insurgent49
  updated weekly
 home - contribute - donate -  message board - events - links - contact us - archive
March 19, 2007
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

Spring Fever

     My mind has been restless lately, and I have not been focusing on politics much at all. It’s those blue-sky sun-filled days that seem to be at the forefront of my mind lately.

     I find myself sitting by the window in my kitchen feeling the rays of the sun penetrate through the glass. Damn it feels good, especially after our Alaska winter darkness. It’s mid-March and I am growing impatient for that summer time high, as I always do at this time of year.

     After many winters of experience I also know not to have any expectations. For instance, in early March of 2002 I remember warmer days, and the snow melting quickly. Then one night it started to snow, and then it kept snowing until a record snowfall had hit the ground at 28.6 inches in twenty-four hours. Winter was far from over.

     This March has not been plagued with snow, however; it’s been colder than a witch’s tit in a brass bra lately. That’s right … we are currently on pace for the coldest March ever. Anchorage has not seen a temperature above freezing since February 3rd, and temperatures are forecasted to continue at the same rate at least for the next few days.

     Phenomena such as this makes many question the legitimacy of global warming. There are those Alaskans out there saying “yeah, right global warming … those liberals obviously can’t understand weather forecasts.” Well, a cold spell is one thing; however, this year the Northern Hemisphere is on pace for the warmest winter on record. Not to mention that the top ten warmest years have happened sine 1995.

     It’s pretty easy for me, a city slicker, to talk about global warming, because the immediate and direct impact on my life is so limited. It is the rural Alaskan residents who are directly impacted by these climates. And they are the ones, along with some greenies, who are truly concerned about the consequences of global warming.

     “Global warming is a threat to the very existence of Alaska Native people’s livelihood, the effects are profound, and we see that in every aspect of our traditional way of life, culture, subsistence, health and spirituality,” noted a section of a brief to the US Supreme Court filed by three Alaskan Native organizations in August of last year.

     Some of those effects include the fact that polar sea ice is disappearing, glaciers are receding, permafrost is melting, wildlife populations are declining and coasts are eroding. And it is not I, Anchorage resident, who sees all of these occurrences happening in front of my eyes. I cannot truly see the many consequences like my rural brothers and sister. It’s a shame, and makes me feel like a fool for bitching about the weather. 

     This March could be considered the coldest on record. And while I am irritated, at the same time I recognize that weather patterns, at times, are able to destroy communities. Sure, I am ready for spring, but spring in March would be detrimental to Alaska’s rural residents. I guess I should just continue to sit by my kitchen window and patiently wait.  
 
   

     

      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.

     'Rank and File' appears on insurgent49.com every Monday.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford


The Tao
of Waitressing
by Lindsay Luckey








The Protest Of Petty Power

Kings and Pawns

Outside My Anchorage Window

Prevoland

Stop Requested

Copyright 2005 Insurgent Media. All Rights Reserved.
in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.