A new NASA study indicates the record-breaking drought gripping California may be the beginning of a mega-drought that will turn the American Southwest and Great Plains into a dustbowl.
Thanks a lot, global warming.
Click here to learn more.
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Fascinating short TED Talk by Jared Diamond on why societies collapse. He cites five factors: resource depletion, climate change, relations with neighboring friendly societies, relations with neighboring hostile societies, and political, economic and social factors enabling society to enact change.
He also addresses a common question about collapse, which is why don’t people see the signs of collapse and do something about it. His answer is that a society can’t save itself when the short-term interests of the ruling elites conflict with the long-term interests of the society, particularly when the elites are able to insulate themselves from what is happening. Diamond warns that this condition is particularly applicable to the United States.
Makes you think. Watch it here:
This PSA shows a year in the life of a little girl in one-second snippets showing how her happy life in England falls apart during a civil war. The video, produced by an organization dedicated to helping Syria’s children affected by the civil war there, is intended to hammer home to Westerners what it’s like for these children. Powerful stuff.
The Canadian parliament debates readiness for the zombie apocalypse. “Canada will never be a safe haven for zombies–EVER!” –John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Buzzfeed recently ran a funny series showing how the media will cover the coming apocalypse of asteroids and radioactive mutant zombies.
Check it out here.
Below is Slate.com presenting a fresh, provocative angle:
Campaign ad from 1964.