Cold Irony: ABC's Sam Stuck in Snowfield for Report on Wind Power

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Mother Nature must have a wicked sense of humor. She forced ABC's Sam Champion to report on anti-global warming initiative . . . . while standing in a field of snow in late April.

Champion was there as part of Good Morning America's "Planet Earth 2007" segment, in which reporters chimed in from around the globe on various environmental initiatives. Diane Sawyer introduced the segment with a little bit of enviro-alarmist cheerleading, declaring it was "good news" that as per a recent Stanford poll 94% are ready to make a change to help the planet and that 73% are already taking steps to reduce energy consumption.

Champion -- not just GMA's weatherman but its chief global-warming activist -- was in Lowville, NY on the Tug Hill plateau, not too far from my upstate New York hometown of Ithaca, to report on a large wind turbine farm there. From a helicopter, Champion referred to wind power as "the fastest-growing form of alternative energy in the world." In the second half-hour, now down on the ground, Champion mentioned that there were "nearly 200 of these turbines, over 21,000 acres," providing power to 160,000 homes.

Not a peep from Sam about the buzz-killing snow by which he was surrounded.

Mark lives in Ithaca, NY, where there was heavy frost on this April 20th morning. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Global-warming-irony ping to Today show list.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

One correction: it’s not Mother Nature, but God who I believe is mocking these global warming freaks with this prolonged winter weather. To paraphrase Rush, who are these mere humans to think they can actually have an impact on creation?

[brownsfan]

I find it interesting that the world is wringing it’s collective hands over the evil Global Warming. Meanwhile, what could be a threat to our very existance is ignored. I am not an expert, and I heard of this last year, and it was recently on Drudge... CCD. Colony Collapse Disorder. Beehives are just dying off.

Sounds trivial, and stupid. Until you think about how plants are pollinated.

[Badeye]

You can’t make this stuff up...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

At least I didn’t say “Gaia” ;-)

[P-40]

Beehives are just dying off.

It's been going on for quite some time. And yes, we will notice their absence.

[whd23]

Colony Collapse Disorder. Beehives are just dying off.

I read that too quick and thought it said: "Colon Collapse Disorder." I don't want any part of that!

[Living Free in NH]

It's been so cold up lately here in the northeast, not a peep on the newscasts about global warming. But now that it's going to be in the 60's this weekend, I expcect to hear all about it again.

I guess it's difficult to con people into the global warming frenzy when their furnaces are running non-stop.

[r9etb]

Beehives are just dying off.

I've been wondering if this has to do with inbreeding and/or pesticide effects.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I live within a mile of Cayuga Lake, which has a moderating influence. There’s no snow here. I just called up to the golf course, just two miles away, and perhaps 200-300 feet higher in altitude: “Oh no, we’re closed. There’s still a lot of snow here. The sandtraps are full of it!”

[the_devils_advocate_666]

73% are already taking steps to reduce energy consumption

I'm all for reducing my energy consumption but it has nothing to do with global warming. It's all about saving myself some money!

[encm(ss)]

One correction: it’s not Mother Nature, but God ....

I’m glad that someone else feels this way also. There is no Mother Nature. God is mocking them.

[brownsfan]

“I’ve been wondering if this has to do with inbreeding and/or pesticide effects.”

I don’t think inbreeding is a problem in the insect world in the same way it is for mammals.

The current speculation is that it has to do with cell phones screwing up the bee’s ability to navigate. That would be a hard irony if that were the cause. Our appetite for technology killing our source of food.

[brownsfan]

“It’s been going on for quite some time. And yes, we will notice their absence.”

The “American Idol” society we have created won’t notice, nor will the MSM, until food prices jump. If it’s not an immediate, dire problem, no one wants to recognize, or plan. Crisis management on a national scale.

[P-40]

We need an event to give us a good shaking up...

[wildbill]

Very long thread on bee die off with lots of different & interesting theories. FYI

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1817681/posts

[dfwgator]

Mark lives in Ithaca, NY,

I bet he doesn't have many friends in the "City of Evil."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Mark = me, governs. There are a few of us conservatives in town!