Newswire:

Global Warming, Laser Shows, Robin Hood And Giant Mobs Of Murderous Jellyfish

Happy Earth Day! Yes, yes, we know that in fact every day is Earth Day, but we love the excuse to talk about saving the planet.

Here’s why we’re still so hot and bothered about Global Warming. Back in September, we brought you the 100 Effects of Global Warming. We all know the abstract stuff, like global warming is melting the ice caps. Our list included some of the more concrete—and very personal—effects of ever-increasing temps, like the end of baseball bats, good wine, and guacamole. [100 Effects of Global Warming]

Sadly, the list is far from complete. Here are a few new effects that have come to light in the meantime:

• Goodbye To The Great Pumpkin (Or, as Stephen Colbert called it, the new War On Halloween): This year, global warming weather wiped out pumpkin crops “from western New York to Illinois, leaving fields dotted with undersized fruit.” Pumpkin production has fallen for two years in a row. [AP]

• Goodbye To Fourth Of July Celebrations: In many communities across the country, serious drought (exacerbated by global warming) meant conditions were too dangerous for good, old-fashioned fireworks displays. In California, some were even replaced with (oh, the horrors) LASER SHOWS. [USA Today]

• Goodbye To Leaf Peepers: Experts say that autumn has become too warm to elicit New England’s richest colors when it comes to changing leaves. In addition, warmer autumns and winters have been friendly to fungi that attack some trees, particularly the red and sugar maples that provide the most dazzling colors. [AP]

• Danger for Europeans: According to Europe’s environmental agency, “poor air and water quality, and environmental changes blamed on global warming, have cut Europeans’ life expectancy by nearly a year.” [AP]

• Goodbye To Robin Hood: Little John would not be amused. Global warming is killing off giant swaths of Sherwood Forest. [USA Today]

• GIANT MOBS OF MURDEROUS JELLYFISH! Billions of jellyfish packed into a block 10 miles long and 65-feet deep swarmed a salmon farm in Ireland in November, slaughtering $2 million-worth of fish. Warmer ocean temps meant the stinging pests could travel outside their normal Mediterranean habitat and had more time to amass into a giant mob. [MSNBC]

Every Day Is Earth Day!

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