Realities of Global Warming

[H2FC]

Gore, Suzuki disciples of hope, not doom


Climate change a global reality that must be faced
By Claudia Ruhland
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 20, 2007)

I read Tom Langdon's article -- A critical look at the 'disciples of doom': What are the agendas of climate activists? -- published in the May 7 Hamilton Spectator.

Where does Langdon think David Suzuki and Al Gore get their information? Wikipedia? I don't think so. These are two well-educated, intelligent human beings who are genuinely concerned about the fate of mankind. They are both willing to take a stand and subject themselves to public ridicule in order to get the message and information out there.

These two men are anything but "disciples of doom," and on their behalf, many of us take great offence to this ridiculous accusation. This is simply a case of "don't shoot the messenger."

Al Gore is a wonderful, caring human being and David Suzuki has been an environmental activist since the '60s. I have corresponded with David since I was 10 and I have always admired that despite however busy he was, he always took the time to personally write back to me.

Christopher Columbus ignored the taunts that he would sail off the edge of the world. He proved them all wrong. Galileo ignored the threats by the Catholic Church and proved the Earth revolves around the sun. There will always be great men and women who will defy the pessimists and cynics like Langdon and prove them wrong.

We are genuinely tired of people that suffer from Ostrich Syndrome -- who prefer to bury their heads in the sand rather than accept and deal with the serious problems our world is facing.

Langdon lives in a country rich in natural resources and hasn't been subjected to the impact of these resources diminishing at an incredible rate.

I, however, live in Australia, a country that is being subjected to the full impact of global warming. It's terrifying. Our summers are getting hotter (45 C and up), devastating bushfires threaten our very existence. Our precious lakes and rivers are drying up at an alarming rate. Complete states are running out of fresh water and are faced with having to import it from neighbouring states. Our country towns are running dry. Our farmers cannot grow crops, as there hasn't been a decent rainfall in many years now. The impact on our rural communities is devastating.

Our Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world, is dying. Our wildlife is vanishing. Shark attacks are on the increase because of over-fishing. Food prices are soaring because we have to import our food from other countries.

Our natural resources are disappearing. Massive glaciers, the likes of which we have never seen, are breaking away daily from the Antarctic shelf. Many inhabitants of our surrounding South Pacific islands have to abandon their homes and relocate on the mainland because their islands are sinking below sea level or being devastated by tsunamis.

Because of us our world is changing. Some people don't want to take responsibility. They call people like Gore and Suzuki, "disciples of doom" because they just don't want to deal with the issues.

Neither Suzuki nor Gore ever said, "The world is going to end next week." That is complete and utter nonsense. For years, they have simply been gathering important and vital scientific information and presenting it to mankind in a way that is comprehensible. What would they gain by being "disciples of doom?" Absolutely nothing.

Does nothing else matter? Langdon asks. I live in a country that is quickly running out of fresh water. Ask me if I care if the potholes in the road are fixed. Ask me if I want better health care when I don't have water to drink. Some people don't get it. We are in serious trouble.

I'm a child of the '60s. I have travelled all over the world and I am alarmed at the changes I have witnessed in my lifetime.

Australians are at the forefront of doing everything they can. Our homes are fuelled by green energy. We use carbon-free lighting. Our cars run on natural gas. We aren't allowed to water our gardens. Our showers are timed. Water abusers have their flow reduced to a drizzle. We save every precious drop. Our plumbers are kept busy fixing leaky taps. We use public transport and carpool regularly. We aren't allowed to fill our swimming pools. We recycle and get involved as much as possible and we speak out. Why? Because we are one of the first countries in the world to feel the full force of the devastation of global warming.

Making the world environment- friendly is going to create new jobs, new clean technologies and a better way of life. We can't keep going the way we have. Our green industries are booming. Let's be realistic. It's happening whether you like it or not.

Our automotive industries are finally listening and manufacturing automobiles that produce clean emissions. The days of the oil barons, price fixing and wars over fossil fuels are coming to an end. The sun and wind are free.

The real problems with this world began thousands of years ago when humans arrived on the scene. Imagine how beautiful our planet would be if human beings never existed.

How about we slow down on the babies for a while and instead of trying to conquer nature, we learn to live in harmony with her?

Claudia Ruhland lives in Melbourne, Australia. She describes herself as an "environmentalist, citizen of the world and proud support of the disciples of hope."
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NAS...=1112188062581

[JuniperPark]

"The real problems with this world began thousands of years ago when humans arrived on the scene. Imagine how beautiful our planet would be if human beings never existed."

Humans didn't exist during the first 3 periods of "global warming", so the author is caught up in his own logic.

Are periods of global warming NOT "a real problem", because they happen natually, or are these 'raise the alarm, humans did this' a total crock of naturaly warmed $hit?

Yes, the "Green Industries" are booming becuase even though Al Gore got caught lying in his figures about global warming, there are still idiots that will beleive anything. Take the hybrid cars for example -- turns out the big savings was a lie -- in REALITY they're getting the same milage as 'normal' cars at half the price, such as the Honda Civic. And, of course, we all know that a ton of money was wasted on that SEVERE 2006 hurricane (driven by global warming) that was one of the quietest EVER in our history. Opps, we are supposed to keep quiet about the failed predictions...

[tas38]

HHhmmm for each gallon of gas we burn, it puts 5.5 pounds of carbon gas into the air. That is only for gas burning autos and such, and you still think man is not making global warming.

This is the gov't math not some nut case, so how many trillons and trilloins of pounds is that. see link below.........

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/co2.shtml

Want to convert your auto real easy and cheap to burn E85, I found this place with a cheap kit that just plugs in to do it.

http://flextek.com/shop.htm

[JuniperPark]

June 20, 2007:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/f...4068db11f4&p=4

"Solar scientists predict that, by 2020, the sun will be starting into its weakest Schwabe solar cycle of the past two centuries, likely leading to unusually cool conditions on Earth. Beginning to plan for adaptation to such a cool period, one which may continue well beyond one 11-year cycle, as did the Little Ice Age, should be a priority for governments. It is global cooling, not warming, that is the major climate threat to the world, especially Canada. As a country at the northern limit to agriculture in the world, it would take very little cooling to destroy much of our food crops, while a warming would only require that we adopt farming techniques practiced to the south of us."

UH OH!

Another very, VERY embarrasing setback for the global warming alarmists. Yet they keep saying, "everyone agrees with our human-caused global theory! now send us money!"

Bottom line -- Gore is a liar, just out for money, fame, ego, and political clout.

[tas38]

Where is the supporting facts for this cooling that coming, global warming has lots of supporting facts to back it up. Please link to some supporting facts, as I seen they don't know that much about all that solar sun stuff yet.

But with global warming, they can do tests and show the facts. So point me to these facts, the global cooling is going to happen any time soon. And then may be I'll side with you, but until then I have to go with the global warming facts they have.

[Duckinla]

[GAMEFINEST]

dayam its hot

[tas38]

Yes and it's going to get much hotter, and lots more floods and fires.

Oh ya I forgot, that is not global warming. Do the right really think, we are buying their big oil bed pals lines. I don't think so, infact I was a republican and just changed to a dem. Others are doing the same as well, I'm voting for mis clinton. Because I know, they think of her as pure evil.

Yes the republicans, church leaders, and big oil pals is getting a slap down. They are going down with the ship I guess, the republicans just stopped the roll back, of that big tax break bush give big oil. That money was to go to help, new fuels to be developed but the republicans stopped it. ( note republicans, are saying the dems was trying to pass a new tax though. )

All the republicans can say about big oil, and the high price of gas and record profits they are making. Is that sure they are making some money, but they need it to build new stuff to keep up. But we all know, they don't even take care of the pipe lines they got. And take them off line, when there are supply problems already.

And of course they are crying war once again, but everyone knows it's really crying wolf once again. Or as has been said, it's a bummer stickers that republicans uses. Sorry but we will not fall for that one again, and the dems will most likely fight terrorist even better. No I'm not a republican anymore, and lots of others are jump ship as well. The republicans rule, with iron fists is over.

[Duckinla]

That money was to go to help, new fuels to be developed but the republicans stopped it. ( note republicans, are saying they was trying to rise a new tax though. )

If you can't figure out that a tax on any company is actually a tax on you, then you should be a democrat.

[GoPC]

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/f...4068db11f4&p=4

An interesting read... make sure you go through the supporting documentation

GoPC

[tas38]

( If you can't figure out that a tax on any company is actually a tax on you, then you should be a democrat. ) I think you miss under stand, what I'm saying here.

Ya but that tax has been paid by us already, to big oil for years now. As bush already give that big tax break to big oil, the dems wanted to take it back and give it to help new fuel techs. Like big oil needs it, the tax we are already paying is better finding greener and better fuels.

[Duckinla]

Here's the details of your "Big Oil Tax Break". Probably not what you were led to believe it is:

The measure includes tax breaks for the production of nuclear energy and the production of energy from alternative sources such as wind, biomass and geothermal means.

For the oil industry, the legislation would allow some costs associated with exploration to be deducted over a shorter period and would provide tax benefits when oil and gas production is delayed and a lease is extended.

In an effort to encourage more refining capacity, the legislation would grant tax breaks to expand capacity. Analysts have said that a lack of refining capacity is a factor helping to push up gasoline prices.

The measure would allow utilities less time to deduct the cost of natural gas distribution lines that connect homes and neighborhoods. The industry said the measure would encourage more rapid expansion of pipelines to newly built communities and the replacement of lines that are aging.

In an effort to encourage the expansion of the electrical grid, the bill would allow more rapid depreciation of assets used in the transmission and distribution of electricity.

The bill also includes tax breaks for the purchase of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles and for improving the energy efficiency of homes and commercial buildings.

If taxes get increase for oil companies, you can be sure that you will pay for it at the pump.

[H2FC]

Originally Posted by Duckinla

Here's the details of your "Big Oil Tax Break". Probably not what you were led to believe it is:



If taxes get increase for oil companies, you can be sure that you will pay for it at the pump.

And thats exactly what we need to fight global warming! I know some readers here will think I'm a nut case for saying so but we must have higher gas/fossil fuel prices to save our planet from destruction by the greedy idiots who are determined to destroy us while they line their pockets with gold. We need a governmental carbon tax so high it will put the oil barrens out of buisness....a tax so high it won't leave any room for excessive profits. Its the only way we can save our planet.

[fatter]

I am suprised wind energy isnt used more, where I live in NY the wind blows faster the 5 miles an hour almost every day, we allready have telephone poles every couple hundred feet so an invention to mount a portable wind generator on the top of each pole might be feasable in lieu of those mega windmills

[tas38]

( If taxes get increase for oil companies, you can be sure that you will pay for it at the pump. )

But they will not put a new tax on them, they will be taken away a tax break they should never of had. The gov't needs to do price controling on big oil, they do it with other power sources, even milk and stuff so it's time to nail big oil. ( but I do, get your point. )

I also agree with you that if the right, don't want to go greener, now they need to put a $5 to $6 tax per gallon. You see how fast they get with it then, and them saying it don't matter because of china don't cut it. As china is feeling global warming already, and they are looking into going greener already.

[Banned: AlienGG]

Exxon Mobile is behind all these Global Warming hoax to protect their interest. Simple as that.

[H2FC]

Climate change and the fight for resources 'will set world aflame'
By Steve Bloomfield in Nairobi
Published: 21 June 2007

Climate change has become a major security issue that could lead to "a world going up in flames", the United Nations' top environment official has warned. From rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean to the increasing spread of desert in Africa's Sahel region, global warming will cause new wars across the world, said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

"People are being pushed into other people's terrain by the changing climate and it is leading to conflict," he said. "Societies are not prepared for the scale and the speed with which they will have to decide what they will do with people."

The world was already experiencing its first war partly caused by climate change, he said. Dramatic changes to the environment in the Darfur region of Sudan helped lay the ground for today's conflict which has displaced more than 2.5 million people and killed at least 200,000.

A report to be published by UNEP tomorrow will make a direct link between climate change and the Darfur conflict. "It will be one of the most significant documents in terms of linking environment change and conflict," Mr Steiner said. "It will say that climate change is now a key dimension that must be considered in conflict issues."

The roots of the four-year conflict can be found in the devastating drought that swept Sudan and the Horn of Africa in the 1980s, the report will say. Since then, rainfall in Sudan has fallen by 40 per cent, a result, claim scientists, of global warming. Farmers began to fence off land to which nomads once had access. Clashes over shrinking resources between nomads, who tend to be Arab, and the mainly African farmers became widespread.

The current crisis was sparked by a rebellion launched by three Darfuri tribes, and a ferocious counter-insurgency unleashed by Khartoum, but the dramatic changes to Darfur's ecology appear to have been a contributing factor. "What we see in Darfur is an environmental change phenomenon unfolding that puts pressure on local communities," Mr Steiner said. "Combine that with potential tensions and you very quickly get a potent mix within which increased pressure can result in conflict. The situation that emerged in Darfur will emerge in other parts of the world." He warned of a "world going up in flames" if countries did not "wake up", adding: "It is a major security issue that affects the whole geopolitical dynamics that we have today."

Earlier this year Britain used its presidency of the UN Security Council to lead its first debate on climate change and conflict. "What makes wars start?" asked the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett. "Fights over water. Changing patterns of rainfall. Fights over food production, land use. There are few greater potential threats... to peace and security itself."

The two major areas of potential conflict, Mr Steiner said, are the Sahel region and east Asia. "In the next 35 years most of the glaciers in the Himalayas will... disappear. You are talking of 500 million people being affected directly and another 250 million people affected downstream." Rising sea levels off the coast of Bangladesh are another potential area for conflict, he said: "India has already started building a wall to stop Bangladeshis coming across. The predicted half-a-metre sea level rise means 34 million people not being able to stay where they are now. Where will they go? They will break through the boundaries."

But Africa is likely to suffer most. Rising sea levels could destroy up to 30 per cent of the continent's coastline, while between 25 and 40 per cent of Africa's natural habitats could be lost by 2085. Conflicts caused by a scarcity of resources are already brewing across Africa. In Ghana clashes between farmers and Fulani herders have become more widespread as resources have become increasingly scarce. In the Mount Elgon region of Kenya more than 40,000 people have been displaced as different tribes fought over access to land.

Climate change will also cause problems post-conflict. According to the UNEP report on Darfur, the majority of those displaced by the conflict will never be able to return to their homes. "We have have moved beyond a point of return," Mr Steiner said.