Spring 2008
"Rising food prices and fuel prices from drought... damn, we need to be even more proactive..."
"It looks like the stage is set for who will be running in office this year..."
"Cannot believe that same-sex marriage wasn't legalized sooner in California..."
The Spring thaw brought some unsettling news from Third world nations, as people would wake up to see reports of food shortages and fuel shortages due to drought, leading to social unrest and instability. While it was nothing apocalyptic, it was a chilling reminder to people over the threat of climate change and indeed, food insecurity was a threat years in the making. The world once more came together to assist either in donations as well as begin problem-solving operations. Ideas such as greenhouses, desalination and other things were being scaled. Perhaps more notably was on how on social media, surprisingly Facebook for the first time, was the complaints by workers in the fast food and grocery industries on food being thrown away. This followed by Twitter caused a growing backlash on the practice, especially as more and more people were encouraged to share stories or practices of perfectly good food thrown away. The sudden rise of stigma did not cause some chains to begin working on donating food ot whathot though others noted that they reason they did so was potentially because to prevent food sickness lawsuits. The issue did go dormant for a while as other issues would come as the news did, but the uneasiness that came with this news did not go away and indeed, it would be continued to be discussed for a while as a few Congress members have considered outlining bills. The most prominent bit of news was the accusations of biofuels being behind the rise of the potential food shortages though when the Gore Administration was confronted, they noted that the main fuel was ethanol, produced by corn. Many would look back as the first time they heard of the "corn lobbyists." Others instead noted it may have been the result of prices, subsidies and trade restrictions. Ultimately, this did not have any immedate effects outside of fundraisers and charities rushing to provide food for people and people donated, there was a bit of a shift in thinking as other biofuels were being examined. After all, the news of rainforests and other natural lands beign converted or such was surprising and concerning when ti seemed it was a catch-22 situation. However, the shift did turn to more matters such as biodiesal and biogas, both of whom could be from waste biomass or from biomass grown on abandoned agricultural lands incur little to no carbon debt. Algae was also becoming more of an interest in creating renewable fuel and in Russia, a paper would come out regarding fungi as being promising. Overall, the food shortages returned to public conscious that dread of humanity against nature. Even as other events aroumd the world pop up such as the incident with Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, Bhutan's transition from an absolute monarchy to a democracy, the devastating effects of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the establishment of the
Union of South American Nations, an intergovernmental organization between states in
South America.
Chart of global trade volume in wheat, coarse grain and soybeans 1990 to 2008, and projected to 2016. United States Department of Agriculture, 2008.
Unsurprisingly, the discussions regarding this became a dominant discussion point over in the 2008 election discussions. Human-caused climate change has been fully embraced and the perception of denialists have been sinking to that of anti-vaxxers or other conspiracy theorists. However, the point remained in how to deal with it. Some consider working with businesses on the matter while others advocate for more government oversight on them. While the topic did go over to what the individual can do, companies were brought up more often because of their influence. Many would note that most candidates were hesitant to go rather harshly after the companies though it was not considered a main issue by people at the time. By the end of May, the Presidential candidates have been decided. Joe Biden narrowly beat out Hilliary Clinton for the Democrats. While it was initially rumored that Barack Obama would take the role of running mate, he would end up declining, with Joe Biden choosing Bill Bradley as his running mate. Meanwhile, at the Republican side, John McCain managed to secure the victory after a tight race between him and Mitt Romney. As a show of unity though, McCain would choose Romney as his running mate. The battleground was being chosen though some noted a few third party candidates as well. The Green Party had been recieving a fair bit of support since Gore's administration and became a gathering place for it, especially since some who would prefer more drastic actions drew to it while the Libretarian party was... well the Libretarian party. Overall, it was shaping to be an interesting election race
Democrat candidate Joe Biden & running mate Bill Bradley; Republican candidate John McCain and running mate Mitt Romney
Meanwhile, while the world turns over throgh various events and the US chooses its leaders, people keep going through. Relatives of victims of the
Virginia Tech massacre report that the government of
Virginia will offer victims compensation of
$100,000 to forestall lawsuits. With the Virginia Tech massacre now brought back, so did the issue of gun control laws and what stance people are falling on them. It was a question that many would see be brought up quite soon over this summer as among the various Supreme Court cases, one of them would change things for the USA for generations to come. Meanwhile, more uplifting news were heard as the Newseum was opening, celeberating the right for free speech and its history. On personal request of President Gore, the internet wing was expanded moreso to include how the budding social media was having an effect in free speech and how it was presented and spread. The visitation of the Pope also promoted some interest as he went to various important sites during his tour. Perhaps most notably was the news from California.
California becomes the second state after
Massachusetts in 2004 to legalize
same-sex marriage after the state's own Supreme Court
rules a previous ban unconstitutional. In reflection, the LGTBQ community was somewhat divided on the support of which candidate as both Biden and McCain have shown interest and there was a hope that one of them could bring the long-awaited ruling of homosexual marriage being legalized federally. Other news included
New York Governor
Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation (effective
March 17) days after being linked to a high-priced prostitution ring. Lieutenant Governor
David Paterson succeeds the governorship of New York and on
NASA's Phoenix spacecraft becomes the first to land on the northern polar region of
Mars.
Panorama of rocks near the Phoenix Lander (May 25, 2008).
