Some climate scientists claim that global heating has accelerated recently, because we have reduced sulfur pollution that cools the atmosphere but have not reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Others say more years of observation are needed to check this.

But we can still probably prevent total disaster — depending on where the tipping points are — if we take the strong action that actually reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Planet-roasters struggle unceasingly to prevent such strong action.

The idea of recycling most plastic that is discarded has been promoted for decades by plastic manufacturers to convince us to ignore waste plastic that winds up in rivers, soil, and the ocean.

The next step in this campaign is to cite "advanced recycling", which is still hypothetical.

A report says that the US asked Qatar to reduce Al Jazeera's coverage of Israel's bombardment and siege of Gaza.

Covering stories such as the killing of Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh's family seems to be inspiring condemnation of Israel's apparent war crimes.

Perhaps Israel should cease committing more of them. It could declare a cease-fire and allow in all the food, water, medicines and fuel that Gazans need.

It is not justifiable to hold everyone in Gaza hostage to demand the surrender of HAMAS — and it won't even work.

*This isn’t a contest of heroes and villains — but two peoples in deep pain, fated to share the same land.*

The US Senate unanimously condemned "pro-HAMAS student groups".

I endorse the condemnation of any groups that support HAMAS. HAMAS is a terror group.

But I have to wonder if the statements of the student groups in question were actually pro-HAMAS. They may have been pro-Palestinian. They may have been anti-Israel, or just anti-occupation.

Israel has cut off internet, cellular and landline communication with Gaza. This was followed soon after by an increase in bombardment. One must suspect that the cutoff was imposed was to keep the world in the dark about the casualties caused by the increased bombardment.

*Furniture for firewood, radios for news: Israel’s siege throws life in Gaza back decades.*

*UN general assembly calls for "immediate, durable humanitarian truce" [in Gaza].* Only 14 countries voted against the resolution, one of them being the US.

The US should have voted for that resolution.

The US is right to recognize Israel's right to self-defend against HAMAS — but there are limits to what constitutes "self-defense". It does not include unlimited bombardment of civilians in Gaza. It does not include denying civilians access to food, water, medicine and the fuel necessary to distribute those. It does not include cutting them off from communication.

There is no conflict between recognizing Israel's right of self-defense, properly understood, and calling for a truce. The US should do both.