不可忽视的真相中英文字幕

EnglishsubtitlesYoulookatthatrivergentlyflowingby.Younoticetheleavesrustlingwiththewind.Youhearthebirds.Youhearthetreefrogs.Inthedistance,youhearacow.Youfeelthegrass.Themudgivesalittlebitontheriverbank.It'squiet.It'speaceful.Andallofasudden,It'sagearshiftinsideyou.Andit'sliketakingadeepbreathandgoing,"Oh,yeah,Iforgotaboutthis."ThisisthefirstpictureoftheEarthfromspacethatanyofuseversaw.ItwastakenonChristmasEve,1968duringtheApollo8Mission...withinrelativelycomfortableboundaries.Butwearefillingupthatthinshellofatmospherewithpollution.Ladiesandgentlemen,Mr.AlGore.IamAIGore.IusedtobethenextpresidentoftheUnitedStatesOfAmerica.Idon'tfindthatparticularlyfunny.I'vebeentryingtotellthisstoryforalongtime,andIfeelasifI'vefailedtogetthemessageacross.IwasinpoliticsforalongtimeandI'mproudofmyservice.Yougottabekiddingme.Thisisanationaldisaster.GeteverydoggoneGreyhoundbuslineinthecountry,andgettheir...movingtoNewOrleans.That'sthemthinkingsmall,man,andthisisamajor,major,majordeal.Whatdoyouneedrightnow?Therearegoodpeople,whoareinpoliticsinbothpartieswhoholdthisatarm'slengthbecauseiftheyacknowledgeitandrecognizeit,thenthemoralimperativetomakebigchangesisinescapable....unlessyoufixthebiggestdamncrisisinthehistoryofthiscountry....scoutedoutlandingspotsandtheylostradiocontactwhentheywentaroundthedarksideofthemoon.Andtherewasinevitablysomesuspense.Thenwhentheycamebackinradiocontact,theylookedupandtheysnappedthispicture,anditbecameknownasEarthRise.Andthatonepictureexplodedintheconsciousnessofhumankind.Itleadstodramaticchanges.Within18monthsofthispicture,themodernenvironmentalmovementhadbegun.ThenextpicturewastakenonthelastoftheApollomissions,Apollo17.ThisonewastakenonDecember11,1972,anditisthemostcommonlypublishedphotographinallofhistory.Andit'stheonlypictureoftheEarthfromspacethatwehavewherethesunwasdirectlybehindthespacecraftsothattheEarthisfullylitupandnotpartlyindarkness.ThenextimageI'mgonnashowyouhasalmostneverbeenseen.ItwastakenbyaspacecraftcalledTheGalileothatwentouttoexplorethesolarsystem.AndasitwasleavingEarth'sgravity,itturneditscamerasaroundandtookatimelapsepictureofoneday'sworthofrotation,herecompressedinto24seconds.Isn'tthatbeautiful?Thisimageisamagicalimageinawaywasmadebyafriendofmine,TomVanSant.Hetook3,000separatesatellitepicturestakenoverathree-yearperiod,digitallystitchedtogether.Andhechoseimagesthatwouldgiveacloud-freeviewofeverysquareinchoftheEarth'ssurface.Allofthelandmassesaccuratelyportrayed.Whenthat'sallspreadout,itbecomesaniconicimage.IshowthisbecauseIwannatellyouastoryabouttwoteachersIhad.OnethatIdidn'tlikethatmuch,theotherwhoisarealherotome.Ihadagradeschoolteacherwhotaughtgeographybypullingamapoftheworlddowninfrontoftheblackboard.IhadaclassmateinthesixthgradewhoraisedhishandandhepointedtotheoutlineoftheeastcoastofSouthAmericaandhepointedtothewestcoastofAfricaandheasked,''Didtheyeverfittogether?''Andtheteachersaid,''Ofcoursenot.That'sthemostridiculousthingI'veeverheard.''Thatstudentwentontobecomeadrugaddictandane'er-do-well.Theteacherwentontobecomescienceadvisorinthecurrentadministration.But,youknow,theteacherwasactuallyreflectingtheconclusionofthescientificestablishmentofthattime.Continentsaresobig,obviouslytheydon'tmove.But,actually,aswenowknow,theydidmove.Theymovedapartfromoneanother.Butatonetimetheydid,infact,fittogether.Butthatassumptionwasaproblem.Itreflectedthewell-knownwisdomthatwhatgetsusintotroubleisnotwhatwedon'tknow,it'swhatweknowforsurethatjustain'tso.Thisisactuallyanimportantpoint,believeitornot,becausethereisanothersuchassumptionthatalotofpeoplehaveintheirmindsrightnowaboutglobalwarmingthatjustain'tso.Theassumptionissomethinglikethis.TheEarthissobigwecan'tpossiblyhaveanylastingharmfulimpactontheEarth'senvironment.Andmaybethatwastrueatonetime,butit'snotanymore.Andoneofthereasonsit'snottrueanymoreisthatthemostvulnerablepartoftheEarth'secologicalsystemistheatmosphere.Vulnerablebecauseit'ssothin.Myfriend,thelate~1~CarlSagan,usedtosay,''Ifyouhadabigglobewithacoatofvarnishonit,''thethicknessofthatvarnishrelativetothatglobe''isprettymuchthesame''asthethicknessoftheEarth'satmosphere''comparedtotheEarthitself.''Andit'sthinenoughthatwearecapableofchangingitscomposition.Thatbringsupthebasicscienceofglobalwarming.AndI'mnotgonnaspendalotoftimeonthisbecauseyouknowitwell.Thesun'sradiationcomesintheformoflightwavesandthatheatsuptheEarth.AndthensomeoftheradiationthatisabsorbedandwarmstheEarthisreradiatedbackintospaceintheformofinfraredradiation.Andsomeoftheoutgoinginfraredradiationistrappedbythislayerofatmosphereandheldinsidetheatmosphere.Andthat'sagoodthingbecauseitkeepsthetemperatureoftheEarthwithincertainboundaries,keepsitrelativelyconstantandlivable.Buttheproblemisthisthinlayerofatmosphereisbeingthickenedbyalloftheglobalwarmingpollutionthat'sbeingputupthere.Andwhatthatdoesisitthickensthislayerofatmosphere,moreoftheoutgoinginfraredistrapped.Andsotheatmosphereheatsupworldwide.That'sglobalwarming.Now,that'sthetraditionalexplanation.Here'swhatIthinkisabetterexplanation.Globalwarmingornonelikeithot!You'reprobablywonderingwhyyouricecreamwentaway.Well,Susie,theculpritisn'tforeigners.It'sglobalwarming.global…?Yeah.MeetMr.Sunbeam.HecomesallthewayfromthesuntovisitEarth.Hello,Earth.Justpoppingintobrightenyourday.lalala..AndnowI'llbeonmyway.Notsofast,Sunbeam.We'regreenhousegases.Youain'tgoingnowhere.Oh,God,ithurts.Prettysoon,Earthischock-fullofSunbeams.Theirrottingcorpsesheatingouratmosphere.Howdowegetridofthegreenhousegrasses?Fortunately,ourhandsomestpoliticianscameupwithacheap,last-minutewaytocombatglobalwarming.Eversince2063,wesimplydropagianticecubeintotheoceaneverynowandthen.JustlikeDaddyputsinhisdrinkeverymorning.Andthenhegetsmad.Ofcourse,sincethegreenhousegasesarestillbuildingup,ittakesmoreandmoreiceeachtime.Thus,solvingtheproblemonceandforall.-But...-Onceandforall!Thisistheimagethatstartedmeinmyinterestinthisissue..AndIsawitwhenIwasacollegestudentbecauseIhadaprofessornamedRogerRevellewhowasthefirstpersontoproposemeasuringcarbondioxideintheEarth'satmosphere.Hesawwherethestorywasgoingafterthefirstfewchapters.Afterthefirstfewyearsofdata,heintuitedwhatitmeantforwhatwasyettocome.Theydesignedtheexperimentin1957.HehiredCharlesDavidKeelingwhowasveryfaithfulandpreciseinmakingthesemeasurementsfordecades.TheystartedsendingtheseweatherballoonsupeverydayandtheychosethemiddleofthePacificbecauseitwastheareathatwasmostremote.Andhewasaveryhard-nosedscientist.Hereallyemphasizedtheharddata.Itwasawonderfultimeformebecause,likealotofyoungpeople,Icameintocontactwithintellectualferment,ideasthatI'dneverconsideredinmywildestdreamsbefore.Andheshowedourclasstheresultsofhismeasurementsafteronlyafewyears.Itwasstartlingtome.Nowhewasstartledandmadeitcleartoourclasswhathefeltthesignificanceofitwas.AndIjustsoakedituplikeasponge.Hedrewtheconnectionsbetweenthelargerchangesinourcivilizationandthispatternthatwasnowvisibleintheatmosphereoftheentireplanet.Andthenheprojectedintothefuturewherethiswasheadedunlesswemadesomeadjustments.Anditwasjustasclearasday.Afterthefirstseven,eight,nineyears,youcouldseethepatternthatwasdeveloping.ButIaskedaquestion.Whyisitthatitgoesupanddownonceeachyear?AndheexplainedthatifyoulookatthelandmassoftheEarth,verylittleofitissouthoftheequator.Thevastmajorityofitisnorthoftheequator,andmostofthevegetationisnorthoftheequator.Andso,whentheNorthernHemisphereistiltedtowardthesun,asitisinourspringandsummer,theleavescomeoutandtheybreatheincarbondioxide,andtheamountintheatmospheregoesdown.ButwhentheNorthernHemisphereistiltedawayfromthesun,asitisinourfallandwinter,theleavesfallandexhalecarbondioxide,andtheamountintheatmospheregoesbackupagain.Andso,it'sasiftheentireEarthonceeachyearbreathesinandout.Sowestartedmeasuringcarbondioxidein1958.Andyoucanseethatbythemiddle'60s,whenheshowedmyclassthisimage,itwas~2~alreadyclearthatitwasgoingup.Irespectedhimandlearnedfromhimsomuch,Ifollowedthis.AndwhenIwenttotheCongressinthemiddle1970s,Ihelpedtoorganizethefirsthearingsonglobalwarmingandaskedmyprofessortocomeandbetheleadoffwitness.AndIthoughtthatwouldhavesuchabigimpact,we'dbeonthewaytosolvingthisproblem,butitdidn'tworkthatway.ButIkepthavinghearings.Andin1984IwenttotheSenateandreallydugdeeplyintothisissuewithscienceroundtablesandthelike.Iwroteabookaboutit,ranforPresidentin1988,partlytotrytogainsomevisibilityforthatissue.Andin1992wenttotheWhiteHouse.Wepassedaversionofacarbontaxandsomeothermeasurestotrytoaddressthis.WenttoKyotoin1997tohelpgetatreatythat'ssocontroversial,intheUSatleast.In2000,myopponentpledgedtoregulateCO2andthen...Thatwasnotapledgethatwaskept.ButthepointofthisisallthistimeyoucanseewhatIhaveseenalltheseyears.Itjustkeepsgoingup.Itisrelentless.Andnowwe'rebeginningtoseetheimpactintherealworld.ThisisMountKilimanjaromorethan30yearsagoandmorerecently.AndafriendofminejustcamebackfromKilimanjarowithapicturehetookacoupleofmonthsago.Anotherfriend,LonnieThompson,studiesglaciers.Here'sLonniewithalastsliverofoneoftheoncemightyglaciers.WithinthedecadetherewillbenomoresnowsofKilimanjaro.ThisishappeninginGlacierNationalPark.Iclimbedtothetopofthisin1998withoneofmydaughters.Within15years,thiswillbetheparkformerlyknownasGlacier.Hereiswhat'sbeenhappeningyearbyyeartotheColumbiaGlacier.Itjustretreatseverysingleyear.Andit'sashame'causetheseglaciersaresobeautiful.Butthosewhogouptoseethem,here'swhatthey'reseeingeveryday,now.IntheHimalayasthere'saparticularproblembecause40%ofallthepeopleintheworldgettheirdrinkingwaterfromriversandspringsystemsthatarefedmorethanhalfbythemeltwatercomingofftheglaciers.Andwithinthisnexthalfcenturythose40%ofthepeopleonEartharegonnafaceaveryseriousshortagebecauseofthismelting.Italy,theItalianAlps.Samesighttoday.AnoldpostcardfromSwitzerland.ThroughouttheAlps,we'reseeingthesamestory.It'salsotrueinSouthAmerica.ThisisPeru15yearsago.Andthesameglaciertoday.ThisisArgentina20yearsago.Sameglaciertoday.Seventy-fiveyearsagoinPatagoniaonthetipofSouthAmerica.Thisvastexpanseoficeisnowgone.There'samessageinthis.There'samessageinthis.Itisworldwide.Andtheicehasstoriestotellus.Myfriend,LonnieThompson,digscoredrillsintheice.Theydigdown.Andtheybringthecoredrillsbackupandtheylookattheiceandtheystudyit.Whenthesnowfalls,ittrapslittlebubblesofatmosphereandtheycangoinandmeasurehowmuchCO2wasintheatmospheretheyearthatthatsnowfell.What'sevenmoreinteresting,Ithink,istheycanmeasurethedifferentisotopesofoxygenandfigureoutaveryprecisethermometerandtellyouwhatthetemperaturewastheyearthatthatbubblewastrappedinthesnowasitfell.WhenIwasinAntarctica,Isawcoreslikethis.Andaguylookedatit.Hesaid,''RighthereiswheretheUSCongresspassedtheCleanAirAct.''AndIcouldn'tbelieveit.Butyoucanseethedifferencewiththenakedeye.Justacoupleofyearsafterthatlawwaspassed,it'sveryclearlydistinguishable.Theycancountbackyearbyyearthesamewayaforesterreadstreerings.Andyoucanseeeachannuallayerfromthemeltingandre-freezing,sotheycangobackinalotofthesemountainglaciers1,000years.Andtheyconstructedathermometerofthetemperature.Theblueiscoldandtherediswarm.Now,Ishowthisforacoupleofreasons.Numberone,theso-calledskepticswillsometimessay,''Oh,thiswholething,thisisacyclicalphenomenon.''Therewasamedievalwarmingperiod,afterall.''Well,yeah,therewas.Thereitis,rightthere.Therearetwoothers.Butcomparedtowhat'sgoingonnow,there'sjustnocomparison.Soifyoulookat1,000years'worthoftemperatureandcompareitto1,000yearsofCO2,youcanseehowcloselytheyfittogether.Now,1,000yearsofCO2inthemountainglaciers,that'sonething.ButinAntarctica,theycangoback650,000years.Thisincidentallyisthefirsttimeanybodyoutsideofasmallgroupofscientistshasseenthisimage.Thisisthepresentdayera,andthat'sthelasticeage.Thenitgoesup.We'regoingbackintimenow650,000years.That'stheperiodofwarmingbetweenthe~3~lasttwoiceages.That'sthesecondandthirdiceageback.Fourth,fifth,sixthandseventhiceageback.Now,animportantpoint.Inallofthistime650,000years,theCO2levelhasnevergoneabove300partspermillion.Now,asIsaid,theycanalsomeasuretemperature.Here'swhatthetemperaturehasbeenonourEarth.Now,onethingthatkindofjumpsoutatyouis...Well,letmeputitthisway.IfmyclassmatefromthesixthgradethattalkedaboutAfricaandSouthAmericawerehere,hewouldsay,''Didtheyeverfittogether?''''MostridiculousthingI'veeverheard.''Buttheydid,ofcourse.Andtherelationshipisactuallyverycomplicated.Butthereisonerelationshipthatisfarmorepowerfulthanalltheothersanditisthis.Whenthereismorecarbondioxide,thetemperaturegetswarmerbecauseittrapsmoreheatfromthesuninside.InthepartsoftheUnitedStatesthatcontainthemoderncitiesofCleveland,Detroit,NewYork,inthenortherntier,thisisthedifferencebetweenanicedayandhavingamileoficeoveryourhead.Keepthatinmindwhenyoulookatthisfact.Carbondioxide,havingnevergoneabove300partspermillion,hereiswhereCO2isnow.Wayabovewhereit'severbeenasfarbackasthisrecordwillmeasure.Now,ifyou'llbearwithme,Iwannareallyemphasizethispoint.Thecrewherehastriedtoteachmehowtousethiscontraptionhere.So,ifIdon'tkillmyself,I'll...It'salreadyrighthere.Lookhowfarabovethenaturalcyclethisis,andwe'vedonethat.But,ladiesandgentlemen,inthenext50years,really,inlessthan50years,it'sgonnacontinuetogoup.Whensomeofthesechildrenwhoareherearemyage,hereiswhatit'sgoingtobeinlessthan50years.You'veheardofoffthecharts.Withinlessthan50years,it'llbehere.There'snotasinglefactordateornumberthat'sbeenusedtomakethisupthat'sinanycontroversy.Theso-calledskepticslookatthisandtheysay,''So?Thatseemsperfectlyokay.''''So?Thatseemsperfectlyokay.''Well,again,ifonthetemperatureside,ifthismuchonthecoldsideisamileoficeoverourheads,whatwouldthatmuchonthewarmsidebe?Ultimatelythisisreallynotapoliticalissuesomuchasamoralissue.Ifweallowthattohappen,itisdeeplyunethical.Ihadsuchfaithinourdemocraticsystem,ourself-government.IactuallythoughtandbelievedthatthestorywouldbecompellingenoughtocausearealseachangeinthewaytheCongressreactedtothatissue.Ithoughttheywouldbestartled,too.Andtheyweren't.Thestruggles,thevictoriesthataren'treallyvictories,thedefeatsthataren'treallydefeats.Theycanservetomagnifythesignificanceofsometrivialstepforward,exaggeratetheseemingimportanceofsomemassivesetback.April3,1989.Mysonpulledloosefrommyhandandchasedhisfriendacrossthestreet.Hewassixyearsold.Themachinewasbreathingforhim.Wewerepossiblygoingtolosehim.Hefinallytookabreath.Westayedinthehospitalforamonth.Itwasalmostasifyoucouldlookatthatcalendarandjustgo...Andeverythingjustflewoff.Seemedtrivial,insignificant.Hewassobrave.Hewassuch...Hewassuchabraveguy.Itjustturnedmywholeworldupsidedownandthenshookituntileverythingfellout.Mywayofbeingintheworld,itjustchangedeverythingforme.HowshouldIspendmytimeonthisEarth?Ireallydugin,tryingtolearnaboutitmuchmoredeeply.IwenttoAntarctica.WenttotheSouthPole,theNorthPole,theAmazon.WenttoplaceswherescientistscouldhelpmeunderstandpartsoftheissuethatIdidn'treallyunderstandindepth.Thepossibilityoflosingwhatwasmostprecioustome.IgainedanabilitythatmaybeIdidn'thavebefore.ButwhenIfeltit,Ifeltthatwecouldreallyloseit,thatwhatwetakeforgrantedmightnotbehereforourchildren.TheseareactualmeasurementsofatmospherictemperaturessinceourCivilWar.Inanygivenyear,itmightlooklikeit'sgoingdown,buttheoveralltrendisextremelyclear.Andinrecentyears,it'suninterruptedanditisintensifying.Infact,ifyoulookatthe10hottestyearsevermeasuredinthisatmosphericrecord,they'vealloccurredinthelast14years.Andthehottestofallwas2005.Wehavealreadyseensomeoftheheatwavesthataresimilartowhatscientistsaresayingaregonnabealotmorecommon.CoupleofyearsagoinEuropetheyhadthatmassiveheatwavethatkilled35,000people.Indiadidn'tgetasmuchattention,butthesameyearthetemperaturetherewentto122degreesFahrenheit.ThispastsummerintheAmericanWest,therewerealotofcitiesthatbrokeall-timerecordsforhigh~4~temperaturesandnumberofconsecutivedayswitha100-degreetemperatureormore.Twohundredcitiesandtownsinthewestsetall-timerecords.Andintheeasttherewerealotofcitiesthatdidthesamething.Including,incidentally,NewOrleans.Sothetemperatureincreasesaretakingplaceallovertheworld,includingintheoceans.Thisisthenaturalrangeofvariabilityfortemperatureintheoceans.Youknow,peoplesay,''Oh,it'sjustnatural.''Itgoesupanddown,sodon'tworryaboutit.''Thisistherangethatwouldbeexpectedoverthelast60years,butthescientistswhospecializeinglobalwarminghavecomputermodelsthatlongagopredictedthisrangeoftemperatureincrease.NowI'mgonnashowyou,recentlyreleased,theactualoceantemperatures.And,ofcourse,whentheoceansgetwarmer,thatcausesstrongerstorms.Wehaveseeninthelastcoupleofyearsalotofbighurricanes.HurricaneJeanneandFrancesandIvanwereamongthem.Andthesameyearthatwehadthatstringofbighurricanes,wealsosetanall-timerecordfortornadoesintheUnitedStates.Japanagaindidn'tgetasmuchattentioninournewsmedia,buttheysetanall-timerecordfortyphoons.Previousrecordwasseven.Hereareall10oftheonestheyhadin2004.Thesciencetextbookshavehadtoberewrittenbecausetheysaythatit'simpossibletohaveahurricaneintheSouthAtlantic.ButthesameyearthefirstoneeverhitBrazil.Summerof2005hasbeenoneforthebooks.ThefirstonewasEmilythatsockedintoYucatán.ThenHurricaneDenniscamealonganditdidalotofdamage,includingtotheoilindustry.ThisisthelargestoilplatformintheworldafterDenniswentthrough.ThisonewasdrivenintothebridgeatMobile.Andthen,ofcourse,cameKatrina.It'sworthrememberingthatwhenithitFlorida,itwasaCategoryOne.Butitkilledalotofpeopleandcausedbillionsofdollars'worthofdamage.Andthenwhathappened?BeforeithitNewOrleans,itwentoverwarmerwaters.Asthewatertemperatureincreases,thewindvelocityincreasesandthemoisturecontentincreases.Andyou'llseeHurricaneKatrinaformoverFlorida.Andthenasitcomesintothegulfoverthatwarmwater,itpicksupthatenergyandgetsstrongerandstrongerandstronger.Lookatthathurricane'seye.And,ofcourse,theconsequencesweresohorrendous,therearenowordstodescribeit.Yeah,we'regettingreportsandcallsthatarejustbreakingmyheart.Frompeoplesaying,"I'vebeeninmyattic.Ican'ttakeitanymore."Thewaterisuptomyneck.Idon'tthinkIcanholdout."Andthat'shappeningaswespeak.Wetoldeverybodytheimportanceofthe17thStreetCanalissue.Wesaid,"Please,please,takecareofthis."Wedon'tcarewhatyoudo.Figureitout."SomethingnewforAmerica.ButhowinGod'snamecouldthathappenhere?Therehadbeenwarningsthathurricaneswouldgetstronger.Therewerewarningsthatthishurricane,daysbeforeithit,wouldbreachthelevees,wouldcausethekindofdamagethatitultimatelydidcause.Andonequestionweasapeopleneedtodecideishowwereactwhenwehearwarningsfromtheleadingscientistsintheworld.Therewasanotherstorminthe1930sofadifferentkind.Ahorrible,unprecedentedstormincontinentalEurope,andWinstonChurchillwarnedthepeopleofEnglandthatitwasdifferentfromanythingthathadeverhappenedbeforeandtheyhadtogetreadyforit.Andalotofpeopledidnotwanttobelieveit.Andhegotrealimpatientwithallthedithering.Andhesaidthis,"Theeraprocrastination,ofhalf-measuresofsmoothingandbafflingexpedientsofdelays,iscomingtoitsclose.initsplaceweareenteringaperiodofconsequences.Makingmistakesingenerationsandcenturiespastwouldhaveconsequencesthatwecouldovercome.Wedon'thavethatluxuryanymore.Wedidn'taskforit,buthereitis.AlGoreisthewinnerofthenationalpopularvote.ButthestateofFlorida,whomeverwinstherewinstheWhiteHouse.WecallFlorida,intheAlGorecolumn...Bulletin:Floridapulledbackintotheundecidedcolumn.GeorgeBushisthepresidentelectoftheUnitedStates.Heis...FloridagoesBush.ThepresidencyisBush.That'sit.Andat2:18thismorning,weproject...Allright,we'reofficiallysayingthatFloridaistooclosetocall.WhileIstronglydisagreewiththecourt'sdecision,Iacceptit.Iacceptthefinalityofthisoutcome....dosolemnlyswear...I,GeorgeWalkerBush,dosolemnlyswear.....thatIwillfaithfullyexecutetheOfficeofPresident...Well,thatwasahardblow,but...Whatdoyoudo?You...Youmakethebestofit.Itbrought~5~intoclearfocusthemissionthatIhadbeenpursuingforalltheseyears,andIstartedgivingtheslideshowagain.Oneoftenunnoticedeffectofglobalwarmingisitcausesmoreprecipitation,butmoreofitcominginone-timebigstormevents.Becausetheevaporationofftheoceansputsallthemoistureupthere,whenstormconditionstriggerthedownpour,moreofitfallsdown.Theinsuranceindustryhasactuallynoticedthis.Theirrecoveredlossesaregoingup.Youseethedamagefromthesesevereweatherevents?And2005isnotevenonthisyet.Whenitdoes,it'llbeoffthatchart.Europehasjusthadayearverysimilartotheonewe'vehadwheretheysaynature'sbeengoingcrazy.Allkindsofunusualcatastrophes,likeanaturehikethroughtheBookofRevelations.FloodinginAsia.Mumbai,IndiathispastJuly.Thirty-seveninchesofrainin24hours.Byfar,thelargestdownpourthatanycityinIndiahaseverreceived.LotoffloodinginChina,alsoGlobalwarming,paradoxically,causesnotonlymoreflooding,butalsomoredrought.Thisneighboringprovincerightnextdoorhadaseveredroughtatthesametimetheseareaswereflooding.Oneofthereasonsforthishastodowiththefactthatglobalwarmingnotonlyincreasesprecipitationworldwide,butitalsorelocatestheprecipitation.AndfocusmostofallonthispartofAfricajustontheedgeoftheSahara.Unbelievabletragedieshavebeenunfoldingthere,andtherearealotofreasonsforit.ButDarfurandNigerareamongthosetragedies.Andoneofthefactorsthathasbeencompoundingthemisthelackofrainfallandtheincreasingdrought.ThisisLakeChad,onceoneofthelargestlakesintheworld.Ithasdriedupoverthelastfewdecadestoalmostnothing,vastlycomplicatingtheotherproblemsthattheyalsohave.Thesecondreasonwhythisisaparadox.Globalwarmingcreatesmoreevaporationofftheoceanstoseedtheclouds,butitsucksmoistureoutofthesoil.Soilevaporationincreasesdramaticallywithhighertemperatures.AndthathasconsequencesforusintheUnitedStates,aswell.SothisistheCarthageexit.WhenIwas14yearsold,Itotaledthefamilycarrightthere.Wentoffthatshoulder,turneditover.AndseethisBlackAngusbull?WeraisedBlackAngus.MyfatherwasnamedBreederoftheMonth.Hegrewuponafarm.AllthroughhiscareerintheSenatehecontinuedtocomebackhereandraisecattle.Learningitfromyourdadontheland,that'sreallysomethingspecial.MychildhoodupbringingwasalittleunusualinthesensethatIspenteightmonthsofeachyearinWashingtonDCinasmalllittlehotelapartment.Andthentheotherfourmonthswerespenthereonthisbig,beautifulfarm.Ihadadoghere.Ihadaponyhere.Icouldshootmyriflehere.Icouldgoswimmingintheriverhere.Gooutandlaydowninthegrass.Asakid,ittookmeawhiletolearnthedifferencebetweenfunandwork.TheplaceswherepeoplelivewerechosenbecauseoftheclimatepatternthathasbeenprettymuchthesameonEarthsincetheendofthelasticeage11,000yearsago.Here,onthisfarm,thepatternsarechanging.Anditseemsgradualinthecourseofahumanlifetimebutinthecourseoftime,asdefinedbythisriver,it'shappeningvery,veryquickly.T