forest

Thursday June 8, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 8, 2023

Climate Change Fuels Wildfires and Demands Urgent Action

July 21, 2022

More than 400 active wildfires are currently ravaging Canada, engulfing vast areas of forests, displacing tens of thousands of people, and casting an apocalyptic haze over cities. The severity and frequency of these wildfires cannot be ignored, nor can we dismiss the role of climate change in their escalation. As climate change skeptics attempt to downplay the significance of these events by pointing fingers at arsonists or labeling them as normal occurrences, it is crucial to confront the reality that climate change is undeniably contributing to the increasing number of wildfires and other natural calamities.

The link between climate change and wildfires is well-established in scientific research. Rising global temperatures, prolonged droughts, and extreme heatwaves are creating the perfect conditions for these fires to ignite and spread rapidly. As the article highlights, heat and drought associated with climate change are major reasons for the increase in the size and intensity of the fires plaguing Canada. It is not a coincidence that the fires have spread from the west coast to the east coast, encompassing nearly 2,900 miles. This alarming trend mirrors the global increase in wildfires, from the Amazon rainforest to Australia’s bushlands.

News: Canada wildfires: Tens of millions under air quality warnings as fires burn 

November 23, 2016

The impact of these wildfires extends beyond Canada’s borders, underscoring the interconnectedness of climate change. The smoke and pollutants released by the fires are polluting the air in neighbouring regions, including the United States. New York City and states as far as Minnesota and Massachusetts are experiencing the consequences of Canada’s wildfires. This should serve as a wake-up call, emphasizing that the effects of climate change are not confined within national boundaries. Climate change is a global crisis that demands global cooperation and concerted action.

Furthermore, the economic and health repercussions of these wildfires cannot be overlooked. The fires are not only threatening lives and displacing communities, but they are also disrupting businesses and causing severe air pollution. Cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, which have typically been spared from wildfires, are now grappling with the adverse effects of smoke-filled skies. Poor air quality poses significant health risks, ranging from respiratory issues to heart problems. The wildfires are forcing residents to wear masks once again, reviving memories of the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 13, 2021

The alarming reality of smoke hovering over major cities, as experienced firsthand by residents, has the potential to reignite public discourse on the risks of climate change. Those who have previously been sheltered from the direct consequences of wildfires must recognize that their immunity is no longer guaranteed. The wildfires in western provinces have exposed the inherent dangers of air pollution caused by these infernos. This newfound exposure can serve as a catalyst for renewed efforts to combat climate change and mitigate its impacts.

News: Canada is burning. A look at the wildfires blazing across the nation   

Wildfires and climate change: today’s burning issue

It is essential to move beyond denial and skepticism when confronting the escalating threat of wildfires and other natural disasters. The scientific consensus is clear: climate change is exacerbating these catastrophic events. As we witness the harrowing scenes unfolding in Canada, it is incumbent upon governments, policymakers, and individuals to acknowledge the urgency of the situation and take concrete steps to address the root causes of climate change. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and investing in sustainable practices.

September 16, 2020

The time for action is now. We cannot afford to disregard the overwhelming evidence and bury our heads in the sand while our planet burns. The devastating wildfires in Canada are just one piece of the larger puzzle of climate change, but they serve as a poignant reminder of the need for collective responsibility and immediate action. It is our duty to safeguard the planet for future generations, and that starts with acknowledging the role of climate change in the increasing number of wildfires and committing to comprehensive solutions. (AI)  From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give editorial cartooning a try.

 

Wednesday May 10, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 9, 2023

The Beaver and the Panda: A Forest Showdown

Once upon a time, in a peaceful forest, there lived a meek and hardworking beaver named Canada. He always tried to avoid conflict and maintain good relations with his neighbours. One day, a fearsome panda named China came to the forest and demanded respect from all the animals.

At first, the beaver tried to appease the panda by being friendly and accommodating. However, the panda became increasingly aggressive and began to interfere in the beaver’s affairs. The beaver suspected that the panda was trying to intimidate him and his family.

News: Trudeau says expulsion of Chinese diplomat shows Canada ‘will not be intimidated’  

March 26, 2013

One day, the beaver had enough of the panda’s interference and decided to take action. He expelled a Chinese delegate who was causing trouble in the forest. In retaliation, the panda expelled a Canadian diplomat.

But the beaver was not intimidated by the panda’s aggressive behavior. He stood firm and declared that he would not accept foreign interference in his forest. The panda was stymied by the beaver’s sudden aggressiveness and promised further unspecified retaliatory measures.

Researcher: China working to get Canadians ‘at each other’s throats’ 

Despite the panda’s threats, the beaver remained resolute and determined to protect his forest from foreign interference. He warned the panda and other countries engaging in such behaviour that he takes it extraordinarily seriously.

February 25, 2023

In the end, the beaver’s courage and determination paid off. He showed the panda that he was not to be trifled with and that he would do whatever it takes to safeguard his forest from foreign threats. The panda learned a valuable lesson and realized that he could not bully the beaver into submission.

And they lived happily ever after. (AI)

 

Wednesday August 28, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 28, 2019

Bolsonaro’s ego stands in the way of saving the Amazon

December 18, 2009

“Did I say that? Did I?” That was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro talking to reporters on Tuesday morning, apparently denying what his office had told CNN exactly one hour earlier, that he would reject a $20 million pledge from the G7 countries to help fight the fires consuming the Amazon. It was a touch of gaslighting, Bolsonaro style.

The Amazon fires are scorching the Earth’s most vital ecosystem at such a voracious rate that by the time you read this, thousands more trees will have turned to ashes. Brazil’s space research agency calculates that one-and-a-half soccer fields worth of rainforest burns every single minute. That destruction includes more than trees — it is engulfing everything that lives in the forest and cannot escape.

December 4, 2007

As the flames spread, the scale of the devastation could reach a point where the damage may become irreversible. Amid rising pressure from abroad, and from inside Brazil, Bolsonaro has instead busied himself with a childish (and sexist) dispute over whether he has a more beautiful wife than French President Emmanuel Macron and posturing that efforts to help from abroad amount to an assault on Brazilian sovereignty. Meanwhile, more rainforest burns.

Brazil should receive help not only because what happens in the Amazon will affect the entire world, but because it should not bear the cost of preserving the Amazon all alone. Whether or not Bolsonaro feels he has something to prove, Brazilians have much to be proud of. They have a spectacular country, and they have shown in the past that they are capable of protecting it. There is no shame in accepting assistance from a world that is eager to help. They have every right to run the operation. It is their country. But their problem is affecting everyone. If everyone wants to help, why not let them? The obstacle, as often happens with demagogues, is their president. It’s a perfect — perfectly awful — example of what happens when nationalist demagogues take power.

June 2, 2017

It is hardly a surprise that Bolsonaro has been described as the “Trump of the Tropics.” There’s much about his political style that echoes the US President, including his approach to the environment.

Urged by foreign leaders to fight the fires — which open up more land for powerful Brazilian ranchers and miners to graze cattle and extract mineral wealth — Bolsonaro declared, “You have to understand that the Amazon is Brazil’s, not yours.”

It was not unlike what President Donald Trump said in his press conference three days later, when he was asked if he is still skeptical about climate change. In his rambling answer, he said he is an “environmentalist,” and went on to describe precisely the opposite, saying, “I feel that the United States has tremendous wealth. The wealth is under its feet,” adding, “I’m not going to lose that wealth; I’m not going to lose it on dreams.”

The nationalists’ creed is centered on some version of MAGA, Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan, which is at its heart a call to mistrust cooperation with other countries and to reject the prospect of sacrifices for a common good shared with other nations. (Continued: CNN)