Posted on 12/12/2007 5:15:15 PM PST by Tlaloc
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded this week in Oslo, Norway. Al Gore shared the prize with the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which represents more than 2,500 scientists from 130 countries. The solemn ceremony took place as the U.S. is blocking meaningful progress at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali, and the Republicans in the Senate have derailed the energy bill passed by the House of Representatives, which would have accelerated the adoption of renewable energy sources at the expense of big oil and coal.
Gore set the stage: "So, today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global-warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow, we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.
"As a result, the Earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong. We are what is wrong, and we must make it right."
He went on: "Last Sept. 21, as the Northern Hemisphere tilted away from the sun, scientists reported with unprecedented distress that the north polar ice cap is 'falling off a cliff.' One study estimated that it could be completely gone during summer in less than 22 years. Another new study, to be presented by U.S. Navy researchers later this week, warns it could happen in as little as seven years. Seven years from now."
How will climate-change skeptics explain that one? It is hard to imagine the North Pole, the storied, frozen expanse of ice and snow, completely gone in just a few years. Lost as well will be the vast store of archeological data trapped in the ice: thousands of years of Earth's climate history are told in the layers of ice that descend for miles there. Scientists are just learning how to read and interpret the history. The great meltdown surely will have catastrophic effects on the ecosystem in the north, with species such as the polar bear already edging toward extinction.
Rajendra Pachauri, an Indian scientist, accepted for the IPCC. He is a careful scientist with the political finesse to lead the work of the IPCC despite the enduring antagonism of the U.S. He pointed to the disproportionate effect of climate change on the poor:
"The impacts of climate change on some of the poorest and the most vulnerable communities in the world could prove extremely unsettling ... in terms of: access to clean water, access to sufficient food, stable health conditions, ecosystem resources, security of settlements."
Pachauri predicts water wars and mass migrations. "Migration, usually temporary and often from rural to urban areas, is a common response to calamities such as floods and famines."
Gore invoked the memory of Mohandas Gandhi, saying he "awakened the largest democracy on Earth and forged a shared resolve with what he called 'Satyagraha' -- or 'truth force.' In every land, the truth -- once known -- has the power to set us free." Satyagraha is the disciplined application of non-violent resistance, which is exactly what Ted Glick is doing in D.C.
Glick leads the Climate Emergency Council. On his 99th day of a liquids-only fast, the day after the Nobel ceremony, he joined 20 people in the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for a sit-in. The Republicans are blocking a federal energy bill that would create funding for the development of renewable energy sources in the U.S., while stripping away billions of dollars worth of tax breaks for big oil and coal.
Glick told me: "We have to be willing to go to jail. Al Gore, himself, a couple of months ago talked about how young people need to be sitting in front of the coal plants to prevent coal plants from being built. That's true. Young people need to be doing that. Middle-age people need to be doing that. Older people need to be doing that. And Al Gore needs to be doing that. Let's get serious about this crisis."
While Glick was sitting in, news reports began to circulate about Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani's law firm's lobbying activities against the energy bill. According to Bloomberg news, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP was hired by energy giant Southern Co. to defeat the bill. At a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser last August, addressing members of the coal industry, Giuliani said, "We have to increase our reliance on coal."
As Giuliani's coffers get fat with money from big oil, gas and coal, Glick has lost more than 40 pounds, and the Earth's temperature continues to rise.
What is Giuliani’s position on the tooth fairy?
This is just hilarious.
Then if you think it is too hot, have Glick start eating again.
The answer would be obscene.
I know. It made me laugh so much I just had to post it.
Is this satire?
"As a result, the Earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. And the cure is - more cowbell!"
I watch the goings on in the House and Senate. I hear all the time how this or that legislation helps address climate change or global warming. You can imagine how alarmed I am about such comments. And it’s not just democrats.
John McCain is an acolyte, for one. Lamar Alexander is another. It’s just plain scary.
Yes to all the above, so point them satellites and lets see the unique signature of global warming caused by CO2. What, what are you saying? Sure we can measure it, satellites now flying can do it ...... Oh you mean we have measured it, so what was the answer .... ummm, .... ahhhhh, errrr there was no excess signature of CO2 greenhouse in the atmosphere. Didn't come close to what the very same "we're all gonna die" computer models predict should be there, right now -- Not 100 years out, but right now.
Proof positive, it's all a hoax. How do I know, the models the UN IPCC uses to predict the future all say that the signature of CO2 is already present. Yep, should be right there since they also saying we have already warmed things up by 0,7 degree C. In the 20 years the UN has been pushing the hoax, technology to measure the effect has come on line and it just isn't there. NASA vouches for the finding, so do several independent research groups.
None, nada, kaput, it's not there. No global warming signature. Isn't science grand to provide man with the tools to measure things, like global warming. I always wondered why the UN IPCC never did this, like why they never cite the sun as a probable cause. It's always directed at my car and stove. More here
Make sure your oil tanks are topped off, it's going to be a cold one, unless someone gets to the knob on the sun and turns it up a few clicks.
Clearly, global warming is anthropogenic (man-made). It exists mainly in the human mind and is manufactured from two sources – careless data acquisition and dubious data processing. (John Brignell)
“Al, this is your backyard tree talking. I just want to explain to you that I need carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis so I can feed myself. And I need water vapor in the air to rise into clouds and come down as rain, so I can drink.
“So, please, Al, don’t cut off my food and water to make a political point. Please. Trees have a right to exist, too.
“Sorry I can’t pay your corporation any carbon credits right now, I’m all out of them, but maybe next year, if you keep the water and CO2 flowing. And if you bring me an absentee ballot, I promise to vote for you.”
—Best regards,
Your Backyard Tree
The prior 10 million years of ice was melted when Caesar started driving his Ferrari. Oh the humanity.
And the only cure is...
Ahem, the "2500 scientists" include those who disagree, environmental activists, bureaucrats and policy wonks like Gore.
Relative to the 70 million tons, the atmosphere is anything but thin. Also labeling CO2 as "pollution" is very disingenuous. Should we also say that the ocean is polluting the air? It certainly pumps out more CO2 then we do (although it also absorbs a little more then it pumps out).
Why the heck not? CO2 and temp have gone up and down many, many, many, many, many times before. But what the heck is a firm pattern established by overwhelming empirical evidence to a true scientist? Real scientists only trust computer models.</sarcasm>
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