10/6/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Have you heard about NPR’s latest effort to “connect the dots between climate, migration and political extremism?” Al Shapiro is going to shine a light on how the poor people on our planet are moving away from areas where resource scarcity leads to violence & the negative reactions of locals when new people move in to compete for resources. This phenomenon has persisted since Biblical times which led to stories such as “manna from heaven” & “loaves & fishes.” Our better selves realize we are better off when we share, but our animal instincts warn us to hoard.

            I am thinking about human migration as I read in the CSM that FL “has seen a stunning 623% population increase since 1970.” As I mentioned yesterday, the places that Ian flooded will flood again so it would be best if folks found higher ground for their homes. Have you considered providing incentives to the retirees who were adversely affected by Ian to return to NY, IL & the other 14 states that saw population decreases in the latest census? At the very least, let’s stop offering taxpayer-subsidized federal flood insurance as an incentive for Americans to live in beautiful but flood-prone areas.

            Have you heard the disappointing but not surprising news that the junta has sentenced Toru Kubota, Japanese journalist, to 10 years in prison for sedition & violating immigration laws. According to Shawn Crispin of the Committee to Protect Journalists, “The ruling shows that no journalist, foreign or local, is safe from the regime’s arbitrary use of overbroad laws to stifle independent news reporting.” Please express your concerns about this & pressure PM Fumio Kishida to do the same.

            Have a good trip to Poughkeepsie today.

            BYBS,