Puerto Rico and Dominica

Thursday, September 28, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

With so much of the attention on Trump's feud with the NFL, it seemed that the US had forgotten about the suffering in Puerto Rico hit by hurricane Maria. But once Monday Night Football was over, Puerto Rico became the focus of attention. Trump said he would visit Puerto Rico next week. In spite of what Trump said, Puerto Rico was not hit by the full furry of Maria. As devastating as it was, Maria had degraded to a Cat 4, before it made landfall. 

Two days earlier, on the evening before Trump's America First speech at the UNGA, Maria hit the island nation of Dominica as a Cat 5. The entire island was devastated and the Prime Minister of Dominica went to the UNGA to appeal for world aid.

Here are the videos for this meeting:

• Puerto Ricans Call for Aid Amid Catastrophe
• Geraldo Rivera: Puerto Rico is island in 'despair'
• Hurricane Maria Destroys Island of Dominica
• Dominica PM at UNGA

--------------------------------------------- Updated 9/28/17 ------------------------------

Here are the other Videos show at the meeting:

• President Trump to visit Puerto Rico in wake of hurricane
• US Navy rescues Hurricane Maria victims from Dominica

Also we talked much of the earthquakes which occurred during the hurricanes, both in Mexico and Japan. HERE is an article which links earthquakes and volcanic eruptions  to hurricanes and typhoons, and to climate change.

Hurricane Donald Blows Into the UN

Thursday, September 21, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Trump's changing of positions is like a hurricane which current models cannot predict. Trump's statements after Charlotte was like the eye wall of a hurricane where the winds blow strongest. Trump's response to Hurricane Harvey was like the calm of the eye where he acted Presidential. Then came the reverse winds with budget and DACA deals with the Democrats. This all lead to Trump's appearance at the UN General Assembly annual debate where world leaders take the stage. HERE is a background video.

Given Trump's past animosity to the UN, it was surprising that he hosted a session on Monday and gave a speech on Tuesday. As it turned out, Trump did not change any of his positions, including on Climate Change, but at least he seemed to acknowledge the importance of the UN. For most of us, this is a given, but for him it's progress.

Here are the videos for the next meeting:

• Amnesty Don
• Trump Adviser Says U.S. Still Leaving Paris Climate Accord
• Trump calls for UN reforms
• Before Trump spoke, Hurricane Maria hit Dominica
• Trump speech gets UN's attention
• Trump’s U.N. Speech Targets North Korea, Iran and Venezuela
• Macron on Paris Accord

------------------------------------------ Updated 9/21/17 -----------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Rescue crews rush to search collapsed buildings after Mexico earthquake
• Latest on Hurricane Maria
• Kim Jong-Un Responds To Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname
• Trump's UN Speech Advocates for Both Peace and Nuclear War

More Storms on the Way

Thursday, September 14, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

The current conditions seems to favor more storms after Harvey and Irma. Jose is still out there and will approach near our Northeast coast by next week. Even if Jose does not make landfall, more hurricanes are expected to form this season. Climate change says that this year is the new normal and storms will get worse in the coming years.

Here are the videos for the next meeting:

• Hurricane Science Explained
• Hurricanes Show Government Is Critical in Times of Crisis
• How climate change makes hurricanes worse
• A Storm of Silence

----------------------------------------------- Updated 9/14/17 ----------------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Florida nursing home left without power after Irma leads to tragedy
• Bossert: Trump administration not taking 'cause' of climate change seriously
• Typhoon Doksuri hits Vietnam, Typhoon Talim strikes Taiwan

Between the Storms

Thursday, September 7, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

We are between storms, recovering from Harvey and anticipating Irma. In this period of "calm", we are still fighting the fires in the western states. LA is having its biggest fire in history. Yet, the media still does not discuss climate change. Instead the focus is on the budget battles in Congress which came back from recess this Tuesday. Without any media coverage, it is unlikely that any of Trump's cuts to climate science will be reversed.

Here are the videos for the meeting:

• Harvey Reset
• US government faces shutdown threat over daunting challenges
• Climate Silence
• Gas Prices Jump Nationwide After Hurricane Harvey
• Contaminated floodwaters could bring health epidemics

There will be a video about Irma, but I will wait until just before the meeting to select it. In the meanwhile, if you want to track the storm you can try THIS website.

---------------------------------------- Updated 9/7/17 ------------------------------------

These are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• McConnell, Schumer Optimistic After Trump Meeting
• Trump stuns GOP leaders by siding with Democrats on funding deal
• Hurricane Irma could be catastrophic