Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mia

(8,356 posts)
Fri Jul 11, 2014, 09:44 AM Jul 2014

Miami, the great world city, is drowning while the powers that be look away

Miami and its surroundings are facing a calamity worthy of the Old Testament. It is an astonishing story. Despite its vast wealth, the city might soon be consumed by the waves, for even if all emissions of carbon dioxide were halted tomorrow – a very unlikely event given their consistent rise over the decades – there is probably enough of the gas in the atmosphere to continue to warm our planet, heat and expand our seas, and melt polar ice. In short, there seems there is nothing that can stop the waters washing over Miami completely.

It a devastating scenario. But what really surprises visitors and observers is the city's response, or to be more accurate, its almost total lack of reaction. The local population is steadily increasing; land prices continue to surge; and building is progressing at a generous pace. During my visit last month, signs of construction – new shopping malls, cranes towering over new condominiums and scaffolding enclosing freshly built apartment blocks – could be seen across the city, its backers apparently oblivious of scientists' warnings that the foundations of their buildings may be awash very soon.

Not that they are alone. Most of Florida's senior politicians – in particular, Senator Marco Rubio, former governor Jeb Bush and current governor Rick Scott, all Republican climate-change deniers – have refused to act or respond to warnings of people like Wanless or Harlem or to give media interviews to explain their stance, though Rubio, a Republican party star and a possible 2016 presidential contender, has made his views clear in speeches. "I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it. I do not believe that the laws that they propose we pass will do anything about it, except it will destroy our economy," he said recently. Miami is in denial in every sense, it would seem. Or as Wanless puts it: "People are simply sticking their heads in the sand. It is mind-boggling."

Not surprisingly, Rubio's insistence that his state is no danger from climate change has brought him into conflict with local people. Philip Stoddard, the mayor of South Miami, has a particularly succinct view of the man and his stance. "Rubio is an idiot," says Stoddard. "He says he is not a scientist so he doesn't have a view about climate change and sea-level rise and so won't do anything about it. Yet Florida's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, is holding field hearings where scientists can tell people what the data means. Unfortunately, not enough people follow his example. And all the time, the waters are rising."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/11/miami-drowning-climate-change-deniers-sea-levels-rising
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Miami, the great world city, is drowning while the powers that be look away (Original Post) mia Jul 2014 OP
There is no money in trying to save Miami. To admit Miami is in trouble is bad GOP politics. djean111 Jul 2014 #1
walls won't work- the ground is porous n2doc Jul 2014 #2
until the water rises over the wall leftyohiolib Jul 2014 #4
Florida's elected leaders are not doing their job pleinair Jul 2014 #3
My home town... trumad Jul 2014 #5
"Its Gods will"... Historic NY Jul 2014 #6
Rubio doesn't believe it. GeorgeGist Jul 2014 #7
 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
1. There is no money in trying to save Miami. To admit Miami is in trouble is bad GOP politics.
Fri Jul 11, 2014, 09:59 AM
Jul 2014

Remember, getting elected and reelected is now the most important thing in politics.

I did read that Miami is sinking a lot of money into re-working the sewer and drainage systems in an area where high tide regularly washes up through the streets, but that is a stop-gap measure. Unless Miami is hiring Dutch engineers (or whoever) who can show them how to co-exist with the water.
I do not think any GOP politician is giving the rising water level any thought at all, except for how to profit from it.

I live near Tampa. A regular part of any home listing, now, is whether flood insurance is needed. I used to wish I could buy a little home in Gulfport, Fl. May be out of reach now, and may be that little home might be in a different country altogether.

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
2. walls won't work- the ground is porous
Fri Jul 11, 2014, 10:14 AM
Jul 2014

So even if they put up 10 foot high seawalls around Miami, the water just percolates up from underneath. Miami will eventually have to be abandoned. So will the Keys, and eventually much of Florida.

Same goes here along the Atlantic coast. Everything built on the sandy barrier islands will be gone in a century. They can probably wall in NYC, since it is built on rock.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Miami, the great world ci...