Europe has been at a new reality for a number of years now, and scientists have been warning about extreme weather for years. What used to be a “once in a blue moon” situation is starting to seem like the norm. Communities are no longer facing warm weather—they are facing increased heat waves that are straining infrastructure, agriculture, and public health. Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat Simon Stiell told governments in a recent climate change briefing to speed up substantive action rather than lip service.

Temperature Records Broken

Another series of remarkable readings has been enjoyed this summer in several countries.

Throughout France, heat warnings were issued across the board where temperatures were reaching critical levels. In Spain, weather stations reported values which broke and/or exceeded previous seasonal records and in a few areas, outdoor activities were limited during the hottest hours of the day.

Over there, fire spread fast in Greece, causing evacuations and adding to the already stressed emergency services in the face of the intense heat. The smoke billowed from large areas was a reminder that record temperatures come with cascading impacts to local economies, ecosystems and public safety.

The isolated record is no longer the primary focus, according to meteorologists. Instead, it is the regularity in which new extremes are being set that worries climate researchers most. Few summers are remembered for the warm weather that occurred, but it is now replaced only a few years later with even warmer summers.

Why Europe is the furnace of the globe

Europe is becoming one of the warmest continents in the world, as climate scientists have been stating, and the evidence continues to back up that fact. Changing atmospheric circulation, big reduction in snow cover over the mountain regions, and warming of the Mediterranean Sea has led to the increasing occurrence of prolonged high temperatures.

European ecosystems, infrastructure and public services were built for milder summers, while they are not built to withstand the warm summers of tropics.

So, a few extra degrees of warming can have repercussions that are far reaching. Crops are ready for harvest too early, rivers run low, and electricity demand increases dramatically as cooling systems are forced to run around the clock.

The changing climate has also sparked a comparison with Australia, which has long experience of coping with extreme summer conditions. Australia has spent a considerable amount of money preparing for the heat, but many European cities are still coming to terms with conditions that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.

Climate researcher Allie Gallant says these repeated extremes shouldn’t be considered just a few weather events, but signs of a climate system that is slowly changing. Her findings align with the global scientific evidence of increased frequency and severity of extreme heat, which is a result of the warming climate. Her observations support the general scientific findings that extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe throughout the world, a result of the warming climate.

Beyond the Thermometer: The Cost of Extreme Heat

The effects are far-reaching and go beyond uncomfortable afternoons.

Argentina is seeing a continuation of below-average yields caused by the lack of rainfall, with farmers in Western Europe saying this is affecting their crops as well, especially their vineyards, wheat farms and fruit orchards. One of the top industries in the region is also taking a hit, tourism. Tourists traditionally flocked to these historic cities in July and August but now have a wider choice of places with lower temperatures or travelling at off-peak times.

Healthcare services have been increasingly on the brink of dehydration, respiratory illness and heat exhaustion. During prolonged hot weather, older adults and individuals with chronic health problems continue to be at high risk.

This is a Summer That Demands Action

The heat waves that we had all year long have once again shown the difficulties of Europe. The continent is facing a future predicted years ago by many scientists as France responds to an emergency, Spain is setting new records, and Greece faces devastating fires.

The response of European governments will decide how future generations will experience the summer. The response has to be now, whether it is urban planning, increased investment in environment protection or change in the fundamental policies; it has to be fast and precise. Severity of western Europe’s climate change is a bitter reality and the society will have to adapt to it, while they are living their lives.

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Their campaign message argues that if Democrats regain control of Congress, the country will have to face colossal changes in politics and economy of the country. These changes are not going to work in the favor of the people of the country but only in the favor of the Democrats. Republican has said time and to choose between traditional American values over radical socialist agendas.

Max Lippel who is a spokesperson from Republican National Committee has urged people to choose “common sense over communism”. Many other politicians have their own way of saying the same thing. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that American families face a greater threat from progressive Democrats than from any other political group. Stephen Miller has also said that democratic socialist will destroy the American way of life.

Democratic Socialists are expanding their influence

The influence of Democratic Socialist of America is growing by day by day. This is because Generation Z Americans think socialism is more favorable for American economy than capitalism.

One of the most recognizable figures like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have secured victories in primary Democratic races. On the other hand congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been able to do the same. The winnings of these candidates among some others have cemented the ideology of socialism in the young minds of Gen-Z of America.

According to the official sources, their current membership is running at 120,000, which was only around 6500 in the year 2012. This is because DSA members have been pushing progressive policies and reshaping left wing of the party in many ways.

Polling by the Cato Institute suggests that Generation Z Americans view socialism more favorably than capitalism, highlighting a generational shift in political attitudes.

Democratic socialism and communism are not the same

Main idea that has been pushed by DSA is that they are not bringing back the good old communism in its original shape and form.

They say Democratic Socialism is different from the standard communism. While it is true that both of these ideologies wants to give greater economic equality, stronger protections for workers DSA wants to do things differently.

They want to achieve policies like universal healthcare, affordable housing, voting rights reforms and stronger labor unions, all by correcting democratic institutions not by abolishing private ownership. They do not want a classless society but with society with fundamentally different political system.

Despite these differences, Republicans have increasingly grouped democratic socialism and communism together in campaign messaging, presenting progressive policies as part of a broader ideological threat.

Echoes of America’s Red Scare

Historian Clay Risen says today’s political messaging have same characterization as earlier anti communist campaigns. He says many of the current accusations are to discredit political opponents and portray that majority of the reform movements are un-American

The Two Red Scares

1.After Russian revolution the labor movements were increasing drastically in the United States. This was the first red scare of the America. Although majority of the demands of activists was for workers rights, they were labeled as radicals. The American government feared that this socialist ideology would spread across the continent.

2.After World war II, tensions between United States and Soviet Unioin were nowhere near to be finished. During cold war the Second Red Scare came and stayed for quite some time. Many left wing American become targets of suspicion and persecution. This was because of widespread roumers of Soviet Espionage happening in America at that time.

All of this suspicion was well placed, and this was proved by Senator John McCarthy. His investigations for spies led to the arrest of many people in different suits of American institutions and government. There were numerous left wing Americans working as military personnel, government officials and journalists, who were working as a Soviet Spies. But this is also true that thousands of people also lost their jobs, against which allegations were made but no evidence was found.

This McCarthyism was also not a favourable period for LGBTQ Americans. People in th entertainment industry has to face blackmailing and persecution due to their sexual orientations. This effect was later known as Lavender Scare.

Roy Cohn, who later became Donald Trump’s mentor and lawyer, served as legal counsel during McCarthy’s hearings, creating a historical link that commentators continue to highlight today.

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