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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency El Niño is here, bringing wet weather to the southern US and dry to the northern, with elevated global atmospheric heating by the Pacific Ocean surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The question is how strong it will become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The last big one was in 1997-8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font><a href="http://climatecrocks.com/2014/12/10/japan-meteorological-agency-declares-el-nino-is-here/"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://climatecrocks.com/2014/12/10/japan-meteorological-agency-declares-el-nino-is-here/</font></a>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>In the linked video John Kerry addresses the Lima meeting for 35 minutes Thursday, Dec. 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>He reminds the conference of the history of attempts to cope with climate disruption and of the urgency of action, and describes the momentum building around the world for effective action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>He also sketches the results of inaction and the economic rewards of an energy transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://climatecrocks.com/2014/12/11/john-kerry-remarks-in-lima/"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://climatecrocks.com/2014/12/11/john-kerry-remarks-in-lima/</font></a><u><font color="#0563c1"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Kerry was greeted by a cheering crowd of delegates, the first US Secretary of State to address such a conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>With the Obama administration’s climate policies and joint statement with China, the international attitude toward the US has become quite positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>(sub. req’d.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/world/strange-climate-event-warmth-toward-the-us.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;_r=5"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/world/strange-climate-event-warmth-toward-the-us.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;_r=5</font></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><font color="#0563c1"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The Lima talks resulted in principles which will structure the agreement at the Paris talks next December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>They are couched in language which embodies the conflicting approaches of developed and developing nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Most significantly, all nations are expected to institute emissions controls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Previously developing nations saw that as the responsibility of developed nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/14/lima-climate-change-talks-who-won"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/14/lima-climate-change-talks-who-won</font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Reducing numbers of whales reduces whale poo, which reduces the plankton it fertilizes, which undercuts the base of many forms of oceanic life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>It is an example of a trophic cascade generated by the removal of large, dominant animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Such alterations can have marked climate repercussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>If you enjoy the article you may pursue it with George Monbiot’s book Feral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2014/dec/12/how-whale-poo-is-connected-to-climate-and-our-lives"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2014/dec/12/how-whale-poo-is-connected-to-climate-and-our-lives</font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Among emerging Democratic leaders, Amy Klubochar wants to slow down application of the EPA regulations on existing power plants and Elizabeth Warren wants to strengthen them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/new-dem-leaders-warren-klobuchar-split-on-epa-climate-rule-20141211"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/new-dem-leaders-warren-klobuchar-split-on-epa-climate-rule-20141211</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Hillary Clinton has been non-committal on the XL pipeline, though in her recent speech she supported strong action on climate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/12/hillary-clinton-sidesteps-keystone-pipeline-in-speech-to-environmental-group/"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/12/hillary-clinton-sidesteps-keystone-pipeline-in-speech-to-environmental-group/</font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A group of scientists along with Bill Nye and others have asked that deniers cease being called skeptics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Skepticism is the proper stance of a scientist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Someone who refuses to engage the current investigation of a topic is a denier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/12/bill-nye-stop-calling-sen-inhofe-a-climate-change-skeptic/"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/12/bill-nye-stop-calling-sen-inhofe-a-climate-change-skeptic/</font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Harold Wanless of the U. of Miami anticipates that the six million people south of Lake Okeechobee will be climate refugees, perhaps by midcentury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/rising-sea-levels-could-florida-100000163.html"><font color="#0563c1" size="3" face="Calibri">https://ca.news.yahoo.com/rising-sea-levels-could-florida-100000163.html</font></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font size="3" face="Calibri">
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