every year we go through seasonal cycles like winter, spring, summer and autumn. This cycle happens because of the earths tilt as it spins on its pole as it orbits the sun. The tilt of the earth changes over time as does the earths orbit around the sun, from a circle to an oval path. All of these things are what causes the seasons to occur, and climate change. Scientists tell us these movements by earth have been happening for millions of years, and will continue for millions more, but these movements, orbits, tilts and spins make minuscule changes all the time, some we don’t notice because of how small they are, some we do notice because of the geological record. Like the growth of deserts from a tropical land into a sandy desert, like what happened to the Sahara desert in Northern Africa. Or ice ages. And sometimes by human interferences by us burning fossil fuels on such a large scale that the earth’s temperature rises and alters the climates. Maybe that’s why we are experiencing such destructive storms in the south and fires in the west. Scientists have noticed that the earths orbit has changed from a round circular path around the sun to an oval orbit, which could explain the heating up of the earth’s atmosphere and the oceans, which would cause the destructive storms, melting ice caps and glaciers, and the fifth season to occur, fire season. Scientists have also told us that human caused climate change might hide the effect of glacierization by a slight tilt change of earths tilt, so maybe global warming by human activity is a good thing, or maybe it’s not, but either way, what the planet earth does is bigger than what we as humans do and there is nothing that we can do to prevent it.
Eventually, another ice age will happen, …..winter is coming.
Living in the western U.S. in California, summer has been getting dry and hotter every year, as drought is constant in this region and the population is exploding, from just thousands of people a few hundred years ago to 38 million today. So when fires spark because of lightning or human activity, the forests burn and and affect large amount of people. So when when summer slips into autumn and the weather cools and rains come, it is a major relief. And for a while the cold of winter which follows is welcome, but one year the snow fall which in my part of California is rare comes and prettily blankets the ground, melting quickly, and on the road doesn’t stick at all. So there is no real impact except a distraction by our drivers who are notoriously bad drivers in bad weather, so accidents increase. And then go back to normal as they adjust. Before we know it, spring arrives, and things warm up. California weather is so good, that’s why the population is so big. The rest of the country still is covered in snow, and ice, blizzards, tornados, hurricane, terrible weather conditions all year long. And then the next year winter here comes early, with an unusual snow storm that hits hard and doesn’t melt right away. Not unheard of, but not normal. Kids stay home from school and play in the snow, sled down hills, build snowmen. Have fun.traffic accidents spike, and traffic jams occur. Snow plows come down from the mountain communities to help clear local roads. Life goes on. A few days later the snow has melted and becomes a distant memory. But for the high mountains and the midwestern states and the east coast, winter is particularly harsh this year - the storm of the century. Iowa had a white-out snow blizzard, in March. Evanston, Wyoming had a heavy snow fall on July 4th, and interstellar 80 shuts down, stopping all traffic.Although not unusual to have a light snow fall on July 4th, it was really heavy. Snow fell in Pensacola, Florida on the shores of the Gulf of America (aka the Gulf of Mexico). Up north, in Michigan and Minnesota, the Lake effect was really heavy, as it was in upstate New York. Things were getting cold!
population shift from the north to the south, which has been steadily occurring every year for decades, noticeably increases, as people relocate away from the increasingly cold northern states to the warmer Pacific south western states of Arizona, Southern California and Texas. Also snowbirds go on extended holiday down into Mexico to get away from the cold, and check out the area for future immigration. On a side note, Mexicans and South Americans have stopped migrating into the U.S. because it is getting too cold.
now when summer comes, it is very nice and moderately warm, not burning hot as in years past. Home sales increase in California, Arizona and northern Texas, mostly by people from Canada and all the northern states, and also Alaska. President Trump has stopped talking about buying Greenland. The cost of natural gas and heating oil starts to go up.
Spring arrives, and in most of the country it almost immediately turns into winter, with artic cold winds blowing and bringing snow and ice with it. Crop failures occur, food prices start to rise. Not all economic news is bad, greenhouse manufacturers increase, and the government touts American made, and sales of greenhouses skyrocketed, bring in much needed tax revenues. People start to grow back yard vegetables, and in California back yard marijuana is grown in greenhouses along with tomatoes. Let the party begin.
scientists report that in Switzerland glaciers high in the Alps have stopped melting, and at least one glacier has actually grown. That prompted an audit of all American glaciers in the Rockies and the Sierras, as well as Alaska. The report will come out soon. Snow now in Northern California stays on the ground all winter instead of melting, and local counties invest in snow ploughing. It was reported nation wide that this winter was the worst, coldest in 50 years, since recording started. But we all survived.
when summer came, spring wasn’t noticed, it went from winter straight into a cold summer, and in all the northern states snow stayed unmelted, or should I say ice. Major crop failure occurred and food had to be imported from other countries. Most families who had invested in back yard greenhouses did alright, and even started selling to their neighbors in a side business. More people started moving out of the frigid northern states into the border states of Southern California, Arizona and Texas and New Mexico. Or the gulf states of Louisiana, Alabama, Florida. Because of the cooler temperatures, hurricanes weren’t as powerful as they used to be, or as many. Hey, climate change wasn’t all that bad.
The following winter started with a bang - no autumn, and major back to back snow storms for 4 months solid. Business ground to a halt, schools didn’t open. The Great Lakes froze over, as did northern harbors. Most airports closed, as did most interstate highways, so truckers went out of business. Business collapsed.For the first time, emigration out of the U.S. was greater than immigration into the U.S., and it was all to equatorial countries where it was warm with no chance of snow. The Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Columbia, places like that. Whole cities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Michigan and all the New England states were empty of people as they moved south. Canada was also emptying, until only Inuit indigenous people were living there. Same with Alaska.
‘Summer didn’t happen any more, there was just cool winter and cold winter. Seniors died by the thousands of Cold and flu, and then by the hundreds of thousands. Government was starting to break down. Finally, most of the northern border states were evacuated, as there were not enough residents to collect taxes and support government entities to function. Some mountain states like Colorado also emptied, as did most of the Midwest. The Artic ice had grown so thick that sea travel wasn’t possible, as was Antarctica. New Zealand was under ice , especially the South Island. Siberia, Finland, Norway and Sweden were completely covered in snow and ice, and most of their citizens had relocated to southern Europe or North Africa. The world was changing. Maps didn’t make sense anymore.
the electrical grids in most northern countries collapsed, as they did in the south of the southern hemisphere. Crisis’ occurred in the tropical countries because of the population shift, as they were invaded by people coming in to escape the ice. Wars broke out for resources, and land. People died by the millions, coups happened, countries that once welcomed fleeing citizens of those freezing northern countries turned them away at gun point. Things were out of control. Civilization collapsed. People were not having babies. Humanity was facing extinction. And there was still thousands of years of this ice age to go before it started to warm up again.
it’s happened before, more than once, in the history of the world.
About the Creator
Guy lynn
born and raised in Southern Rhodesia, a British colony in Southern CentralAfrica.I lived in South Africa during the 1970’s, on the south coast,Natal .Emigrated to the U.S.A. In 1980, specifically The San Francisco Bay Area, California.
Pyrolysis as a Strategic Instrument in Modern Forest Management
Forest management has entered a phase defined by competing pressures. Fire risk is rising. Biomass residues are accumulating. Carbon accounting expectations are tightening. Pyrolysis has emerged as a technical lever capable of addressing these constraints simultaneously. Its value lies not in abstract sustainability claims, but in its operational and ecological consequences when integrated into forestry systems.
By Wayne Shen8 days ago in Earth
China Bans Rare Earth and Strategic Exports to Japan After Takaichi’s Comments
China’s decision to ban certain rare earths and other strategic exports to Japan for military purposes has sent a sharp signal across the Asia-Pacific region. Triggered by comments from Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi, the move highlights how trade, technology, and national security are now inseparable in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry. What may appear on the surface as a targeted trade restriction is, in reality, part of a much broader struggle over influence, deterrence, and the future balance of power in East Asia. By using export controls as a political response, Beijing has once again demonstrated how economic tools are becoming central instruments of statecraft. The Spark: Takaichi’s Comments and Beijing’s Reaction Sanae Takaichi, a prominent conservative figure in Japanese politics, has been outspoken on issues related to defense, Taiwan, and Japan’s strategic autonomy. Her recent remarks — interpreted in Beijing as provocative and aligned with a more assertive military posture — appear to have crossed a red line for Chinese authorities. While Beijing did not frame its decision explicitly as retaliation, the timing left little doubt. China announced restrictions on the export of certain rare earth elements and other materials deemed sensitive for military applications, specifically targeting shipments to Japan. The message was unmistakable: political rhetoric has consequences, and China is prepared to use its economic leverage to enforce boundaries. Why Rare Earths Matter So Much Rare earth elements are not rare in geological terms, but they are extremely difficult and costly to process. China dominates global refining capacity, giving it outsized influence over supply chains essential to modern technology. These materials are critical for advanced weapons systems, electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, radar systems, and missile guidance technologies. Japan, despite being a technological powerhouse, relies heavily on imported rare earths, particularly from China. By restricting exports for military purposes, Beijing is targeting a strategic vulnerability. Even limited disruptions can slow production, raise costs, and force governments to rethink procurement and defense planning. Economic Statecraft in Action China’s move fits into a broader pattern of economic statecraft, where trade and investment tools are used to achieve political objectives. Over the past decade, Beijing has increasingly demonstrated a willingness to weaponize its economic position when disputes escalate. Japan is hardly alone in facing this pressure. Other countries have experienced similar tactics, from trade slowdowns to informal boycotts. What makes this case particularly sensitive is its explicit link to military use, pushing the dispute beyond economics and firmly into national security territory. For Beijing, the logic is straightforward. If rivals frame China as a threat, China will respond by reminding them of their dependencies. Japan’s Strategic Dilemma Tokyo now faces a difficult balancing act. On one hand, Japan has been steadily strengthening its defense posture in response to regional threats, including North Korea’s missile program and China’s growing military presence. On the other, it remains deeply integrated into China-centered supply chains. The export ban reinforces long-standing fears within Japan about overreliance on a single supplier for critical materials. It also strengthens arguments among Japanese policymakers for diversifying supply chains, investing in domestic processing, and deepening cooperation with allies. However, diversification takes time and money. Alternative suppliers exist, but scaling up production and refining capacity outside China is neither quick nor cheap. In the short term, Japan must manage the immediate impact while signaling resolve without provoking further escalation. Regional and Global Implications China’s decision is being closely watched across the region and beyond. For the United States and its allies, it underscores the strategic risks of concentrated supply chains and the urgency of building resilient alternatives. Washington has already been pushing for closer coordination with allies on critical minerals, including rare earths. The move against Japan may accelerate these efforts, encouraging deeper cooperation between the U.S., Japan, Australia, and European partners. At the same time, the episode adds another layer of tension to an already volatile regional environment. With disputes over Taiwan, maritime boundaries, and military modernization simmering, economic pressure increases the risk of miscalculation. A Message Beyond Japan While Japan is the immediate target, the signal is global. Beijing is reminding other countries that political statements, particularly on security matters, are not cost-free. The use of export controls as a response to rhetoric — not just policy actions — suggests a lowering threshold for economic retaliation. For middle powers navigating between China and the West, this creates a chilling effect. Governments may think twice before making public statements that could invite economic consequences, even when those statements align with domestic political priorities. Critics argue that such tactics undermine trust and accelerate decoupling. Supporters within China counter that the country is merely defending its interests in a hostile international environment. The Risk of Accelerated Decoupling Ironically, China’s use of export restrictions may hasten the very outcome it seeks to avoid: reduced dependence on Chinese supply chains. Each instance of economic pressure reinforces the perception that reliance on China carries political risk. Japan has already begun investing in rare earth recycling, alternative sourcing, and partnerships with resource-rich countries. This latest move is likely to intensify those efforts, even if it comes at higher short-term costs. Over time, a more diversified global supply chain could weaken China’s leverage. But in the near term, Beijing’s dominance remains a powerful tool — one it appears willing to use. Conclusion: Trade as a Battlefield China’s ban on certain rare earth and strategic exports to Japan is more than a trade dispute. It is a vivid example of how economic power is being deployed as a strategic weapon in a world defined by rivalry and mistrust. For Japan, the episode is a wake-up call about vulnerability and resilience. For China, it is a demonstration of strength and deterrence. And for the rest of the world, it is a reminder that in today’s geopolitical landscape, supply chains are as consequential as alliances. As tensions continue to rise, one thing is clear: the era of neutral trade is fading. In its place stands a world where economics and politics are tightly bound — and where a single comment can ripple through global markets and military planning alike.
By Muhammad Hassan6 days ago in Earth
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.