At this blogging platform I have been focused on highlighting climate change and broader environmental issues facing my homeland Nepal. But the United States is my adopted land never far from my thoughts. I am a Jersey girl now and what the state's governor remarked about climate change has really saddened me. I believe his comments has brought shame to the state too.

 New Jersey governor Chris Christie denies climate change. Here is what Gawker reports,

"Mankind, is it responsible for global warming? Well I'll tell you something. I have seen evidence on both sides of it. I'm skeptical – I'm skeptical. And you know, I think at the at the end of this, I think we're going to need more science to prove something one way or the other. But you know – cause I've seen arguments on both sides of it that at times – like I'll watch something about man-made global warming, and I go wow, that's fairly convincing. And then I'll go out and watch the other side of the argument, and I go huh, that's fairly convincing too. So, I go to be honest with you, I don't know. And that's probably one of the reasons why I became a lawyer, and not a doctor, or an engineer, or a scientist, because I can't figure this stuff out."

Seriously Mr. Governor?? You cannot see any evidence of climate change around you? Let me break a news to you, please consider:

• In Nepal, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, posing serious risk to surrounding communities
• Bangladesh, the Maldives and number of coastal communities are in danger of being seriously flooded because of risk sea levels-caused by global cliamte change
• Still not convinced? please read the following reports detailing effects of climate change in New Jersey. Yes the same New Jersey you and I live in.Impacts of Climate Change on New Jersey Water Resources and Holocene sea-level rise in New Jersey: An Interim Report

Chris Christie's ignorant dismissal of climate change, I believe, comes at a point when the in the United States it is a cool thing to be this rusty, earthy commoner who rejects all things "science". Christie has Sarah Palin and the Tea Party gang for back-up. And while America elects these dim-witted Republicans, the world is fed up and now more than ever is looking for elsewhere for climate change leadership. Europe looks like a much better climate change leader that the United States. Sad turn of fate after historic elections of 2008! 

Bhumika Ghimire