Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Oct. 10, 2014)

Degrees of Disagreement
A pair of California scientific argue in a leading scientific journal that the current 2-degree Celsius target for limiting global warming should be scrapped because it is impractical and unachievable.  David Victor and Charles Kennel, both from the University of California in San Diego, wrote in Nature that just as human health is measured by factors other than temperature, such as blood pressure, ;heart rate and body mass, "a similar strategy is now needed for the planet."  Several climate scientists around the world slammed the propsal, saying the arguments behind it were flawed.  And since the 2-degree target is the only one governments have ever agreed to, some argued that scrapping it could impede further efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.  Governments have pledged to finalize a treaty to limit climate change by late 2015 at a summit in Paris.
Eruption Threat
Unrest within Mayon volcano prompted Philippine authorities to move nearby residents and farm animals away from areas threatened by what appeared to be an impending eruption.  Approximately 55,000 people have been relocated since the 8,081-foot mountain began rumbling.  Evacuees have been housed in makeshift centers, typically schools and other government buildings.
Earthquakes
One person was killed and hundreds of others were injured by a 6.0 magnitude quake that wrecked buildings in China's Yunnan province.
*    Earth movements were also felt in the western Philippines, northern New Zealand, northwestern and southeastern Mexico and southern Nevada.
Hopping Return
The offspring of frogs airlifted off the Caribbean island of Montserrat in 2009 to save them from a deadly,invasive fungus have been returned to their historic habitat.  The mountain chicken frogs (Leptodactylus fallax) are the national dish of Montserrat and nearby Dominica.  They are so named because they reportedly taste like chicken and make a clucking noise in the rough terrain of the British territory.  They were nearly wiped out by both overhunting and a chytrid fungus that has ravaged amphibian populations worldwide.  After being bred in U.K. zoos from just two females, 51 frogs were returned to the island with GPS locators.  Scientists say they are hopeful the frogs won't be eaten or die from the pathogen.  "The fungus hasn't gone away, but frogs are surviving," said Ben Tapley, head of herpetology at the Zoological Society of London.  "It could be because they are living in microclimates that are not ideal for the fungus.  Or they could be developing immunity."
Arctic Carbon Trap
Findings that show Arctic sea ice helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere have some scientists concerned that its recent record melt could accelerate global warming.  Danish researcher Dorte Haubjerg Sogaard says that while it has long been known that Earth's oceans are able to absorb huge amounts of CO2, sea ice was thought to be impenetrable to the greenhouse gas.  But Sogaard and colleagues found that a combination of chemical and biological processes extract the gas from the atmosphere, sending the carbon tothe ocean floor.  She said the finding should be taken into account when predicting future CO2 accumulations.
Tropical Cyclones
Typhoon Phanfone left at least seven people dead and dozens of others injured after it lashed a long stretch of Japan, including metropolitan Tokyo.
*    Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands were drenched by developing Typhoon Vongfong, which later became the world's strongest tropical cyclone of the year while taking aim on Japan.
*     Remnants of Hurricane Simon brought flash flooding to parts of northwestern Mexico and the Desert Southwest.
*     Cyclone Hudhud threatened to strike eastern India late in the week as a Category-3 storm.
Chernobyl Legacy
Reindeer and other grazing animals in Norway have shown a sudden spike this fall in the amount of the radioactive isotope cesium-137 found in their bodies.  Scientists at the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority say there has been a fivefold increase in the amount of contamination from the 1986 Chemobyl nuclear disaster than was measured just two years ago.  Lesser amounts of the isotope were found in some of the country's sheep.  Scientists point to a bumper crop of mushrooms this year as the reason for the increase.  The mushrooms readily absorb the contamination in the ground as they grow, and are later eaten by reindeer and other grazers.  Scientists say they are a little surprised by the magnitude of the increase, given that cesium-137 has a half-life of 30 years.  The Chemobyl disaster happened nearly 30 years ago, meaning about half of the radioactivity should have decayed by this time.

F. Y. I.

Quotable
by  Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist and author (1913-1983)
"We lavish on animals the love we are afraid to show to people.  They might not return it; or worse, they might."

Behind the Name
The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word "pepon," meaning "large melon."

Fearful Condition
Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween.

Vanishing Act
The famous magician Harry Houdini died on Halloween night.

On the Cheap
The mask used for the Michael Myers character in the 1978 movie "Halloween" was actually William Shatner's "Star Trek" mask, the cheapest option for the film's tight budget.

Still on the Books
In Cleveland, women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes lest men see reflections of their underwear.

Question & Answer

                                  What does it mean to be like Jesus?

                                  One reason Jesus came among us was to tell us about God and to lead us to Heaven.  Jesus hoped we would do what he did.
                                   For example, Jesus asked us to love one another as he did.  Some ways Jesus showed love were lending an attentive ear, showing patience in irrtating situations, helping people make good decisions.  Demonstrating love every day is imitating Christ.
                                   Jesus had few possessions himself and sent his disciples out to preach with almost nothing.  He didn't want them to get distracted.  He knew that the more goods we have, the more we'd think about God.  Consider getting rid of what you don't need, and buy only items that replace what is worn out or broken.
                                   Jesus often went off to be alone with God.  Take time each day to keep company with God.  Even as few as 15 minutes will keep you connected to your loving Father.
                                   Doing these things are steps toward living like Jesus.

Feasts & Celebrations

                                   In October we celebrate the Rosary with the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.  The Rosary helps us meditate on the mysteries of our salvation --- Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection.  And we also ask for Mary's intercession --- the most powerful of all the angels and saints.

October 19 ---- Saint John de Brebeuf and Saint Isaac Jogues and their companions (1652).
                                   Six Jesuits and two laymen were unwelcome missionaries to Native North American tribes and suffered harassment and torture.  St. John de Brebeuf  won the Iroquois' respect with his courageous death.  St. Isaac Jogues escaped but was murdered when he returned to his ministry.

October 28 ---- Saint Simon and Saint Jude (1st century).
                                   St. Simon was a Zealot ------- Jews who believed that the Messiah would free them from political oppression.  St. Jude was a fisherman.  After being called by Jesus to be apostles, they eventually ended up in Persia where they evangelized until they were martyred.

From Scripture

                                 Matthew 22:34-40.
                                 Jesus takes on Jewish tradition

                                 In their first meeting with Jesus, the Pharisees wanted to get him to say something illegal, something against Jewish law.  It would be the perfect excuse to discredit him.  The lawyer they sent knew that there were 613 commands in the Jewish law and generations of Jews had debated fruitlessly about which was the most important.  He was just toying with Jesus when he asked his opinion.
                                 Jesus silenced them all by saying everything starts and ends with love --- love of God and love of each other.  Even the Pharisees couldn't argue with that.
                                 To love God is to love one another.  They are as inseparable as the beams of the cross.  While it is easy to love God, loving others is more difficult. 
                                 But true love of neighbor is measured by how we treat those who are neither family nor friends.  It means including people when the natural inclination is to exclude or avoid them.  Jesus loved prostitutes, thieves, lepers, even his political enemies.  This is how God loves and he calls us to do no less.

Will you know God when you meet?

                                   Elijah hid in a cave, fleeing for his life.  The Lord had promised to be with him, so he waited for God in the cave.  A powerful wind, an earthquake, and a great fire all passed by the mouth of the cave but Elijah knew God was not in those great events.  Then, he heard a "still, small voice" and he stepped out to meet his Lord (1 Kings 19:1-11).
                                  A desire for God.
                                  How did Elijah know God was not in the powerful acts of nature?  Elijah loved God so much that he knew him well.  He knew that God's greatest power is in the truth of his Word.
                                  A search for peace.
                                  Elijah was in trouble because he had stood up for God's truth.  He defeated the prophets of Baal, who were turning people against God.  Although a great victory, it earned him powerful enemies.  So he turned to God.  When our world is falling apart, we can always find peace in the protection of our beloved God.