This is a simple view of a rainforest.

 A tropical rainforest (click here) is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the equatorial zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (roughly within 23.5 degrees north or south of the equator).

Kindly notice the failed coral reefs that caused the planetary oxygen to drop, are located at basically the same latitudes as the major rainforests. Now, corals are effected by the ocean temperature, but, what effects the oceans also effects the land. I think it is very dangerous to realize most of these areas in the near future will be droughted. What will the oxygen level of Earth be?

While science (click here) has documented only a small portion of reef species that occur around our planet, we do know that human activities have taken an extensive toll on reef ecosystems worldwide. Massive areas of reef have been physically removed by society’s seaside and offshore activities. Even larger areas of coral reef have been degraded by global stressors linked to carbon dioxide emissions from industry, transportation and other human activities. Ocean temperatures are spiking, resulting in coral-bleaching events that destroy vast swaths of reefscape, and ocean acidification is having a negative impact on coral health and growth.

April 22, 2018
By Joseph Piraino Special to "The Citizen"

Addressing the US’s contribution to global climate change (click here) will require the participation and cooperation of the political right ... and the left. Surprised? Consider this:

Putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. a carbon tax) is broadly recognized by economists, scientists and policy experts as the most important first step in tackling the global warming crisis we face. There is no debating that implementing any climate policy faces stiff headwinds in Congress, a resistance most often attributed to climate-deniers in the Republican Party. But there is movement among Republicans and Conservatives on the issue as evidenced by groups like RepublicEn, the libertarian Niskanen Center, and the Climate Leadership Council. Each of these right-of-center groups supports a market-based solution to climate change in the form of a revenue-neutral carbon tax. In the U.S. Congress, Republican members of the Climate Solutions Caucus and co-sponsors of the Republican Climate Resolution (including our representative, John Katko) are evidence that support for substantive climate change legislation could have support by the political right.

What is perhaps more uncertain than potential Republican support for meaningful climate legislation in the form of a carbon tax is support from the political left, as evidenced by the history of Washington state’s carbon tax referendum known as Initiative....

Germany's current goals is to cut GHG emissions by 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2020 and 95 percent by 2050.

Germany's greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets (click here)

I might point out this graph begins with 1990 levels as "ZERO" and why there is no line on the graph for that year. However, Germany can claim it has reduced it's over emissions successfully 18 years out of 27 years. That is an accomplishment for a country that strives to be the fourth largest in the world. That type of record occurs because the government has been vigilant since the 1960s when scientists were beginning to come to the public to make them aware of research findings and introduce the scientific threat called the climate crisis today.

This is how a real country governs in comparison of the Banana Republic that is the United States of America.

Germany does have to improve on it's smokestack emissions, but, it is aware of it's lethargy in regard to that.

Thank you, Google. They could have found a better spokesperson for "Earth Day."

It's Sunday Night

There is not much written about her career, her accomplishments or her hopes for the future.

(2004-2009), Bonk was member and Vice-Spokeswoman of the parliamentary committee on School and Sport and member of the committee on Science and University.

Julia Bonk

Left-wing lady Julia Bonk was the youngest person ever to be elected into regional German parliament – aged just 18. Flame-haired Bonk is now, at the age of 25, a representative for the country’s socialist party Die Linke and is a member of the Saxon state parliament.

Career:

Julia Bonk became a member of the Landtag of Saxony in 2004 instantly after completing school and is the candidate of the Parliamentary Group of The Left Party. She was nationwide prized as the youngest member of a Parliament in Germany. The newspaper Badische Zeitung included, that 87 international papers published her picture.

Moreover, Bonk is the youngest full-time politician of all periods. In 2006 Julia Bonk authoritatively became a member of Left Party. During the fourth legislative session of the Landtag of Saxony (2004-2009), Julia Bonk was a member and Vice-Spokeswoman of the legislative committee on School and Sport and a candidate of the Committee on Science and University, Culture and Media.

In the prevailing fifth legislative period (since 2009) she is a member of the committee on Legal Affairs, the Constitution, and Europe.Besides, until 2009 she was one of ten Federal-Speakers of the Youth Organisation Solid: The Socialist Youth. Together with Christoph Spehr, she is Speaker of The Emancipatory Left, a tide within The Left Party.

Personal Life & Net Worth:

She has not revealed about her affairs, lifestyle and more.She is a sweet weapon of politics and enjoys her life serving as a politician.Maybe she is dating someone but it has not exposed yet. Her net worth is unknown.

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält.
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,
Von der Etsch bis an den Belt,
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt!

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt!

Germany, Germany above all,
Above all in the world,
When, for protection and defense,
It always stands brotherly together.
From the Meuse to the Neman,
From the Adige to the Belt,
Germany, Germany above all,
Above all in the world!

Germany, Germany above all,
Above all in the world!

Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang
Sollen in der Welt behalten
Ihren alten schönen Klang,
Uns zu edler Tat begeistern
Unser ganzes Leben lang.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang

Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang

German Women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song
Shall retain in the world
Their old beautiful chime
And inspire us to noble deeds
During all of our life.
German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song!

German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song!

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand;
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland

Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland

Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
Towards these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the foundation of happiness;
Flourish in the radiance of this happiness,
Flourish, German fatherland!

Flourish in the radiance of this happiness,
Flourish, German fatherland!

Kay Ivey could have bought a ticket to the Memorial and Legacy just like everyone else. I strongly suggest she do exactly that.

You will never find Kay Ivey at any display of the Confederate flag or in front of a Confederate memorial, but, she is a white supremacist through and through.

This is a prime example of the loss of opportunity for a strong minority candidate in Alabama. This sort of person elected to office and a high office such as governor is what brings such bizarre dialogue to USA politics.

On May 13th the USA civil war will have ended 153 years ago and yet the lousy monuments stand and the flag still waves.

We know the Republican Party thrives on fear mongering. At the basis of the success in the election of Kay Ivey's is the fear of the USA minority population. They label minorities with every negative characteristic while instilling fear in 'the other.' The same is true in the discussion of North Korea and Iran. The fear instilled by the Republican Party has several reasons, but, the exploitation of that fear mongering by the media is a "Cheap Thrill" for ratings.

The political dialogue in Alabama is in dire need of a different source. A political dialogue full of success, the elevation of the Middle Class, the impoverished REALITY of the people and the poor governance to achieve goals that improve the quality of life of the people.

October 17, 2017
By Graydon Rust

Former astronaut Mae Jemison (click here) was born in Decatur. In 1992, Jemison became the first African-American woman to travel to space when she served as a science mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Endeavor. During her only mission in space, she led crew-related scientific experiments in the Spacelab, a portable laboratory developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. After retiring from NASA in 1993, Jemison founded a technology consulting firm, a medical technology company and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, a scientific philanthropic organization. Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.

WHY WAS Mae Jemison NOT TAPPED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR!!!!!!

If memory serves me right, John Glenn was elected to office. It would seem as though women haven't walked on the moon, but, also haven't been tapped on a regular basis for office. May Jemison is 61 years YOUNG and it is still not to late to become familiar to every breakfast table in Alabama and lead the state to integration and diversity they can be proud of.

The HEALTHY political dialogue of the USA has yet to be achieved and it is time to realize where the responsibility lies.

April 20, 2018
By John Sharp

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office (click here) said Friday that the governor was not invited to attend Thursday's grand opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum in Montgomery.

Ivey spokesman Daniel Sparkman said the governor will be in Japan early next week. The trip is scheduled for Ivey and others from Alabama to meet with executives at Toyota and Mazda, which are planning to build a $1.6 billion auto manufacturing plant in Huntsville.

Said Sparkman, "However, the timing of that trip didn't coincide with the opening. But she was not invited to the opening and will not be in attendance."

Ivey's weekly scheduled, released Friday morning, shows the governor in Japan from Tuesday to Thursday. Sparkman said she returns "late on Thursday."...

Brexit? What's a Brexit?

In the UK it is also known as "The Divorce Bill." There is a considerable mess taking place in order for the UK to separate from the EU. This runs down some of the issues. 

The Uk is our friend and ally. It is important Americans understand their friends "across the pond."

November 21, 2017

By Lianna Brindad

The UK is leaving the European Union (click here) —likely in 2019—but before it does, it has to agree on what it will pay the bloc on its departure (alongside determining EU citizens’ rights and the status of the Northern Irish border). More commonly known as the “divorce bill,” only once the amount is agreed upon, can the UK start the rest of its negotiations on leaving the EU.

Talks are looking pretty fraught because there is still no agreement on the final amount and it has been around eight months since Britain formally declared its departure by triggering Article 50, leaving just over a year to crack on with some of the most complex parts of negotiations, such as trade and immigration....

Americans have similar issues with NAFTA and any other trade agreements once struck. It costs money to get into the agreements and it costs to get out. With Brexit, the UK is not going into isolation, so the continued interest in trade agreements is the focus. But, with the TiPP signed, I think the idea of trade is hammered out; or is it? Is all this concern about Brexit and trade simply a political hot spot without sincere meaning?

April 21, 2018

Britain risks a "disorderly" Brexit (click here) after failing to offer up any workable solutions for the Irish Border, Michel Barnier has warned.

The EU chief negotiator issued the stark warning after Theresa May's vision for a new customs arrangement was demolished in five rounds of technical negotiations in Brussels.

Sources told the Irish Independent that the Government here may now have no choice but to stall the talks completely in June.

While there is "no panic" on the Irish side, officials believe the next 10 weeks must bring "significant and measurable progress" or the entire Brexit timeline will be derailed.

The ultimate deal between the UK and EU is due to be finalised by October 31 - but an EU summit in June is growing in importance.

Mr Barnier said there is still no agreement on 25pc of Brexit negotiations, meaning there is a "risk of failure"....

The Snyder administration has a real difficult time respecting the elected authorities of Flint, Michigan.

First, Snyder involves the legislature to change the Emergency Manager law, then removes the elected authority of Flint, Michigan; then takes radical steps to change the drinking water source, casting people's health into chaos and then hides the whole thing, including deaths from Legionnaires.

These sort of things stay with you as a young person. I remember a time when I was in an eight-grade classroom and a strong wind blew up, breaking several large panes of glass. Shards flew into the room and two students were injured, one severely, but, they both recovered without a problem. The next day the classroom had plywood where the windows were and the room felt strange and the two students effected weren't there. 

That was a long time ago. Yet, when I think of things that effected me as that young student, it always comes back as if it were yesterday. These problems in Flint are not a minor issue. It will linger in memories and in some bodies for the rest of their lives.

There was a lot of damage done in Flint by Snyder and the least his administration should do is cause more trauma.

April 20, 2018
By Julian MacMath

In this May 4, 2016 file photo, drinking fountains are marked "Do Not Drink Until Further Notice" at Flint Northwestern High School in Flint, Michigan.

...Snyder said: (click here) “We have worked diligently to restore the water quality and the scientific data now proves the water system is stable and the need for bottled water has ended.

He added: “For the past two years I have repeatedly been asked when I would declare the water safe in Flint and I have always said that no arbitrary decision would be made — that we would let the science take us to that conclusion. Since Flint’s water is now well within the standards set by the federal government, we will now focus even more of our efforts on continuing with the health, education and economic development assistance needed to help move Flint forward.”

Despite the water test results, the replacement of all lead service lines is not yet complete, leaving many residents fearful that the water might not be safe in every home.

Across the country, many have taken to Twitter to criticize Snyder’s decision....

Trump removes the word "occupied" in relation to the West Bank.

PCHR Weekly Report (click here) On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (12 – 18 April 2018)

...Israeli forces continued to use excessive lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized on the 42nd anniversary of the Earth Day, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed peaceful demonstrations along the eastern Gaza Strip border area, where ten thousands of defenseless Palestinian young men, women, children, and elderlies participated. On 13 April 2018, the Gaza Strip witnessed peaceful demonstrations where ten thousands of Palestinian civilians participated.  Those non-violent demonstrations continued sporadically during the reporting period.  As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed, so the death toll has increased to 29 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a journalist, since the beginning of the demonstrations in the Gaza Strip only on 30 March 2018.  Moreover, during the reporting period, 393 Palestinian civilians, including 67 children, 10 women, 4 journalists and 3 paramedics were wounded; 20 of them sustained serious wounds.  In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 17 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in separate incidents....

"Under Trump the Human Rights Report no longer calls the West Bank Occupied." (click here)

It is about time. The DNC experienced sincere damage to its organization.

I betcha most Americans don't realize hacking into a database is a crime. Well, it is and there is real damage committed when it happens.

I hope all the Russians cited in the Mueller investigation are also part of this lawsuit. I think there are 12 altogether. That does not include Guccifer and that Russian should be included as well.

April 20, 2018
By Katelyn Polantz

The Democratic National Committee (click here) is suing the Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and several associates of President Donald Trump alleging a grand racketeering, hacking and fraudulent conspiracy that harmed Democrats through WikiLeaks' publication of internal party emails during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Those named in the lawsuit include several top Trump advisers who attended the now-infamous June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower, longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos and others

The 66-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday lays out how the Trumps curried favor in Russia through their family business, and then Russia allegedly worked with Trump advisers before the presidential election to disseminate the spoils from a cyberattack of the DNC....                      

Just a word about Columbine.

Columbine High School has commemorated that horrific day every year with a day of service. The school was closed today to facilitate the student's service activities.

The children of Columbine were respected by the US Congress. The Assault Weapon's Ban was legislated. The students today are not receiving that level of concern or respect. Marching is a way to let legislators, parents, teachers, local and state officials know there is something STILL wrong after the deaths of so many students.

I think a service day for Columbine is fine if that is what satisfies their resolve. Unfortunately, for many students across the USA, marching to bring the message, "Not One More," feels right to them.

Students (click here) at Clayton Bradley STEM Academy in Maryville, Tennessee walked out Friday, April 20, 2018 to a circle with 199 chairs for each of the school shootings since 2000 plus Columbine in the center of the circle.

She was just doing her job. "The Independent" has pictures and descriptions of those effected by the Russian election tampering.

Ms Yates, (click here) a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia.

According to "The Independent," North Korea is interested in peace and the well being of the people of the Korean Peninsula.

April 20, 2018
By Jeremy B. White

As a planned summit (click here) between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un approaches, Pyongyang has indicated it would abandon its nuclear programme without requiring American troops to leave the Korean Peninsula.

“The North is expressing a will for a complete denuclearisation”, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said to reporters. “They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. All they are talking about is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security”.

Achieving a deal on those terms would represent a resounding success for Mr Trump, who months earlier had threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea during a United Nations speech to world leaders....     

Residents in the area of Salisbury were warned today there can still be contamination with the nerve agent.

17 April 2018
By Sunita Patel-Carstairs

Sergei and Yulia Skripal (click here) will be offered new identities and a new life in America in an attempt to protect them from further murder attempts.

The nerve agent (click here) used to poison Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury was delivered "in a liquid form", it has been revealed.

Government officials say the Skripal's Wiltshire home - situated on the outskirts of Salisbury - was targeted with a "very small amount" of novichok.

The highest concentration was found there, and a further eight areas were potentially contaminated.

Salisbury cemetery, where the remains of the ex-spy's wife and son rest, was not targeted.

A spokesman from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "In this instance, direct contact is required for a person to be poisoned. Only a small proportion of the material is transferred in each contact and the substance is diluted in each secondary or tertiary contact.

"The class of nerve agent does not produce significant vapour or gas and can only be moved between sites by direct transfer from a contaminated person or by moving a contaminated item."...

I don't want to hear about emails when the Republican Congress is like an open faucet, not leaks, to the press.

The Republicans worry about two aspects of national security:

The politics of emails and the politics to thwart a federal investigation that compromised the USA elections of 2016.

There needs to be an ethics and criminal investigation to the release of the Comey documents to the public.

I don't want to hear the Republican moaning and groaning about emails when they can't even uphold national security.

Mexico needs assistance in methods of intelligence and potentially US military taking over control of major drug routes.

I read the 15 pages and Trump has an agenda that is not lawful. I find the practices of preserving operational information with the President excellent. I congratulate them for their intense loyalty to the country. I also think Trump can be blackmailed by Russia and the Justice Department and national security agencies, including military intelligence needs to aware of the truth.

My concern is that he will seek to change the way the national intelligence agencies work and how they report. We have already been through an overhaul of administrative practices after September 11, 2001. It would be a mistake to do it again and very dangerous with a President that knows little to nothing about the way government works.

This is what is going on south of the USA southern border. The drug cartels always escalate violence within the country when they are concerned about their drug trade and it's routed. This is unacceptable violence within Mexico and the USA has an obligation to act. The National Guard at the border will also be a target. The USA military needs to consider plans to take control of the drug routes and a way the Mexican authorities still in place can contain and end this violence.

April 18, 2018

It was the first of four death threats Rubio (click here) said she has received since January from the same well-spoken, anonymous man. She has stayed in the race in Guachochi, located in a mountainous region of Chihuahua state that is a key route for heroin trafficking. But two armed body guards now follow her round the clock.

“At 2 a.m., you start to get scared, and you say, ‘something bad is going on here’,” she said.

An explosion of political assassinations in Mexico has cast a pall over nationwide elections slated for July 1, when voters will choose their next president and fill a slew of down-ballot posts.

At least 82 candidates and office holders have been killed since the electoral season kicked off in September, making this the bloodiest presidential race in recent history, according to a tally by Etellekt, a security consultancy based in Mexico City, and Reuters research....