Floods a wake-up call to planet

Reuters ^ | 8-27-02

[chimera]

Before humans ever walked this world, floods were part and parcel of geologic history. The geologic record is rife with evidence of devastating floods in prehistory. It just seems bad now because people are around and are adversely affected. To attribute singular events that are in any case part of the natural order whether humans are here or not is the worst kind of junk science, trying to establish a general theory on anecdotal evidence.

If we have a colder than normal winter in my area can I attribute that to "global cooling", and use that as a basis for espousing a policy of increased use of carbon-based fuels (to increase the greenhouse effect and thereby mitigate the consequences of "global cooling")? I could, but would be laughed off the stage of scientific debate.

Funny how that doesn't happen with liberals, no matter what flavor of the month junk science they seem to be pushing. They are allowed, by the press and the public, to err egregiously because "their hearts are in the right place", yet if a conservative leaves an "i" undotted or a "t" uncrossed, they are nailed to the wall because they are "evil", or "mean-spirited", or "don't care about the environment". It's a tribute, in a diabolical way, I guess, to the Machiavellian talents of liberals to cast so many debates in these terms.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its the politics of envy in the age of Clinton.

[w1andsodidwe]

If we have a colder than normal winter in my area can I attribute that to "global cooling", and use that as a basis for espousing a policy of increased use of carbon-based fuels (to increase the greenhouse effect and thereby mitigate the consequences of "global cooling")? I could, but would be laughed off the stage of scientific debate.

Interesting enough, the weather channel has report record breaking temperatures in Oakland California each of the last two days. They were new low temperatures.

[tcostell]

The devastating floods which have killed scores of people across central Europe are timed fortuitously to push industrial nations toward our pre-established political agenda, a leading scientist says.

And if you don't do as we tell you even more shall die, said the scientist.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Floods prove "global warming." Droughts too. And cold winters. And warm winters. And cold summers and warm summers. Everything proves global warming. Everything.

[an amused spectator]

Robert Watson, now the World Bank's chief scientist since he was ousted from the chair of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) in April due to U.S. opposition, insists dramatic floods and droughts will become more frequent.

And there'll be more dark, and more light. And it'll be hotter and colder.

Watson reminds me of the guys in the Smirnoff Ice commercial.

Hey! It's Sergio! ;-)

[an amused spectator]

You know Sergio, too? ;-)

[KSCITYBOY]

Floods have been a part of nature forever - These people undermine their our credibility when they make these stupid leaps. Only the really dumb will fall for this crap.

[Constitution Day]

Yep. Water is wet.

[facedown]

Robert Watson, now the World Bank's chief scientist since he was ousted from the chair of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) in April due to U.S. opposition, insists dramatic floods and droughts will become more frequent.

With good reason as this proves.

[THX 1138]

"You don't have to identify each event with climate change. All you have to say is this is the type of world that may become more prevalent. It is the sort of wake-up call, I believe, that could have an impact," he told reporters at the Earth Summit on Tuesday.

About as mealy-mouthed a statement as I've ever heard.

[AdA$tra]

I would say about half of the people I work with think this stuff is gospel. Another 25% are pretty sure it is for real because Tom Brokaw says so.

We had about three or four months after nine-eleven where this crap didn't matter. Now we are back to idiocy as usual.

[blackdog]

Slow global news day.....Find some weather, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, floods, and so on. The only cause of global weather crisis is the 24/7 news outlets and the weather chanel. Think of the thirst for news to fill all that air-time? When they can't find a school shooting, kiddie snatching, pyrotechnic arab, forest fire, toxic poisoning, train derailing, plane crash, drug addicted daughter of a politician, dead princess, or billionaire in a world record attempt, they pull out the global weather crap. "Let's scare them with that today, Totes will sell more umbrella's..."

If you review world history, you will find that the sea level used to be about 20 feet higher in most areas of the globe only 2000 years ago. Why aren't all the story's on global weather warnings asking what we did to the earth to make all that water vanish?

[Orangedog]

We had about three or four months after nine-eleven where this crap didn't matter. Now we are back to idiocy as usual.

This just goes to prove the point that I have been trying to make for years. We are NOT in control of the weather. Bad weather doesn't happen because Ford sold a lot of Excursions. The planet doesn't need rescue or to be saved from us...it's big enough to take care of itself. Ask those people in Pompei who have been frozen in vucanic ash for centuries if they feel particularly threatening to the biosphere today. If we could influence the weather, we would have flooded Iraq, Iran and North Korea a long time ago. If we could do ANYTHING to change the weather, the military would have jumped on this with both feet and made it into a weapon.

[T. Jefferson]

The year 2000 was the coldest winter in US recorded history. The earth was warmer in the 40's, WAY warmer in the 11th century. Global cooling will continue and the wackos will come up with new conspiracy theories on why we need to live in caves and be very afraid.

[KeyBored]

"Floods prove "global warming." Droughts too. And cold winters. And warm winters. And cold summers and warm summers. Everything proves global warming. Everything."

[Cockney accent] By jove, I think 'e's got it! [/cockney accent]

[freebilly]

The Great Flood of Genesis was caused by global warming. Of course it wiped out all the people, cars, and factories that caused the problem in the first place. When will we ever learn!

[m1911]

Cool! Got a link I can send a friend on that one (2000 coldest winter)?

[KeyBored]

You, too can be a junk scientist! Take this quick, easy test.

Global warming is a fact, 100% certainty.
A. True
B. False

Multiple choice - Global warming is caused by
A. Ronald Reagan's policies
B. Rich republicans
C. GW Bush
D. All of the above

If you answered A. to question 1. and D. to question 2, CONGRATULATIONS! You now have a degree in junk science and you too can be interviewed on CNN to share your wisdom with others.