Poll results, presidential race, world leaders and Trump, GHG tax on cows, Gen Z workers, super commuters, Long Covid, cat tour, and wolves facial expressions
July 8, 2024 - The Nett Report
Every other week, the award-winning Nett Report provides readers with thoughtful perspectives helpful to navigating life in a changing world. Past issues.
Poll results:
In the last issue we asked this question: are protests appropriate now to save the earth when they damage property? A small sample size, but interesting results:
85% - No
10% - It depends
5% - Yes
Political Divide
“It’s not about your side or my side - it is about our future.” - Captain Joe Glass, in Hunter Killer, a 2018 action movie where U.S. and Russian submarine captains learn to trust each other to avoid war.
“Come on, people now. Smile on your brother. Everybody get together. Try to love one another right now.” – from the song “Get Together” by The Youngbloods.
“I believe we are approaching the point in the internal order-disorder cycle when you will have to choose between picking a side and fighting for it, keeping your head down, or fleeing.” – Investor and history buff Ray Dalio, in a June 25, 2024, LinkedIn column.
World leaders preparing for the possibility of a Trump presidency
According to a July 7, 2024, article on Politico, World leaders have been meeting to plan their responses to the possibility of a Trump presidency. In 2016 the world was caught off-guard by the Trump win, and many countries want to be prepared should Trump repeat. These are the strategies they are taking.
Personal outreach. There is extensive personal outreach to Trump and his advisers, in the hope of building relationships that will help minimize conflict.
Policy shifts. There are policy shifts aimed at pleasing Trump and his political coalition, chiefly by soothing Trump’s complaints about inadequate European defense spending.
Diplomatic and legal measures. There are creative diplomatic and legal measures in the works to armor NATO priorities against tampering by a Trump administration.
Corporate leaders disdain both presidential candidates
A July 1, 2024, Fortune story reported on talking with corporate leaders who in general “are staying remarkably quiet about the Trump versus Biden election.” Fortune reports that “everyone from big-name CEOs to former chiefs serving on boards and as executive chairmen to heads of private companies to famed asset managers disdain both candidates. And if they spoke frankly about either, they’d say stuff so damning that no matter who’s elected, the moguls might hurt their chances of clinching a controversial takeover or winning favor among the regulators in the next administration.”
Who would replace Biden should he step down?
With concern rising about President Biden’s age, the New York Times has analyzed the possible candidates to replace him. These are the most likely possibilities: Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Other possibilities include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. The article also mentioned Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
Climate Change
“The renewables revolution is extraordinary and wonderful. But let's not forget that efficient use is about half the historic decarbonization in the world and at least half of the prospective decarbonization ... That's generally the cheapest, fastest thing to do.” - Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute, energy consultant to corporations, states, and governments.
Denmark assesses a $100 tax on cows to account for emissions
According to a United Nations report, 12% of global emissions come from livestock farming. To address this, Denmark has assessed an annual tax of 672 krone ($96) per cow starting in 2030. CNN Business reported on June 27, 2024, that “Denmark is a major dairy and pork exporter, and agriculture is the country’s biggest source of emissions.”
Extreme hail storms can damage solar farms, but there is a fix
With climate change making hail storms more intense, and the number of solar farms continuing to increase, damage to solar panels is a risk. However, according to a June 29, 2024, story in Wired, the angle of solar panels can be adjusted to reduce damage from hail in the same way that motors position the panels to most effectively capture the sun’s energy.
Ironically, air pollution has been cooling the planet
The world works in strange ways. We know that the release of greenhouse gases leads to warming the planet. However, a June 25, 2024, story in The Washington Post reports that traditional pollution from burning fossil fuels has been cooling the planet. “Tiny particles from the combustion of coal, oil, and gas can reflect sunlight and spur the formation of clouds, shading the planet from the sun’s rays. Since the 1980s, those particles have offset between 40 and 80 percent of the warming caused by greenhouse gases.” As the planet cleans up pollution, “the cooling effect is waning.”
Future of Work / The Economy
Gen Z workers think being 10 minutes late is still on time
A June 24, 2024, story in Fortune, revealed a gap between baby boomer and Gen Z views about being on time to work. Seventy percent of boomers said “they have no tolerance for any level of tardiness.” On the other hand, “half of those ages 16 to 26 said that being between five and 10 minutes late is just as good as being punctual.” The story also reported that “On average, Gen Z workers miss almost a quarter of their deadlines each week, compared to 6% for baby boomers and 10% for Gen X.”
Super commuters prefer long commutes over living close
Super commuters are defined as those who commute at least 90 minutes one way. A July 1, 2024, story in Fortune reported on a study that found, “During the pandemic, an exodus of professionals left their urban jungle flats for sprawling suburban homes in more scenic rural areas—and now, despite cities bouncing back and offices reopening, they’d rather commute for hours on end on a train (or plane) than give up their newfound life on the outskirts … three-quarters of super commuters said they are happier for it, and over a third reported enjoying a better work-life balance.” In the U.S., “the mean distance to work rose from 10 miles in 2019 to 27 miles at the end of 2023.”
Urban planners propose cities with 15-minute commutes
Meanwhile, urban planners have been thinking about cities where commutes are 15 minutes or less, “The idea is “to promote sustainability and health by reducing car dependency and increasing physical activity,” primarily through walking, biking, and mass transit,” according to a recent story in The Washington Post’s Climate Coach column. “Some have falsely claimed it will imprison people within a 15-minute radius of their homes … Some urban planners object to the idea, saying we can’t fit everyone’s job within a 15-minute walk.” Others say “it’s better when you can reach things close by in a city … But you can take it too far … can everyone live and work within 15 minutes of where they want to go? That’s just not how things work.”
Health
Patients’ antibodies might prompt Long Covid symptoms
Two research groups are looking into evidence that patients’ immune systems might be a cause of Long Covid. As reported in a June 21, 2024, story in Science, “Both groups injected mice with antibodies from the blood of people with Long Covid … And, in certain cases … the rodents developed symptoms seemingly mirroring those of their human donors, in particular a heightened sensitivity to pain.” Some scientists say this indicates “a dysfunctional immune system, triggered by a coronavirus infection, directly fueling Long Covid symptoms—and opens the door to potential new treatment trials.”
The Nett Light-Side
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde, Irish poet and playwright.
Minneapolis cat tour takes off – show me your cat!
John Edwards thought it would be “hilarious and somewhat ridiculous — to lead a walk through his Minneapolis neighborhood admiring the many felines that live there.” According to a story in The Washington Post on July 3, 2024, the event started seven years ago with 12 participants, and this year has grown to more than 500 people marching through Minneapolis asking people on the route to show them their cats.
Does this wolf want to play or attack?
From cats to wolves. According to a July 5, 2024, story in Science, “when wolves are tumbling, nipping, and baring their fangs at one another, it could mean an all-out brawl is brewing—or simply be a bit of playful roughhousing … According to a new study in Animal Behaviour, subtle facial cues help wolves signal their intentions. This facial communication isn’t just good manners—it helps maintain cohesion within the pack.”
About Carl Nettleton
Carl Nettleton is an award-winning writer, speaker, thought partner, facilitator, and subject-matter expert regarding water, climate, sustainability, the ocean, and binational U.S.-Mexico border affairs. Nettleton Strategies, the consultancy he founded in 2007, is a trusted source of analysis and advice on issues at the forefront of public policy, business, and the environment. He helps people and organizations to think strategically about their options for change. He is also the founder of OpenOceans Global, a nonprofit addressing ocean plastic in a new way.