Happy Hurricane Season!

PEJ News - C. L. Cook - A shout out to the "other" coast! Writing from the great Northwest, where hurricanes are common, but of a different character, greetings to you so'east coasters: tis' the season!

www.PEJ.org

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
en/thumb/4/41/Father_time_
7765.jpg/250px-Father_time_7765.jpg


Happy Hurricane Season!

C. L. Cook

PEJ News
June 2, 2006



They're likely not singing Auld Lang Syne in Florida, Louisianna, Alabama, Texas, or anywhere else that felt the effect of last year's Gargantua, Hurricane Katrina, but the newborn hurricane season marks beginnings, and reminds of Fate's uncertainties.

The wind is blowing hard here tonight. The Pacific has been slow to force her hand against the withering-cold Arctic stream. The swallows fly well through it, those most masterful aviators, but one wonders if they're not thinking they came North too soon. There are few insects worthy to be called a meal able to take to the air with this blow.

And it is too, to the larger animals seeming unseasonal.

The weathermensch predict hurricanes a-plenty for the Gulf this year, some saying New Orleans is the dead-on favourite for another hurricane hit; but, they won't predict of what size. Devastating Katrina has broken the bottle, and now all bets are off. Some worry, the lack of concrete progress made in the rebirthing of the 'Big Easy' over the last nine months leaves it vulnerable again to failing levees, and failing governments, (Ray Nagin's failure to fail to win re-election aside).

What likely will not be predicted in the corporate press, etc. is: When in the Future will the Past be addressed? When will accountability for crimes both of commission and omission be heard? Judging by the course of events these recent sad years past, the smart money says:

"Never - and 10 will get you five."

And, when will the real murder weapon in the case of the murders of New Orleans be identified?

We know, those that shun gloves in summer, for no need of protecting knuckles a-tarmac scraping: 'Climate Change' defined the colossal parameters of Katrina's landfall; Climate Change is real, and it's now.

We know; nothing has been achieved in the interim to lessen the theorized meterological effects seen last year. In fact, the opposite is true. The citizens of the Gulf, some of whom have seen hurricane insurance premiums balloon, tripling and more over the last year, are no better protected today than last year.

Listening to lefties and greenies on enviromental issues is one thing easily dismissed in the press and around the water cooler, but the buttoned down corporate loyalists are putting their money where the word is: They're selling short.

The money says:

"Climate Change is in the mix!"

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full flower North of the border. While the nation witnesses this year's glories on the diminishing ice, and listen to 'Don' Don Cherry, the Mafia-esquely dressed clown giving praise Canada's soldiers marching to Empire, (ignoring the new marching orders issued those "heroes" emanate from another Capitol), the world grows a little warmer.

Hell and High water be damned; it's the Finals!

God, She must laugh. The Mistress of Irony laid out, plain as day, before eyes too blind to see a killing joke. And, it seems such with this year's Cup finalists:

the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Edmonton "Oil Town" Oilers.

Big nature v. Big World.

Who do you bet wins?

North America's (unified) political consensus has turned away from Kyoto, and made clear they stand with corporate interest, regardless of their effects on the biosphere. Through George W. Bush, Tony Blair, a cast of Canadian transient politicos, and myriad other enablers across the world, it has been decided:

"Earth Smurth!"

There is a titanic battle to come. Hard combatants, determined they vie for the ultimate trophy. June 6th, Lord Stanley's Cup will again be placed in the middle of the arena, and this year the vyers will be: the Oilers and the Hurricane.

My money is on storms to be.


C. L. Cook is a contributing editor to PEJ News, and host of Gorilla Radio, a weekly public affairs program, broad/web/cast from the University of Victoria, the Nation Formerly Known as Canada (NFKAC). You can check out the GR Blog here.

Stay informed. Subscribe and get the best of PEJ News by email. Free.