The Climate Debate

[sdv]

Global Warming became the ignored hot issue in the US elections, and many in the alternative media are passionately committed to the belief that humans are causing climate change and that this results in extreme weather.

Is this true? Here's an interesting article that shows that the evidence does not support this belief:

http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2012-11-06-hurricanes-fuel-climate-sensationalism

1 Weather is not climate.
2 Weather has been far more extreme in the past in the USA.
3 Despite becoming the 'bad boy' of the world by refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, the USA has reduced carbon emissions significantly and is on the path to doing more (since the USA is the world's greatest and biggest polluter, this is significant).


Natural disasters happen. They have always happened and they always will. As the world becomes more populous and more prosperous, they will cause more damage, and we will keep better records. But beyond some theorising by researchers whose livelihood depends on working on matters of grave perceived importance to government policy makers, there is little empirical evidence for the claim that climate change, or our debatable contribution to it, makes bad weather worse.

Besides, has anyone noticed the news that the US has, without signing the Kyoto Protocol, reduced its carbon emissions to such an extent that 1990 levels are, unexpectedly within sight? The drivers of this decline are tighter emission standards, a switch from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and the economic downturn, of which at least one (and arguably two) are clearly undesirable. But, declining they are, and despite this, Sandy struck. This suggests that there is also not much empirical evidence for the notion that policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will avert severe weather in future.

I wish those affected by Hurricane Sandy the best of luck recovering from this natural disaster. Spare a thought for the island nations that got hit before the storm bore down on the offices of the major US news media. They don’t all enjoy prosperous, productive, energy-intensive capitalist economies like that of the US, which can help them avert severe damage in advance and recover rapidly afterwards.

[sdv]

This site has an interesting overview of how pollution impacts on humans:

http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/human-impact-on-environment.html

The way we farm, the uncontrolled squatter settlements, what we put into the air ... and here is the punchline:


What most of us fail to realize is that we will never truly destroy Earth. The planet will always remain and its nature will change and adapt to the conditions.

But we have evolved to rely on the very particular conditions currently in place. We have specific water and food requirements, can only tolerate certain temperature ranges and we must have an abundance of clean, breathable air.

Just look at how the environment is affecting human health already.

Thus the question is not whether the Earth can withstand a human impact on the environment. The real question is will we so change the environment as to drive ourselves (and other species) to extinction?

Sustainability alongside with adaptability are the real issues that are being ignored?

There are many on this forum who have chosen to live in sustainable ways, some in major ways, and some in small adaptations to lifestyle, and I salute them.

[norman]

Errrr....

I'm not saying we shouldn't raise our game here on Planet Earth, BUT, there are things going on that are about something a hell of a lot bigger than anything we little surface dwelling mammals are doing right or wrong.

This little video gathers together a surprising amount of stuff, and dumps it right there in yer face, to think about.


"Solar System Shift"
kYSIN5zhoow

[ghostrider]

our weaking magnetic field can't be ignored much longer, the sun will do it's work and the ocean floors will continue to sink and cause magma push. Earth could one day look just like mars ....

[sdv]

Good points Norman and ghostrider.

Is all this sabre rattling about global warming being caused by humans a distraction? Or is each group locked into a limited perspective?

Perhaps the power we do have is not to change or stop what is happening but to adapt to it and survive, or even just to know the truth, and the whole truth, not just bits of it.

The cynic in me says that the approach of a carbon tax, chemtrails and so on are all about those with great wealth and control ensuring their survival and the non-survival of everyone else.

Whatever the whole truth is, it just feels wrong deep down in my inner self to take the approach that Earth is doomed and there is nothing we can do about it so polluting our air and earth and water makes no difference in the long run so we may as well continue doing so.

[modwiz]

I want to stop polluting our earth, air and water yesterday. I don't care if we are going into an ice age or desert age, let me have a clean planet. The carbon tax is a scam. Give me cars that get 100 MPG for both clean air and a fatter wallet. It is all common sense versus greed and ignorance. All other discussions lead to needless confusion. I am green because it is clean and healthy. I do not need doom and gloom to want unfracked well water, unpolluted streams, rivers and oceans and air that doesn't cause respiratory illness and stink.

This is a straight broad avenue of consideration. All of the side streets and dead ends are to create confusion for the criminals to insert their agenda. Of course, bending over is part of it.

[norman]

.........All of the side streets and dead ends are to create confusion for the criminals to insert their agenda. Of course, bending over is part of it.





That SO! cracks me up !.............:pound: