we in this theater share something pretty epic in common having endured a
pretty epic in common having endured a
pretty epic in common having endured a hair-raising hurricane season in
hair-raising hurricane season in
hair-raising hurricane season in addition to a big storm surge hurricane
addition to a big storm surge hurricane
addition to a big storm surge hurricane Irma dumped 12 inches of rain on
Irma dumped 12 inches of rain on
Irma dumped 12 inches of rain on Jacksonville in one weekend and that was
Jacksonville in one weekend and that was
Jacksonville in one weekend and that was on top of your rainiest summer in
on top of your rainiest summer in
on top of your rainiest summer in recorded history yet even with our
recorded history yet even with our
recorded history yet even with our flooded homes our downed trees now the
flooded homes our downed trees now the
flooded homes our downed trees now the mold even with moccasins still swimming
mold even with moccasins still swimming
mold even with moccasins still swimming through some of Florida subdivisions
through some of Florida subdivisions
through some of Florida subdivisions that foot of rain paled to the more than
that foot of rain paled to the more than
that foot of rain paled to the more than four feet that drowned Texas in
four feet that drowned Texas in
four feet that drowned Texas in hurricane Harvey with more than 50
hurricane Harvey with more than 50
hurricane Harvey with more than 50 inches in a week Harvey shattered every
inches in a week Harvey shattered every
inches in a week Harvey shattered every u.s. rainfall record for a single storm
u.s. rainfall record for a single storm
u.s. rainfall record for a single storm so we in the media and meteorologists
so we in the media and meteorologists
so we in the media and meteorologists like to call these storms beasts as if
like to call these storms beasts as if
like to call these storms beasts as if they rose from the pages of a fairy tale
they rose from the pages of a fairy tale
they rose from the pages of a fairy tale actually they rose from warm seawater
actually they rose from warm seawater
actually they rose from warm seawater and as our oceans continued to heat up
and as our oceans continued to heat up
and as our oceans continued to heat up along with the planet scientists worried
along with the planet scientists worried
along with the planet scientists worried that climate change could be increasing
that climate change could be increasing
that climate change could be increasing the risks of these kinds of storms so
the risks of these kinds of storms so
the risks of these kinds of storms so not that we would see more storms the
not that we would see more storms the
not that we would see more storms the problem is more intense ones and more
problem is more intense ones and more
problem is more intense ones and more intense impacts such as these kinds of
intense impacts such as these kinds of
intense impacts such as these kinds of rain events in his new film on the
rain events in his new film on the
rain events in his new film on the climate crisis an inconvenient sequel Al
climate crisis an inconvenient sequel Al
climate crisis an inconvenient sequel Al Gore calls these sorts of rains that
Gore calls these sorts of rains that
Gore calls these sorts of rains that have drowned cities from Baton Rouge to
have drowned cities from Baton Rouge to
have drowned cities from Baton Rouge to Bangladesh rain bombs so the reason
Bangladesh rain bombs so the reason
Bangladesh rain bombs so the reason climate change is making rainfall more
climate change is making rainfall more
climate change is making rainfall more severe is that a warmer atmosphere holds
severe is that a warmer atmosphere holds
severe is that a warmer atmosphere holds more water so this makes sense right
more water so this makes sense right
more water so this makes sense right this is not uncertain
this is not uncertain
this is not uncertain science by any means it’s clear in the
science by any means it’s clear in the
science by any means it’s clear in the rainfall record now going back 50 years
rainfall record now going back 50 years
rainfall record now going back 50 years but having spent many years of my life
but having spent many years of my life
but having spent many years of my life researching the history of humanity and
researching the history of humanity and
researching the history of humanity and rainfall I literally wrote the book on
rainfall I literally wrote the book on
rainfall I literally wrote the book on rain I am here to tell you that the rain
rain I am here to tell you that the rain
rain I am here to tell you that the rain is not a beast or balm nature and
is not a beast or balm nature and
is not a beast or balm nature and climate are not what we have to fear so
climate are not what we have to fear so
climate are not what we have to fear so today I’m here to tell you another side
today I’m here to tell you another side
today I’m here to tell you another side to the story of rain and to clear up
to the story of rain and to clear up
to the story of rain and to clear up some misunderstandings
some misunderstandings
some misunderstandings some of which may be coming back to
some of which may be coming back to
some of which may be coming back to haunt us in an era of climate change but
haunt us in an era of climate change but
haunt us in an era of climate change but the first missed understanding is very
the first missed understanding is very
the first missed understanding is very small and this involves the shape of a
small and this involves the shape of a
small and this involves the shape of a raindrop so from our earliest childhood
raindrop so from our earliest childhood
raindrop so from our earliest childhood we imagined raindrops falling this way
we imagined raindrops falling this way
we imagined raindrops falling this way right like a drip from the faucet but
right like a drip from the faucet but
right like a drip from the faucet but this image is actually upside down in
this image is actually upside down in
this image is actually upside down in reality raindrops fall like this their
reality raindrops fall like this their
reality raindrops fall like this their tiny parachutes their tops rounded by
tiny parachutes their tops rounded by
tiny parachutes their tops rounded by air pressure from below so rain has this
air pressure from below so rain has this
air pressure from below so rain has this really unfair reputation right of making
really unfair reputation right of making
really unfair reputation right of making the world dull and gray from the very
the world dull and gray from the very
the world dull and gray from the very first rains that filled the oceans
first rains that filled the oceans
first rains that filled the oceans tinting our planet blue the truth is
tinting our planet blue the truth is
tinting our planet blue the truth is quite the opposite
quite the opposite
quite the opposite rain gives life then blazes it with
rain gives life then blazes it with
rain gives life then blazes it with color so the better the spring rains the
color so the better the spring rains the
color so the better the spring rains the brighter the hills and valleys the
brighter the hills and valleys the
brighter the hills and valleys the steadier summer rains fall on hardwood
steadier summer rains fall on hardwood
steadier summer rains fall on hardwood trees the richer the reds and yellows of
trees the richer the reds and yellows of
trees the richer the reds and yellows of fall we can even thank the rain for the
fall we can even thank the rain for the
fall we can even thank the rain for the bluest blues in the sky as dust
bluest blues in the sky as dust
bluest blues in the sky as dust pollution and other tiny particles build
pollution and other tiny particles build
pollution and other tiny particles build up in the atmosphere our celestial
up in the atmosphere our celestial
up in the atmosphere our celestial sphere grows paler and paler from blue
sphere grows paler and paler from blue
sphere grows paler and paler from blue to milky white and it’s a good rain that
to milky white and it’s a good rain that
to milky white and it’s a good rain that washes that grit away sort of shining
washes that grit away sort of shining
washes that grit away sort of shining the heavens to their blue Celeste best
the heavens to their blue Celeste best
the heavens to their blue Celeste best so
so
so dearth of rain means dearth of color dry
dearth of rain means dearth of color dry
dearth of rain means dearth of color dry prairie dusty sand desert animals with
prairie dusty sand desert animals with
prairie dusty sand desert animals with pale skin to reflect the sun’s heat many
pale skin to reflect the sun’s heat many
pale skin to reflect the sun’s heat many tropical rainforest creatures evolved
tropical rainforest creatures evolved
tropical rainforest creatures evolved bright pigments so their kind could find
bright pigments so their kind could find
bright pigments so their kind could find them in the rain
them in the rain
them in the rain blurred jungle this is an African
blurred jungle this is an African
blurred jungle this is an African butterfly called the squinting bush
butterfly called the squinting bush
butterfly called the squinting bush brown when it emerges from the pupa and
brown when it emerges from the pupa and
brown when it emerges from the pupa and dry times it’s dull and puny but those
dry times it’s dull and puny but those
dry times it’s dull and puny but those that emerge and rainy season are larger
that emerge and rainy season are larger
that emerge and rainy season are larger eat more food have big beautiful eye
eat more food have big beautiful eye
eat more food have big beautiful eye spots and they even get more sex it
spots and they even get more sex it
spots and they even get more sex it turns out that we humans too are adapted
turns out that we humans too are adapted
turns out that we humans too are adapted to rain
to rain
to rain scientists linked the wrinkles that rise
scientists linked the wrinkles that rise
scientists linked the wrinkles that rise on our fingers and toes after a good
on our fingers and toes after a good
on our fingers and toes after a good soak to our ancestors need to grip in
soak to our ancestors need to grip in
soak to our ancestors need to grip in wet rain forests our finger wrinkles are
wet rain forests our finger wrinkles are
wet rain forests our finger wrinkles are essentially rain treads so to a
essentially rain treads so to a
essentially rain treads so to a remarkable extent rain and often the
remarkable extent rain and often the
remarkable extent rain and often the lack of rain has brought us together as
lack of rain has brought us together as
lack of rain has brought us together as humans a widespread and lengthy drought
humans a widespread and lengthy drought
humans a widespread and lengthy drought helped spur the earliest civilizations
helped spur the earliest civilizations
helped spur the earliest civilizations as people had to come together to
as people had to come together to
as people had to come together to irrigate and grow food in these four
irrigate and grow food in these four
irrigate and grow food in these four great river valleys so rain and the lack
great river valleys so rain and the lack
great river valleys so rain and the lack helped shape humans from the very
helped shape humans from the very
helped shape humans from the very beginning and from the very beginning
beginning and from the very beginning
beginning and from the very beginning humans wanted to shape the rain right to
humans wanted to shape the rain right to
humans wanted to shape the rain right to control it in Mesopotamia one of the
control it in Mesopotamia one of the
control it in Mesopotamia one of the very first gods known to have been
very first gods known to have been
very first gods known to have been worshipped by humans was a deity of
worshipped by humans was a deity of
worshipped by humans was a deity of storms and rain most religions came to
storms and rain most religions came to
storms and rain most religions came to view rain as a gift from God
view rain as a gift from God
view rain as a gift from God in Hinduism the beloved god Krishna is
in Hinduism the beloved god Krishna is
in Hinduism the beloved god Krishna is blue to represent a rain storm his name
blue to represent a rain storm his name
blue to represent a rain storm his name literally means dark as a storm cloud
literally means dark as a storm cloud
literally means dark as a storm cloud source of life-giving water rain
source of life-giving water rain
source of life-giving water rain is indeed a gift but whenever we viewed
is indeed a gift but whenever we viewed
is indeed a gift but whenever we viewed rain weather climate as an enemy to
rain weather climate as an enemy to
rain weather climate as an enemy to vanquish we often came to regret it in
vanquish we often came to regret it in
vanquish we often came to regret it in medieval Europe the 1300s marked the
medieval Europe the 1300s marked the
medieval Europe the 1300s marked the start of this incredible climate shift
start of this incredible climate shift
start of this incredible climate shift to extreme weather including some of the
to extreme weather including some of the
to extreme weather including some of the worst rains in a thousand years season
worst rains in a thousand years season
worst rains in a thousand years season after season crops were destroyed
after season crops were destroyed
after season crops were destroyed starvation set in empty bellies filled
starvation set in empty bellies filled
starvation set in empty bellies filled with paranoia people began to believe
with paranoia people began to believe
with paranoia people began to believe that witches were conjuring the storms
that witches were conjuring the storms
that witches were conjuring the storms and this went on for a couple of
and this went on for a couple of
and this went on for a couple of centuries there were actually thousands
centuries there were actually thousands
centuries there were actually thousands of people tortured and even executed for
of people tortured and even executed for
of people tortured and even executed for a crime on the books called weather
a crime on the books called weather
a crime on the books called weather magic in Scotland King James himself
magic in Scotland King James himself
magic in Scotland King James himself oversaw some of the most heinous torture
oversaw some of the most heinous torture
oversaw some of the most heinous torture and executions he was paranoid that
and executions he was paranoid that
and executions he was paranoid that witches were trying to kill him by storm
witches were trying to kill him by storm
witches were trying to kill him by storm this 1591 news tract tells the story
this 1591 news tract tells the story
this 1591 news tract tells the story from King James’s point of view
from King James’s point of view
from King James’s point of view proving if nothing else that fake news
proving if nothing else that fake news
proving if nothing else that fake news has been around for many centuries so
has been around for many centuries so
has been around for many centuries so this sort of delusional determination to
this sort of delusional determination to
this sort of delusional determination to get the upper hand over nature repeats
get the upper hand over nature repeats
get the upper hand over nature repeats throughout history in 19th century
throughout history in 19th century
throughout history in 19th century America thousands of farmers and
America thousands of farmers and
America thousands of farmers and families rushed west to the Great Plains
families rushed west to the Great Plains
families rushed west to the Great Plains they were drawn by the Homestead Act but
they were drawn by the Homestead Act but
they were drawn by the Homestead Act but also a bogus theory called rain follows
also a bogus theory called rain follows
also a bogus theory called rain follows the plow boosters ignoring the dry
the plow boosters ignoring the dry
the plow boosters ignoring the dry climate history or probably hiding the
climate history or probably hiding the
climate history or probably hiding the dry climate history actually convinced
dry climate history actually convinced
dry climate history actually convinced many people that the more people move to
many people that the more people move to
many people that the more people move to the plains the more it would rain and
the plains the more it would rain and
the plains the more it would rain and this was the propaganda that was seen in
this was the propaganda that was seen in
this was the propaganda that was seen in magazines all over the country with with
magazines all over the country with with
magazines all over the country with with rain and fat grapes and Kansas so in
rain and fat grapes and Kansas so in
rain and fat grapes and Kansas so in le drought returned thousands of
le drought returned thousands of
le drought returned thousands of families had to retreat back east those
families had to retreat back east those
families had to retreat back east those who stayed to wait for rain went hungry
who stayed to wait for rain went hungry
who stayed to wait for rain went hungry some starved to death and into this grim
some starved to death and into this grim
some starved to death and into this grim situation came some of the most
situation came some of the most
situation came some of the most audacious con men in American history
audacious con men in American history
audacious con men in American history these were the traveling rain makers and
these were the traveling rain makers and
these were the traveling rain makers and for a high price they would convince
for a high price they would convince
for a high price they would convince farmers they even convinced farmers they
farmers they even convinced farmers they
farmers they even convinced farmers they could blast rain out of the sky
could blast rain out of the sky
could blast rain out of the sky with mortars meant for war Congress even
with mortars meant for war Congress even
with mortars meant for war Congress even funded rain making by cannon blast at
funded rain making by cannon blast at
funded rain making by cannon blast at the behest of wealthy ranchers over the
the behest of wealthy ranchers over the
the behest of wealthy ranchers over the objections of federal meteorologists who
objections of federal meteorologists who
objections of federal meteorologists who knew it was hokum and said so it was
knew it was hokum and said so it was
knew it was hokum and said so it was neither the first nor the last time
neither the first nor the last time
neither the first nor the last time politicians would listen to the
politicians would listen to the
politicians would listen to the influential ill-informed over their own
influential ill-informed over their own
influential ill-informed over their own scientists but again rain is not the
scientists but again rain is not the
scientists but again rain is not the stuff of bombs nature and climate are
stuff of bombs nature and climate are
stuff of bombs nature and climate are not what we have to fear rather that’s
not what we have to fear rather that’s
not what we have to fear rather that’s human action as water shows its other
human action as water shows its other
human action as water shows its other face hideous unrelenting shrieking it’s
face hideous unrelenting shrieking it’s
face hideous unrelenting shrieking it’s Ray’s delicious scourge of mankind so in
Ray’s delicious scourge of mankind so in
Ray’s delicious scourge of mankind so in 1950 the Army Corps of Engineers put out
1950 the Army Corps of Engineers put out
1950 the Army Corps of Engineers put out this propaganda film waters of destiny
this propaganda film waters of destiny
this propaganda film waters of destiny all about the glorious replumb ofthe UH
all about the glorious replumb ofthe UH
all about the glorious replumb ofthe UH Florida Everglades to save South
Florida Everglades to save South
Florida Everglades to save South Floridians from the vicious scourge of
Floridians from the vicious scourge of
Floridians from the vicious scourge of mankind that was water and rainfall but
mankind that was water and rainfall but
mankind that was water and rainfall but of course the folly to conquer the
of course the folly to conquer the
of course the folly to conquer the Everglades left South Floridians
Everglades left South Floridians
Everglades left South Floridians vulnerable to this day this vast wetland
vulnerable to this day this vast wetland
vulnerable to this day this vast wetland once absorbed all of the region’s
once absorbed all of the region’s
once absorbed all of the region’s rainfall and storm energy but now we’ve
rainfall and storm energy but now we’ve
rainfall and storm energy but now we’ve paved over most of the places where
paved over most of the places where
paved over most of the places where floodwater wants to rush in a storm but
floodwater wants to rush in a storm but
floodwater wants to rush in a storm but guess what the floodwaters are
guess what the floodwaters are
guess what the floodwaters are rushing to those places and these
rushing to those places and these
rushing to those places and these photographs weren’t hurricane
photographs weren’t hurricane
photographs weren’t hurricane photographs these are just rainfall
photographs these are just rainfall
photographs these are just rainfall photographs in South Florida and
photographs in South Florida and
photographs in South Florida and changing climate so these are our
changing climate so these are our
changing climate so these are our stories and for me they really raise
stories and for me they really raise
stories and for me they really raise questions for the stormy times we find
questions for the stormy times we find
questions for the stormy times we find ourselves in will we repeat the folly of
ourselves in will we repeat the folly of
ourselves in will we repeat the folly of fighting climate with concrete will we
fighting climate with concrete will we
fighting climate with concrete will we listen to the influential ill-informed
listen to the influential ill-informed
listen to the influential ill-informed over our own scientists will we follow a
over our own scientists will we follow a
over our own scientists will we follow a paranoid King down a dangerous path
paranoid King down a dangerous path
paranoid King down a dangerous path again nature and climate are not what we
again nature and climate are not what we
again nature and climate are not what we have to fear when it comes to climate
have to fear when it comes to climate
have to fear when it comes to climate change it’s human action and more
change it’s human action and more
change it’s human action and more importantly lack of action again the
importantly lack of action again the
importantly lack of action again the link between extreme rain and climate
link between extreme rain and climate
link between extreme rain and climate change is not uncertain science it’s
change is not uncertain science it’s
change is not uncertain science it’s actionable science for every degree the
actionable science for every degree the
actionable science for every degree the planet warms rains can be expected to
planet warms rains can be expected to
planet warms rains can be expected to get about 10 percent more extreme so
get about 10 percent more extreme so
get about 10 percent more extreme so just like our ancestors came together in
just like our ancestors came together in
just like our ancestors came together in those four great river valleys to save
those four great river valleys to save
those four great river valleys to save themselves in the epic drought it is
themselves in the epic drought it is
themselves in the epic drought it is time for us to come together as people
time for us to come together as people
time for us to come together as people to stave off human misery so the most
to stave off human misery so the most
to stave off human misery so the most important thing we can do is prevent
important thing we can do is prevent
important thing we can do is prevent future warming and that means lowering
future warming and that means lowering
future warming and that means lowering the carbon emissions that are heating
the carbon emissions that are heating
the carbon emissions that are heating the planet the second part of that
the planet the second part of that
the planet the second part of that equation is to make our cities safer
equation is to make our cities safer
equation is to make our cities safer right but this time let’s work with rain
right but this time let’s work with rain
right but this time let’s work with rain rather than against it brilliant people
rather than against it brilliant people
rather than against it brilliant people all over the world in here in Florida
all over the world in here in Florida
all over the world in here in Florida they are showing us how to do this stuff
they are showing us how to do this stuff
they are showing us how to do this stuff in the northeast coastal wetlands saved
in the northeast coastal wetlands saved
in the northeast coastal wetlands saved six hundred and twenty five million
six hundred and twenty five million
six hundred and twenty five million dollars in property damage during
dollars in property damage during
dollars in property damage during superstorm sandy
superstorm sandy
superstorm sandy a rain revolution underway in Los
a rain revolution underway in Los
a rain revolution underway in Los Angeles is creating permeable roads
Angeles is creating permeable roads
Angeles is creating permeable roads permeable parking lots and these vast
permeable parking lots and these vast
permeable parking lots and these vast natural catchment areas so that rain
natural catchment areas so that rain
natural catchment areas so that rain will flow back into the aquifer where it
will flow back into the aquifer where it
will flow back into the aquifer where it belongs
belongs
belongs rather than flooding people’s homes and
rather than flooding people’s homes and
rather than flooding people’s homes and storms or being washed out to sea in
storms or being washed out to sea in
storms or being washed out to sea in huge culverts during droughts when they
huge culverts during droughts when they
huge culverts during droughts when they could really use that precious rainwater
could really use that precious rainwater
could really use that precious rainwater well I hope I’ve helped you see another
well I hope I’ve helped you see another
well I hope I’ve helped you see another side to the story of rain and even to
side to the story of rain and even to
side to the story of rain and even to imagine how we might turn it from foe to
imagine how we might turn it from foe to
imagine how we might turn it from foe to friend for the rain is not the beast or
friend for the rain is not the beast or
friend for the rain is not the beast or balm nature and climate are not what we
balm nature and climate are not what we
balm nature and climate are not what we have to fear that would be us thank you
have to fear that would be us thank you
have to fear that would be us thank you [Applause]
”
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