In our last post, we passed along the shocking news that there's been a 40% decline (die-off) in phytoplankton (the base life of all life) since 1950 -- now accelerating at a rate of about 1% per year(!) -- because of the heating impacts of global warming.

Australia, Feb. 7, 2009 -- After a decade-long state of climate change-induced drought and days of a heat wave that sweltered to a near unbearable peak of 49ºC/120ºF, 100 km/60 mph winds helped more than 400 wildfires set large swaths of countryside ablaze in what has become the worst -- and deadliest -- natural disaster in a century.  People burned to death in futile attempts to save their homes, or in their cars as they tried to flee.  Others could only watch on as entire towns were laid waste.