I've been on the road reading in support of THE ENTIRE EARTH AND SKY: Views on Antarctica.

While on Live from Prairie Lights! in Iowa City, (which will be re-broadcast on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 9 p.m. on WSUI, or http://wsui.uiowa.edu/prairie_lights.htm) I was asked about the global climate change research in my book. There are comments throughout about the state of the ice and temperature in Antarctica -- but the final chapter is fully devoted to the simple question, "now what?" The single most chilling comment was that many scientists remained stunned that "our little fires" ie, cars, could change the chemical composition of the atmosphere.

While in Iowa, I heard a local politician state, "You cannot find 100 scientists who will support these theories that people are to blame...for climate change," or some such nonsense.

So I offered how silly this man is -- I mean, he should call me, I can hook him up with a lot more than 100 scientists who are doing hardcore climate change research. 

Then, my friend Craig Pittman emailed me this link: Man-made climate change seen in Antarctica, Arctic. Yes, the ice is indeed melting and things are little more bleak because of new data that speaks to "how much melting? what temperature rise?" Should I send this to our Iowa politico? Perhaps.

(Craig is an environmental news reporter with the St. Petersburg (FL) Times, and has a book coming out on Florida's wetlands and their destruction. The book stemmed from initial research done with Matthew Waite for an award-winning series in the Times. Waite is the co-author. Watch this space for more details on the when and where of their book's arrival.)

But back to Antarctica: Yes, there will be plenty of bad news but we must remain optimistic. About what? About our ability to adapt. We need to take a page from the penguins -- adapt to a most likely more harsh and less forgiving environment. Learn to live lightly and stick together. The penguins have pulled this off in Antarctica. Why can't we do it, too?  

Penguin power!

PS: Don't forget to set your browser to Penguin of the Day!

And NO -- I am not dressing up as a penguin for Hallowe'en. Why lose the chance to dress up as Miss Wasilla 1984, complete with devil tail and horns? My husband is going at Todd Palin. He's wearing a tee-shirt that says, US Out of Alaska, now!