Monday, April 28, 2008
COLDER IS HOTTER
Climate change can do anything:
Times columnist Nick Kristof recently highlighted economic research showing that climate change may be driving up the rate of executions of suspected witches in East Africa.
Well, why not? Climate change is also reducing opium production, according to the Independent, by ingeniously making winter colder via global warming:
Faltering British efforts to tackle Afghanistan’s poppy crop have found an unlikely ally – in the weather.
Freak weather linked to global warming is expected to reduce parts of the country’s opium harvest drastically. Scientists believe freezing winter temperatures followed by late rains and a possible drought may cut this year’s yields, with some farmers losing half of their crop.
(Via Miles C.)
UPDATE. Also in Africa, but worse than witches:
The UN has covered up claims that its troops in Democratic Republic of Congo gave arms to militias and smuggled gold and ivory, the BBC has learned.
(Via Murph)