Tag Archives: climate change

When American Fantasies Are Dangerous

By Robin Bates | Published: March 23, 2015

The denial of reality that has taken over certain segments of the GOP is well described by Neil Gaiman in “American Gods.” America has a long tradition of such fantasizing.

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The Animals Are Trying to Warn Us

By Robin Bates | Published: December 6, 2014

Scott Bates invokes “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in this Nativity poem.

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Climate Change: Signs of Witchery

By Robin Bates | Published: November 25, 2014

Native American author Leslie Marmon Silko warns of ecological disaster if we don’t change our relationship to the earth.

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Koch Inc: Oligarchs of Order and Ordure

By Robin Bates | Published: October 23, 2014

A Scott Bates poem framing our oil barons as “the officious oligarchs of order and ordure” and “the lizards of ooze.”

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Kingsolver Tries to Save the Planet

By Robin Bates | Published: October 7, 2014

I’m not entirely sure what to make of Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior (2012), which I’m currently teaching in my Introduction to Literature class. It fits well with my theme, which is “Humans in Nature,” and I certainly agree with Kingsolver’s point that climate change is one of the greatest dangers facing humankind. I just have […]

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Hydrocarbons Unleash an Angry God

By Robin Bates | Published: September 17, 2014

Euripides’ “The Bacchae” can be read as a parable of climate change denialism.

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Mass Extinctions Followed by Life

By Robin Bates | Published: August 21, 2014

Richard Shelton’s poem “Death” reminds us that we are part of the world that we are destroying.

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GOP Denies a Giant Problem

By Robin Bates | Published: June 3, 2014

Faced with climate change denialism, Obama has been forced to take executive action. Jonathan Swift would understand.

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This Is the Way the World Ends

By Robin Bates | Published: May 15, 2014

Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice” reflects upon how the world will end. Recent news of melting Antarctic glaciers says we can expect fire and ice to both play a role.

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