate change in the second of a

three-part series in The New Yorker. She begins with a look at the world's first

great empire, founded 4,300 years ago on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates

rivers. Around 25 years ago, archeologist Harvey Weiss uncovered one of that

empire's great cities and -- through careful analysis of the layers of

sedimentation -- discovered that, around 2200 B.C., all signs of life (even

earthworms!) abruptly vanished. His theory, controversial at the time, was that

" climate change, " namely a vicious drought, had wiped the city out.

Paleoclimatologist Peter deMenocal verified Weiss' theory by studying sediment

cores from a nearby sea. Since then, the theory that cultures rise or fall based

on the contingencies of climate has been applied to the disappearance of a

number of civilizations around the world. Meanwhile, NASA scientists say

present-day climate change is accelerating. Care to connect the dots?

 

 

straight to the source: The New Yorker, Elizabeth Kolbert, 02 May 2005

 

 

see also, in Grist: Don't Do as the Romans Do -- Jared Diamond's Collapse traces

the fates of societies to their treatment of the environment

 

And Bugs Bunny is a friend of mine

Eating him I'd feel like Frankenstein

Eating flesh seems pretty foul to me