Henry David Thoreau


George Santayana


As with all the web pages on the Living Cosmos web site, this web page is only a portion of the factual, empirical support for the ideas presented. This is basically reflection of what takes place in history as told in the book, In Defense of Nature -- The History Nobody Told You About, which is supported by scholarly references, historical writings, mythology, religious scriptures and more. There is also an excerpt from The Vital Vastness -- Volume One. Because these books are published the full scope and references could not be presented at present, but may be made available at a later date. An attempt will be made to address queries, but not all queries can be answered.



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Hurricanes and Life


The years of 2004 and 2005 (so far) were very busy hurricane seasons with hurricane after hurricane stricking Florida and the Gulf Coast states. The year of 2005 set a record with the first ever 22nd and 23rd named hurricanes as of the end of October. Much of what really takes place is overlooked in news programs. Few take notice of the facts that wild animals sense the coming storm and escape the destruction. While buildings, roads and other man-made (non-living) structures are destroyed, there are still trees, bushes and other vegetation that are still thriving after the storm hits. In fact, the trees that are destroyed by the storm are weak, diseased, not native to the region or old, with few exceptions. Moreover, the levees that failed were those that did not have trees growing near the levees, as indicated by photos and videos. The trees roots and bodies would have helped to prevent the levees failure. Take a look at the photos and you will see destroyed houses, while in the background there are trees and bushes standing. This is a fact of "natural" disasters throughout history, as are the scenes of war, which are often compared to "natural" disasters, such as Katrina and Baghdad in the Iraq war, and New Orleans and Fallujah in the Iraq war. In addition, arson -- people -- where also a factor in destroying non-living structures. This is entire perspective is an overlooked fact, both "natural" disasters and, war and other human activity, destroy non-living things (and some of the people that create them), and bring back life.

Hurricane Katerina was the greatest disaster ever recorded for the United States, in terms of devastated cities and communities (i.e., property damage). As with all of the so-called "natural" disasters, there is the problem of human actions. One news story sheds light on this by revealing the fact that rampant development is strongly responsible for the devastating effects, not Mother Nature who tirelessly works to preserve life. In this same article there appears a quote form one health official saying what is often overlooked, that New Orleans has turned into a "wilderness" (see the Spiegel news story). In fact, there has been a record-breaking number of hurricanes between 1995 and 1999, while forecasts indicate that 2005 will be one of the, if not the, worst ever.

The development of the Gulf Coast is one of the most prominent factors for causing the tremendous devastation in New Orleans, and elsewhere around the Gulf Coast, caused by hurricane Katrina. See this PhysOrg.com article, comparing it with the Asian Tsunami of 2004, and how Asia could also experience a similar fate from a typhoon. The wetlands, a natural buffer, would have taken out some of the powerfulness from hurricane Katerina (and others), as they help to lessen the impact of heat and moisture transfer in intensitfying the hurricane's strength, and taking some of the punch out of the hurricane. There is also a "mysterious" dead zone in the Gulf, where corals and other aquatic life cannot survive (see this PhysOrg.com article about this dead zone. Corals and other living things also abate the power of the storm. See these other discussions on the role the loss of wetlands played maps comparing 1839 with 1993 and discussion of the loss of wetlands' in making the coast vulnerable. Though many will probably ignore the fact that this is the most industralized state in the U.S., and also has more chemical plants, oil refineries, and toxic waste sites, and that this is one of the reasons for the hurricane targetting the area. That is the net charge of the atmosphere and the ground have been offset by this, which attracts storm fronts.

Notwithstanding, the Bush Administration cut funding of a wetlands restoration project by 90%! A timeline of misguided decisions by the Administration shows a series of poor decisions involving flood control and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), making the devastation worse (see the Washington Monthly article and also, a a recent PBS.org discussion of the possiblity of such a disaster). In fact, much of what was known about the potential of a categoary 5 hurricane's effect on the region, especially New Orleans, was the ignored by the Bush administration. There were front page stories in New Orleans newspapers, a 2002 program on Public Broadcasting Station, a Scientific American article, and a number of other sources that discussed the problem, as well as decades of discussions. Yet, on a news broadcast President George W. Bush claims he did not know that such a problem existed. See a PBS.org discussion on the politics of disasters like hurricane Katerina, including Katerina. Also see the Nature.com article on how people have been discussing the potential for such a disaster with politicians for years. Ironically and ruthlessly, and in contrast to this overwhelming evidence, the Bush Administration was trying to pass the blame unto environmentalists!!!.

Look at the photos of hurricane Katerina's devastation and you will see trees and bushes still stating and growing though surrounded by the debris of the destroyed houses. Some may not like the idea, but the experts say that the coast is sinking and any restoration is futile. See the Physorg.com article. This is especially true when considering global warming, which is projected to raise sealevel by as much as 16 feet, and that parts of Louisianna and New Orleans are already below sealevel and sinking further.

  • MSNBC photos Especially take note of the links titled "In Katrina's wake", "Massive devastation", and "Hurricane Katrina slams the Gulf Coast."

  • A half-million people became homeless.

  • NOLA.com (New Orleans website) A vast array of pictures that tell the same story are presented here.

  • Space.com NASA satellite photos of New Orleans before and after flooding. See also the NASA Earth Obsveratory images and discussion.

  • Digitalglobe.com provides more before and after photos.

  • The NASA Earth Observatory images and discussion on the effects on Mobil, Alabama. Note that the non-living structures are wiped clean from the landscape. See also their discussion and satellite images of New Orleans.

  • Considering that about 160,000 homes are no longer useable and will or have been demolished, and that there are now gas, chemical, and other poisons, it would be best to leave New Orleans and other totally devastated cities and towns to Nature. See the Discovery.com article, and the TheStar.com story.

  • A Hurricane Katrina slideshow form someone who lived in New Orleans.

  • Hurricanes Destroyed 109 Oil Platforms

  • See the damage done to Sabine Pass, Texas

    Other links of interest:

    This has brought out the continuing debate about whether global warming is increasing the powerfulness and numbers of hurricanes. Most scientists, however, are indicate that this alone cannot acount for the increasing numbers and intensity of hurricanes, and suggest that there may be other factors. As discussed in The Vital Vastness and in the book In Defense of Nature -- The History Nobody Told You About this increase has occurred in the past with the same effects, and is due to a increase in the release of ionizing radiation which feeds hurricanes. This increase is the result of the weakening of the Fields of the Field-dynamical Earth Model (FEM), caused by the destruction of life, which contribute electromagnetic energy to the Field system. Increased solar activity is also a contributing factor in activating the release of ionizing radiation.

    See the articles discussing global warmings' possible contribution to hurricane intensity, which is basically due to more warm ocean waters that feed hurricanes:


  • The Presence of Trees (Life) Reduced the Impact of Hurricane Felix See the Physorg.com news item.


  • Rare Mideast Cyclone Hits the Gulf of Oman and Iran. This is yet another unusual and recent cyclone. Hurricanes also hit Spain, which is near the Mediteranean Field, and another hit Brazil, which is near the Brazilian Field. This one is a product of the Persian Gulf Field intesifying the cyclone. See the News.AOL.com story.


  • Like Hurricanes, Tornadoes also Destroy Lifeless Structures, as did a Tornado that Wiped Out a Kansas Town. See the Livescience.com article. Another hit Enterprise, Alabama with similar results. See the NASA story.


  • The Destruction Caused by Hurricanes and Tsunamis are Very Similar. See the Livescience.com article.


  • Like Many Other Life Forms, Termites Survived Katrina. See the Sciencedaily.com story.


  • Things Will Get Worse along the Gulf Coast with Rising Seas and Silted-Up Rivers. See the Physorg.com article. Also see the next entry.


  • Warmer Ocean Temperatures are Forming in the Areas Where Hurricanes Form, as the Result of Human Activites. Warmer waters aid in intensifying the strength of hurricanes. See the Physorg.com article. Also see the pervious entry.


  • The Toll of Hurricane Katrina was Great, as FEMA Reports. There was 1,300 lost lives, 450,000 people were displaced, $125 Billion in damages to all sorts of lifeless structures, and more. See the Sciencedaily.com story.


  • Much like Hurricanes, China was Hit by a Huge Typhoon causing Extensive Damage. Moreover, China was hit by the worst typhoon in 50 years. See the MSNBS story.


  • Many Atlantic Hurricanes Begin Near Northwest Afirca, Close to the Mediterranean Field, and Intensify Near the North Atlantic Field. See the Nationalgeographic.com news story.


  • The Strongest Hurricanes of 2005 were Electrified. Hurricanes are not supposed to have lightning or any strong electrical characteristcs, unlike thunderstorms and tornadoes. Yet, the strongest hurricanes of 2005 were so obviously electrified that the phenomena could be seen from space. In The Vital Vastness -- Volume One the role of ionizing radition in the formation of hurricanes was discussed, and this observation proves that this does take place. See the Physorg.com, Terradaily.com, and NASA.gov articles.

  • Like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Hurricane Emily Had Extensive Lightning -- the First Time that Lightning has been Observed in Hurricanes. This shows that there is more to the increase in hurricanes and their intensity, and is, in fact, the Field-dynamical Earth Model (FEM) releasing ionizing radiation, which is more responsible than global warming.

  • Ozone Loss Around Hurricanes. This is a result of ionizing radiation that destroys ozone and aids in the generation of hurricanes, as discussed in The Vital Vastness -- Volume One. See the NASA news article.

  • Nature was Needed to Protect Louisianna from Flooding. Wetlands, marshes, sand dunes, and barrier islands are needed, and are being employed, to prevent the flooding of towns near the gulf coast. This shows just how much the events that have been hitting Louisianna and elsewhere are conected to working with Nature. See the Mercurynews.com AP news story.

  • New Orleans is Sinking, and Nature, including Global Warming Raising Sea Level, will Eventually Reclaim the Area.. In addition, the Levees are also Sinking. [see also, Dixon, T, et al. (2006) Subsidence and flooding in New Orleans. Nature 441-587-588].

  • There are many places in the United States that are prone to flooding.

  • These Hurricanes Were So Much More Powerful that there is Talk of a New Category 6 Hurricane Intensity Designation.

  • "Hurricane Ophelia headed straight for fields of pharmaceutical-producing rice near Plymouth, North Carolina", reads a Newsletter Release from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The unnatural crops were targetted.

  • The Description of a Devastated Gulf Coast Area Paints a Picture of What Took Place.

  • Did Warm Waters Fuel Hurricane Katrina?

  • A Newsday.com article discusses the possibility of a contributing factor of global warming.

  • A PBS.org Nova discussion highlights the possiblity of such a disaster, including the evidence of an increase in numbers and intensity of hurricanes.

  • A Speigel.com article also discusses the evidence of an increase in numbers and intensity of hurricanes.

  • An MIT article also discusses the increase of hurricane intensity over the past 30 years.

  • Another discussion is available on the recent increased numbers, duration and intensification hurricanes and typhoons (i.e., tropical cyclones). [See also Webster, P. J., et al (2005) Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment. Science 309:1844-1846.].

  • Hurricane Wilma had one of the fastest wind speeds ever recorded for an Atlantic hurricane -- at least 185 mph, and probably more. So fast, in fact, where the wind speeds that scientists suggested a new category 6 for hurricanes.

  • Hurricane Historian Says This is the Worst On Record In Many Ways.

  • Researchers Explore the Mystery of Hurricane Formation. Hurricanes begin along the equator near Africa and if conditions are right develop into full-blown hurricanes. The thing is they often intensify in the region of the North Atlantic Field of the Field-dynamical Earth Model, in the Caribbean and Gulf waters. See also, Mapping the Risks of Hurricane Disasters.

  • Many of the toxins now in the water in New Orleans are the result of common urban pollution.


    The same is true of other hurricanes. In Florida, as elsewhere, animals showed a unwavering ability to predict the disaster, stay out of the way, and save themselves. A South Florida Sun-Sentinel author comments, "When Hurricane Charley came within hours of the Caloosahatchee River, eight sharks tagged by biologists suddenly bolted out of the estuary to the safety of the open ocean. When Hurricane Jeanne approached Gainesville, butterflies in an experimental rainforest wedged themselves under rocks and disappeared into tree hollows. And as the whole series of hurricanes churned through the state, birds appeared to delay their migration south, stacking up somewhere north of Florida until the route to their winter habitat was safe. Like the elephants, buffalo and deer of South Asia that fled to high ground well ahead of the [Indonesian] tsunami, many Florida animals have shown they can predict hurricanes and take steps to survive them." A University of Florida wildlife biologist states, "It doesn't make any difference if it's a hurricane, a fire or an earthquake. They apparently sense these things before humans can do that. They start moving away from danger before humans pick it up." See the full story at Kansas.com.



    These photos are examples, of which there are literally hundreds of thousands, of what hurricanes do. Note how the non-living structures are destroyed, but there are trees and bushes still growing. The wild animals have also escaped the ravages of the hurricanes, as well as other disasters. These photos are of hurricane Ivan's destruction of Florida.