Let's close out suicide-watch Thursday

July 12, 2006 -- - Scientists waited a long time to declare that global warming was real. And they waited even longer to declare that it resulted from human activities.

And they are still waiting to announce what is becoming increasingly obvious: It isn't going to take nearly as long as had been expected for profound changes to take place.

Good scientists are always cautious scientists, and that chiefly explains their reticence. But now, nearly every research institution involved in the study of global climate change -- from the American Academy of Sciences to the atmospheric department at your local university -- has issued reports citing overwhelming evidence that the planet is changing....

But many experts confide privately what they aren't yet ready to announce publicly: Change is accelerating at a dramatic rate....

Don't think of it in terms of centuries, or even decades. It's happening now.

Wow. On ABC, even. Maybe the media is - finally, belatedly - waking up.