OPINION: To defend democracy — and our climate — we have to vote for it

The article emphasizes the importance of voting for climate-conscious leadership in the wake of unusual and severe flooding in an Arctic community during winter.

Comment from Gemini:

Several attached observations document the history of storms and unusually high water levels impacting Kotzebue, Alaska. The earliest, from 2017, detail storm surges and flooding along the coast, similar to the flooding described in this opinion piece. Subsequent reports from 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and leading up to this October 2024 observation show a pattern of unusual weather, flooding, and high water levels, often occurring outside of the typical storm season. For example, the August 2019 observation notes flooding five feet above normal high tide due to a tropical weather system, an unusual occurrence for that time of year. The 2021 observation focuses on the impact of declining sea ice on subsistence seal hunting, highlighting the broader effects of changing climate conditions on traditional ways of life. The observations from 2022 and 2023 further corroborate the recurring nature of these events. Finally, the observations immediately preceding this opinion piece document the specific storm and flooding event in October 2024 that the author is referencing, providing additional details about the extent of the damage and community response. Taken together, these related observations illustrate a trend of increasing and unusual coastal flooding events in Kotzebue, providing a concrete context for the author's concerns about climate change and its impact on the community. It's also worth noting that this op-ed was published in the Anchorage Daily News: https://www.adn.com/voices/2024/10/28/opinion-to-defend-democracy-and-our-climate-we-have-to-vote-for-it/