The New Normal
TimeWatch Editorial
June 01, 2016
I have recently become aware of a group called The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). This is a nonprofit science advocacy organization based in the United States. according to their website, they were “was founded in 1969 by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That year, the Vietnam War was at its height and Cleveland’s heavily polluted Cuyahoga River had caught fire. Appalled at how the U.S. government was misusing science, the UCS founders drafted a statement calling for scientific research to be directed away from military technologies and toward solving pressing environmental and social problems.”
I must confess that I was drawn to their name, since it is indicative of their interest in something that they consider to be of great concern. In reading their objectives, we are told that their founding vision remains steadfast;
“We remain true to that founding vision. Throughout our history, UCS has followed the example set by the scientific community: we share information, seek the truth, and let our findings guide our conclusions. It’s a powerful formula. By mobilizing scientists and combining their voices with those of advocates, educators, business people, and other concerned citizens, UCS has built a reputation for fairness and accuracy and amassed an impressive history of accomplishments.” Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Website
They then proceed to list a number of accomplishments of which they are very proud. I will not list them here since they are not the object of this report, but there is one article that was published on their website on June 17, 2011 that should awaken an awareness of something that everyone should by now have seen. The opening paragraph of that article says the following.
“As Earth warms, powerful storms are becoming the new normal. Overhead, tall, dense clouds are poised to burst, their presence a sign of an imminent deluge. These cumulonimbus masses are a reminder of the destructive floods that are occurring around the globe, which, taken together, are potent signals of one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time:” Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “Is Global Warming Linked to Severe Weather?” June 17, 2011
Of course these scientists are arguing that the frequency of these assurances vindicate the concept of global warming. What is even more important here, however, is the admission by these individuals that:
“This pattern of intense rain and snow storms and periods of drought is becoming the new normal in our everyday weather as levels of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere continue to rise. If the emissions that cause global warming continue unabated, scientists expect the amount of rainfall during the heaviest precipitation events across country to increase more than 40 percent by the end of the century. Even if we dramatically curbed emissions, these downpours are still likely to increase.” Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “Is Global Warming Linked to Severe Weather?” June 17, 2011
In other words, even though they are convinced that Global Warming is caused by carbon emissions and the scientific solution is to cut those emissions, in the above paragraph they admit that “Even if we dramatically curbed emissions, these downpours are still likely to increase.”But their observations have become even more serious:
“Regions previously thought to be safe from floods are increasingly threatened by them; agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the US Geological Survey (USGS), among others, are working to gather information that can be used to redraw flood maps to help anticipate vulnerable areas.” Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “Is Global Warming Linked to Severe Weather?” June 17, 2011
As quoted above, this pattern of intense rain and snow storms and periods of drought is becoming the new normal in our everyday weather as levels of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere continue to rise. The journal Review and Herald, May 8, 1894 explains in rather specific terms, the reason why these events are increasing.
- The evil consequent upon the indulgence of depraved appetite is widespread, and the earth is corrupted under the inhabitants thereof. The earth withereth under the curse of its sin, and the very cattle are diseased.
- What is the trouble? Why is this? It is because the people have forsaken the law of God, and the earth is cursed under its transgression.
- Notwithstanding the warnings of God's word, transgression has increased since the days of Adam, and more and more heavily has the curse pressed upon the human family, on the beasts of the earth, and on the earth itself.{RH, May 8, 1894 par. 8}
The new normal has a conclusion that is not that far away. We need to be ready, now.
Cameron A. Bowen
