Word: arctic
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...Meanwhile, Palin's strong support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will contrast with McCain's muted opposition; she's said she expects McCain to change his mind on the issue, which will create an awkward dynamic no matter what he does. She also surprised Alaska's conservatives by vetoing a bill that would have denied state benefits to same-sex couples (though that might help her appeal to less socially conservative independents). Her profile as a good government crusader may not be such an easy sell, either. She was endorsed in an ad by Senator Ted Stevens...
...country passing up the potential revenue in favor of keeping the Amazon pristine. It's also a reminder that, as we fight over a little offshore drilling in the U.S., rising energy prices will impact far more vulnerable ecosystems overseas, from the Amazon in South America to the vast Arctic stretches of Siberia. For now, the best we might be able to expect - until alternative fuels make oil and gas unnecessary - is adherence to the best safety standards for new exploration. After all, keeping the oil and gas in the ground may be better for the environment and the climate...
...understand what has happened to the earth's atmosphere--and, therefore, how our climate might change in the future--some ice-core scientists in the Arctic are training their eyes directly downward. It's an incredibly important job. It's also, as the participants in the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) project will attest, incredibly fun. Where else can you snowmobile all day across Olympic-quality piste, make modern art out of 200-year-old ice crystals and relax at "night" (the sun never sets during the arctic summer) with copious amounts of Carlsberg beer delivered...
...sheet. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, the motherly Danish field leader of the NEEM project, greets us at the camp's main kitchen, dining room and work space: a toasty geodesic dome straight from the winter dreams of Buckminster Fuller. I quickly learn that a great deal of time in an arctic research camp is spent preparing and sharing food. In part, that's because the body churns through calories in the cold. But those shared meals--featuring steaks half the size of Frisbees on this particular night--and leisurely coffee breaks foster a family atmosphere among the international scientists at NEEM...
...party. As it warms, we'll probably lose more, but the hope is that through projects like NEEM, we will finally understand our climatic past before meeting our uncertain future. The scientists here think we're running out of time--a concept that loses all meaning through the nightless arctic summer. I force myself to go to bed at about 11:30 and try to sleep despite the light. I wake up once to use the bathroom and stagger outside my tent. It's 2 a.m. The sun is bright and getting brighter...