Climate change affects Raza más
When the next major summer heat wave hits
East Los or other barrios, you'll want to remember Tony Barboza's July article
on urban heat islands. He cites a
new study of the effects of extreme heat waves on minorities--us brown ones,
too.
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| Michael Sedano foto, East Los |
The UC Berkeley study focused on
neighborhoods with few shade trees and muchísimo street
pavement, concrete and roofing. Microclimates that get a pinche 5–10º hotter
during heat waves. Where latinos are 21% more likely to live than Anglos (blacks, 52% more). The heat-absorbing
barrios and ghettos. Call it racial-climate-change segregation.
As TonyB says, these "heat waves are
expected to become more intense, frequent and long-lasting as cities heat
up."
He also quotes, "The study
recommends city planners plant more trees, paint highly reflective roofs, use
pavement that absorbs less heat and consider racial and ethnic inequalities in
decisions about adapting to a changing climate."
I disagree with the city planners. Raza,
we gotta take what they suggest as our due. But stopping the sources that
create climate heating would end the problem. Like: Stop Keystone XL Pipeline! Or at least donate to the campaign.
Imagining Indigenous Futurisms
From Cynthia Ward, comes this: Imagining
Indigenous Futurisms is an annual writing contest that recognizes authors who
wield science fiction as their weapon of choice in the pursuit of social
justice. Such sci-fi writers focus on Indigenous futures. The contest offers a
$1000 award and is run by Grace L. Dillon, editor of Walking the Clouds: An
Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction (University of Arizona Press,
2012), and professor in the Indigenous Nations Studies program at Portland
State University, Portland, Oregon.
4th Annual Science Fiction Writing Contest open to any [indio-descent] emerging
writer with an interest in exploring Indigenous issues through the medium of
science fiction.
Submit: One paragraph personal statement
containing background and goals in sci-fi. A previously unpublished sci-fi
writing sample up to 4,000 words.
By November 1, 2013
To: Professor Grace L. Dillon
(Anishinaabe) dillong[ala]pdx.edu
Judged by acclaimed sci-fi, experimental,
and horror writer Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet tribe).
You can read details and join Imagining Indigenous Futurisms on Facebook.
Gringo Finalist For European Human Rights Award
Edward Snowden is a finalist for the
Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. He is maybe currently in Russia, with
temporary asylum and is a U.S. fugitive charged with espionage. I guess Europe sees the world more like me than like Obama.
"The Sakharov Prize honors 'exceptional
individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression," [from their website]
"The surveillance of whole
populations, rather than individuals, threatens to be the greatest human rights
challenge of our time," Snowden said in a statement to the Parliament. The
winner is announced on Oct. 10.
In San Antonio today:
Comic relief
If you don't know where your government is and it's still shut down,
you might need a break from The Reign of Morons.
You can go here and leave a comment or maybe add a cartoon of what else should be shut down, now that we're drifting leaderless.
I would add Gitmo, Congresspeoples'
salaries and expense accounts, and ex-Presidents' pensions, but that's not enough.
Es todo, hoy,
RudyG
Interesting post. I'd no idea about climate change affecting certain neighborhoods more than others but it seem obvious now.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do think more should be done to stop it, I don't think that's going to happen. I'd start planting trees if I lived in those areas. That's what I'm doing on my own property, in fact.
Thx for the comment, JC.
ReplyDeleteConsider that if IT isn't stopped, we will be. And suffer the consequences all the way till the end.
I also planted peach, plum, apple and others. But after their roots soak up enuf toxics, and their leaves, too much rarified industrial fumes, no one will be able to safely eat the fruit. How much longer after that will they even be good for shade? And who besides cucarachas and crickets will benefit from that?
RudyG