Meanwhile In California

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/feb/14/oil-sands-ban-legal-challenge

A lobby group that includes BP and Shell in its membership has launched a legal challenge against low-carbon legislation in California that in effect rules out the use of oil from Canadian tar sands. The action by the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) comes amid growing political, investor and consumer pressure on US oil companies not to participate in the carbon-intensive tar sands of Alberta.

The good news is that pressure is growing on oil companies not to participate in mining the tar sands.  The bad news is that oil companies are fighting to continue business as usual.  Business as usual is not viable for two reasons.  We should be curbing greenhouse gas emissions (just ask the Bangladeshis) to mitigate the effects of climate change - and we should be using our remaining oil wisely to build a sustainable way of life.  Peak oil is gonna hit hard - and wouldn't it be prudent to plan for the  coming crisis? 

Bhola Island, Bangladesh (from Al Jazeera)

From the video:  "Much of their crops are drowning in sea water.  As climate change intensifies, coastal areas will be innundated. Therefore, we will lose land. Under business as usual conditions, up to 30 % of agricultrual productivity will be lost in South Asia." 

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/10/2009101011512667509.html

With a sense of impending doom, Bangladeshis are adamant that something must be done to reverse the climate change which threatens to swallow the country's islands and shoreline, irrevocably changing the lives of the millions who have their homes there.

Why do we in North America live in climate change denial?

Easy Like Water - From Al Jazeera (Original Post Jan 19, 2010 )

Floating schools, alternate energy , solar power, access to healthcare, and the empowement of  women: watch this!  Yes, it is long - but worth it. 

Bangladesh is living with climate change right now and adapting with acumen and determination.  The developed world emitted the greenhouse gases that are causing Bangladeshi  land to disappear under the waters.  Therefore, is it not up to us in the developed world to do our part by reducing greenhouse gas emissions?