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Have your opinions changed regarding global warming?

With all of our scientific advances, we still can't accurately predict the point of land-fall or intensity of weather events like Hurricane Gustav. And after reading recent reports about how the absence of sun-spots for over a month is affecting our summer temperatures (lowered), studying historic weather cycles, and the impact that volcanic eruptions has on the atmosphere, I am absolutely not convinced that the "science" of global warming should be accepted as conclusive. Good stewardship is always a "good thing", but a rush to legislate radical climate change policies may be premature or irresponsible. If a scenario of global cooling should indeed follow from a reduction of solar activity, worse global consequences could be felt more rapidly than current global warming predictions. So what's it going to be?

In light of this year's reduced global temperatures and the accuracy of our sciences to predict and model future events, what are your current opinions regarding climate change, "green industries", legislation, treaties, etc.?

• holding steady
• strengthened
• guarded, but open to questioning
• changed considerably

I wasn't sure how to create a poll... I'll edit to include one later if possible.

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dc_dux

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"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

Willravel

Mine have remained basically unchanged for the past few years. I've seen the data, and will continue to look at the data, but it would take something conclusive to shake my understanding of the current data. Frankly, it's not all that complicated, it's just made to seem that way in the MSM, as if there's some sort of debate. Even with the data about the sun, it doesn't account for the last century of CO2 change correlating to the temperature change.

dc_dux

Ok...I will expand on my NO:

I am of the opinion that recent human activity (auto emissions, utilities, heavy industry) is responsible for spewing millions of tons of greenhouse gases (mostly CO2) into the atmosphere every year and that those greenhouse gases have a degrading effect that is very likely to have a long term impact on the earth’s environment, including climate.

I am also of the opinion that action should be taken at the national level (and through international agreements) that result in policy recommendations that limit or contain those greenhouse gas emissions in the future and that are both environmentally and economically sustainable.

From most polling data I have seen, I believe a majority of Americans share that opinion.

And finally, I am of the opinion that Exon.Mobil and related companies/industries will continue to spend $millions, perhaps $billions, to spread misinformation with the hope of stalling or preventing such federal policy solutions and/or international agreements.

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

blkalero

How do you explain in ice core samples co2 was higher during ice age than in warmer times?

Also did anyone else see they found under sea volcanoes around the north pole?
And why is it the 35,000 scientists that signed a petition saying there wasn't enough evidence of global warming were shoved under the rug for the hand full that say there is.

My opinion hasn't changed
The global warming scare is green's new communism.

Cynthetiq

No. When they can use the models and simulations to accurately show KNOWN temperatures (temperatures of recorded weather history) will I change my mind.

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fresnelly

The Northwest Passage is opening up, ice roads that service communities in the north are freezing for shorter periods, invasive species such as Pine Beetles are ravaging forests much farther and farther north...

It would be economic suicide for a country that so heavily depends on natural resources to ignore the ramifications of such a shifting situation.

We can debate culpability all we want but still need to prepare for the consequences.

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roachboy

the only way in which my opinion has changed is at the level of marvelling at the amount of disinformation that circulates, particularly in the united states, about this question. as for the sources, follow the money. it is obvious that the idea is to prevent a coherent discussion from breaking out nationally about global warming/climate change and the relation between the data which shows a relation between petroleum dependency and climate change. one aspect of this disinformation is the almost constant setting up of false problems---so you see people moving from general dismissal to absurd demands for rigidly constructed datasets involving information that you know full well was not gathered and could not have been (temperature records going back more than 150 years...)

in the end, this is an aesthetic matter in the states: if you are inclined for reactionary political reasons to collapse green or sustainability politics into some nimrod "communist" category, then you're also inclined to not think there's any problem.
nothing to do with actual information in this.

it's hard to go any further in this kind of context/thread, so i'll leave it here.

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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

dc_dux

IMO, waiting for models and simulations to be 100% accurate is like waiting for hell to freeze over...

but if that happens, I suspect the naysayers will blame the changing climate of hell on declining morals or a communist conspiracy.

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

Cynthetiq

I didn't say 100%, just within the ballpark, but they can't even do that. In other words to reverse engineer to a specific date and come close within a fair margin of error.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

dc_dux

Cyn.. why do you think it is that the national scientific advisory bodies of the top 10-15 nations in the world found the IPCC models/forecasts to be reasonable enough to affirm the IPCC position of "likely" or "very likely" that human activities contribute to climate change.

Do you think those bodies are acting out of political interests? financial interests?
-----Added 5/9/2008 at 11 : 18 : 36-----
As opposed to organizations/foundations funded by oil (and other interests) and rarely, if ever, subject to peer review,

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

Cynthetiq

I don't doubt that we pollute or contribute to the equation in some fashion, I'll agree that it is also "likely." I just can't accept that we're going to make huge changes and sacrifices only to have some volcano or other natural thing not in my control wipe away any changes we've made. I'm not egotistical enough to think that we can "save the planet." We can pollute less, which itself is conservative.

as to the direct questions, yes to both.

But on it's face to say that they can predict what temperatures will be, I don't or can't hear them. Back in the 70s they thought it was an upcoming Ice Age, recently it's warming, now it's Climate Change. See, now they can't be wrong, it's change. So either way they can be right.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

dc_dux

Most of the policy recommendations I have seen dont require huge changes and sacrifices, and will result in less degradation of the environment in an economically sustainable manner. I dont recall any suggestion by the scientists or scientific bodies recommending such policies that they would be a "cure for saving the planet."

I dont see that as a bad thing by any measure.

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

roachboy

ExxonMobil Report: Smoke Mirrors & Hot Air | Union of Concerned Scientists

have a look at this,
think of it as sliding a piece of paper across the table.

__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Cynthetiq

If you're talking carbon credits, buying selling of them, I disagree.

You talking about reductions and hardlined penalties for breaking caps, I'm fine with that.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

dc_dux

uh oh...a link has made its way into the pub!

You are banished to the corner of the pub until after the next round of drinks...and we all get to throw popcorn at you!

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

roachboy

throw all the popcorn you want, but as a penance you have to listen to my Problem with this exclusion of information business.
i'm not sure you want to get me started about this.

__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

dc_dux

simple solution...all future pubs in TFP should have wifi access.

__________________
"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. "
~ H.L. Mencken

flstf

I think the Earth is in another warming cycle like it has many times in the past. I believe our contribution is probably minor but I am trying to stay open-minded due to the conficting information.

Willravel

There are no such core samples. There was a decade-long study that culminated in the graph that's most known for being in An Inconvenient Truth. It's been verified by all the climatologists who've seen it. I'd go so far as to say there is a consensus about the ice core drillings.
How would those account for equal shelf breaks in Antarctica?
Very few of the names on the petition were of people who had any kind of knowledge of climate. There were fictitious names, economists, TV personalities, engineers and people who call themselves "scientists" despite not holding a job in any scientific field nor having any degree in science.

Cynthetiq

C'mon guys... this is a pub discussion... we need to honor the rules of the discussion otherwise it falls apart.

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-+-{Important TFP Staff Message}-+- Pretend that we are at a pub, having this discussion. You wouldn't bring your books or magazines with you, just your brains, experiences, and opinions. The goal is to foster a conversation with varying points of view. Please do not quote articles here. If you want to reference a book or article that is fine, but don't quote it. If members find it intriguing, they will pursue that on their own. If you pulled out a book and started reading it to someone at a pub, they'd ask you to leave. At this pub, if you paste articles, they will be deleted. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and I hope these will be insightful, interesting discussions for all.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

filtherton

I'd just like to say that I'll believe that smoking cigarettes causes cancer when those damn scientists can predict the exact month in which that cancer will develop in my lungs. Until then, it's all cornswaddle to me.

flstf

I think I read a while back that Al Gore blamed cigarette smoke for contributing to global warming as well.

filtherton

And if you look back into the 20th century, some of these scientists were actually recommending smoking cigarettes as a healthy behavior.

I think it's the height of arrogance to presume that human activities can even cause cancer...