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This is nothing more than a blatant desire to brainwash young minds to accept a world view that would plainly benefit the power generators desire to build even more lucrative windfarms.
The give away line is the statement "kids take very complex things and make them very easy much better than adults can."
In other words scare them about some notion of what the future might hold for them and they will pester their parents to support whatever means is suggested to them to prevent it happening.
Education is about giving children the intelectual equipment to judge on the basis of the evidence what may or may not be true or reasonable.Giving a onesided view is not a good idea unless they are exposed to the equivalent amount of opposing argument.
More like Scarypower rather than Scottishpower.
Ever heard of a technology called HAARP, you really should http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=848069589313226...
Google has put up a version of the above vid although the audio is out of sync with the vid, but its still worth listening to the audio.The Vid is called.......... Holes in Heaven: HAARP and Advances in Tesla Technology and has been actively suppressed.Well worth watching if you can get hold of it
JUST SAY NO.
I have watched this film and found it to be both informative and thought provoking, i did not find it one sided but indeed fairly evenhanded and would fully recommend its viewing to all who have any kind of interest in our planet.Children can make up their own minds and may surprise us all given half a chance.
The negative paranoia in 1 above beggars belief for me.
;) H
It would be safer to wait until the world was toasted before you introduce this kind of thing to young minds. I mean who is this Al Gore? The next thing they will be saying is that he is one of the world's more responsible statesmen.
I see the firm's HR guy,Stephen Dunn, flew back from Oregon to the UK, probably on a very large, carbon emiting machine over about 12 hours while reading the algore book about the horrors of mankind emiting carbon while breathing. No wonder he freaked out. The poor guy was just scared. It has nothing to do with his company selling more scott power windmills......does it?
Allatsea said "Children can make up their own minds and may surprise us all given half a chance." I agree, but children must be taught facts first, before they can intelligently make up their minds. Not theory and fear, but facts. Al Gore is a propagandist for a CONSENSUS science statement. By that, I mean a bunch of scientists have gotten together and made a statement about what they THINK will happen. Not one of them can or will prove the statement true...scientifically...thus making it a consensus as opposed to a scientific fact. This goes against the very true nature of science, but Al Gore and those frightened sheep that will believe anything bad continue to make noise about a theory. Don't fall for it, and please...don't teach your children to fall for anything...especially false propaganda. Children will sort things out...AFTER you have taught them facts.
This is wrong - attempting to imprint biased messages on young minds is worthy of the worst excesses of communism and nazism.
Gore's film has plenty of authoritarian scientific critics and there is not universal scientific agreement on global warming although it does appear that politicians have been quick to jump on a new tax raising stream.
All these naysayers.......what happens if he's right? You're all a bunch of Neros! So what if he's wrong.? It won't do us any harm to reduce our carbon emissions, will it? How many of you naysayers own a Chelsea Tractor or some other kind of gas guzzler?
Not only is this an attempt at brainwashing, but it would help considerably the accumulation of personal wealth by Al Gore. The poor man is probably down to his last $500 million or $1,000 million or so, so let's all buy his book and watch his film.
Just say no kids! Stick to yer buckie an drugs!
I hated this film with it's 'Miller Time' Al Gore moments. It was more about him and 'boo-hoo'- how he was cheated of the presidency.
Another inconvenient truth, which has been expressed above, is that not all scientist agree about what's happening in the climate. Maybe we'll never know.
The best bit about this film is when Al shows the planet and all the aeroplane trips he's taken 'spreading the word.'
#7 - of course it has. In fact it is 100% why they are doing this. From the few windmills they have got at the moment they are getting £10 million a year subsidy with hundreds more being built. Money for old rope for them but they need to keep the gravy train running and hence this ploy.
You would think the Scotsman and their dedicated team of journalists would have pointed this out.
#5
"negative paranoia" is what the environmentalists are using to try to control peoples behaviour about their use of energy.
Just trying to redress the balance.
Could you imagine the hullaballoo if it was Tony Blair or Joseph Ratzinger who was feed-forcing their ideas down the throats of every child in Scotland?
It's on law for the trendy liberals and another for everybody else...
Until climatologists report the inherent uncertainties in their calculations and, in addition, are able to predict the effect of changes in the sun's output on global climate (they can't do this now), this scientist (with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry) believes there is more than a 50:50 chance that anthropogenic global warming is another case of pathological science. This attempt to propangandize children for obvious reasons of financial gain is disgusting. Al Gore is simply an out-and-out nut case whom no thoughtful person should take seriously.
Since the annual increase in China's CO2 emissions is as big as the UK's entire CO2 emissions, maybe they'll be showing the film in the wrong country.
Al Gore is a shameless fraud and not to be trusted. Here is a man who poses as a technlogy guru who took not one math class in college. He is as shameless as his late and unlamented father, a man on the take from KGB money launderer Armand Hammer.
I don't know all the ins and outs of this so called "global warming " thing, but I do know it CERTAINLY isn't happening here.
This Al Gore is NOT a scientist; he's an ex politician --a vice president to President Clinton to be precise; and certainly not scientifically versed enough to push a " global warming " agenda.
Personally, I wouldn't waste my schoolchildren's valuable time having to listen to this looney spout his ignorance. It's your choice of course; but some of us here don't even bother to listen to him.
Amazingly no-one has mentioned the book that has just been published which refutes all this
#14 Me!
I would just like to apologise to the Scotsman as I see they do make the point about Scottish Power's financial interest in their leader - for those that don't have the paper edition the leader also says the proposal has the "whiff of Stalinism about it" and refer to "Triumph of the Will". "Their are ways to make a point and way to avoid" they say.
It's a good idea. As to windfarms, lets have more of them.
Agus... gu na h-eileanaich an-seo mar Mart on Skye, Guga is Dave, se aite iomlann a th'anns na h-eileanan airson nam muillnean seo. Bheireadh e obair is cosnadh dha na daoine cuideachd. Mura h-eil na h-innealan ro ard agus na tuathanasan ro mhor, bhiodh iad math dha riribh.
It's ok to criticise Gore, but his message is a valid one. We do need to act to save the planet. What happens when the likes on India and China with their huge populations demand a way of life like ours? We just don't have the resources to give them it. Should we say to them, save energy and don't drive SUVs? Certainly, the way things are going, it's China who'll be telling us what to do.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-Global-Warming-Every-Ye...; <strong>Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1500 Years</strong> </a>"Unstoppable Global Warming"Chronicles recent Geological History before industrialization:Farming in GreenlandVineyards in BritainLaws in France restricting British WinesAll brought to us via Unstoppable Natural Cycles of Global/Solar Magnitude.
. . . and next month all schoolchildren will be given copies of Chairman Mao's little red book.
Next the dilemma- how to give a Fidel Castro cigar to every Scot when there's no place left to smoke them?
It's enough to make me turn in my kilt.
#1--Mart on Skye--2/occurances in the mid-'80's that started this nonsense. actress,Meryl Streep was shown on TV w/her children scrubbing apples to stop the use of "alar"( a substance used by growers to protect their crop). she told Congress she wanted to protect the health & welfare of the children & the PLANET.the hysteria destroyed the company. later it was discovered not to be true. a "windmill" farm started near Palm Springs,Ca. many people bought into this scheme & most never worked. recently,Sen. Kennedy, a liberal from Mass. nixed the construction of a windmill farm overlooking his massive estate, saying it would interfer w/the view, & he's a big "save-the-planet" guy. early on the environmentalists stopped the dumping of hazardous waste by certain businesses, & that was a good thing, however the "earth/first","save-the-planet", environmental "wacko's" of now, are interferring in every area of our existance. OH how i could go on!!i just learned, in 1941 on this day the temp. in our area was 70-F, today @8:03a.m.est-19-F, & it's snowing. go figure!!!i would seriously suggest the people of Scotland do their homework & research the effect of algores footprint on your land & wallet. if he has his way & this film is shown to your children, i suggest you demand the other side of this issue be represented.Senator James Inhofe from Oklahoma is very knowledgable on the algore hysteria. contact him, for i'm sure he would be very pleased to speak on this.
8 - "consensus science". This is what most science is. It isn't an insult you think it is. A body of evidence grows to support a proposition. Proposition survives review and experiments, becomes accepted science. Can be totally re-written eg the earth 'was' flat to scientists of the day and the sun 'did' revolve around the earth.(ironically mainy in the supposed modern 'west')
Climate change is difficult to prove 100%. The fact that man made emissions DO affect the amount of heat trapped/reflection is proven. "abnormal" levels are man-made. So less should be better option - to hope for fortuitious synergy with a natural effect is odd to me. I suspect you'd be someone who believed "there be dragons" on ancient maps rather than take the trip.
9) 'authoritarian critics' -Freudian slip. But true. Almost all critics are funded by energy companies. They are maybe 'authorative" but are not impartial.
Interesting a lot of Americans comment/insult on Al Gore, the presenter. He never admits to having been the scientist. He is only the high profile voice.
Are the americans complaining so highly over people like CocaCola and MacDonalds in schools? So much for impartial education.
ps my home town live in shadow of nuclear power station and is within 10 miles of significant wind farm. Don't try the 'if you lived.." argument
pps I'm Bsc Applied Chemistry. I buy into the science, however broad the errors are. As I said, man adds a proven factor/variable. Seems good idea not to. Climate change will be big enough problem naturally.
Guga is Dave Calum @24?
Whit a strange thing to say. How does one get more than one identity on here anyway?
Calum, stick to what ye know, nothing.
#17 Dave Becker said “Until climatologists report the inherent uncertainties in their calculations and, in addition, are able to predict the effect of changes in the sun's output on global climate (they can't do this now) …”
Climatologists do report uncertainties, and give error bars. They also provide estimates of the effect of changes in the sun’s output. For example, the IPCC Third Assessment Report (2001) stated: “The radiative forcing due to changes in solar irradiance for the period since 1750 is estimated to be about +0.3W/m2” This contrasts with a figure for man-made greenhouse gases of 2.43W/m2, of which carbon dioxide contributed 1.46W/m2. The IPCC acknowledges that “there are particular uncertainties [with respect to modelling] associated with clouds and their interaction with radiation …” – which is relevant to solar effects, but the uncertainties and errors in solar effects would have to be enormous to begin to erode the effects of greenhouse gases which are currently estimated at eight times larger (see figures above).
As a “physical chemist” could you provide us with the calculations justifying your own estimate of the “more than 50:50 chance” that agw is “pathological science” – or was that just nonsensical rhetoric?
As for showing the Al Gore film to schoolchildren in cinemas: I think this proposal should be treated with caution. If the Scottish Executive (that is responsible for the Scottish school curriculum) considers that it is appropriate for children to see the film then there are (I assume) mechanisms available to them to enable that to happen. (Schools have their own facilities for showing films and do not require to trundle children out to cinemas.) It should not be for private individuals or organisations - particularly if commercial or religious – to influence the curriculum.
I am perplexed that ScottishPower did not question WHY? Al Gore did not address SUN SPOT activity and it's impact on global temperatures. Sun Spot activity has an approximate twenty year cycle - high activity and then low activity. We are just coming off a period of high activity, which translated into higher temperature. We are now gong into a period of low activity which means lower temperatures. Perhaps ScottishPower is just interested in beating the drum of Global Warming and thus ignoring the impact of sun spot activity on the earth's temperature.
When I read all the american's comments I understand why Bush don't want to sign the Kyoto Protocol !
E Brown : of course the sun has a 20 years cycle but the global warming begun with the industrial revolution.
Why is it a problem to spend less energy or to pollute less ?
And Scottish Power are currently "discussing with the Executive how pupils could be bussed to cinemas."
More damage to the environment - can they not walk (or post DVDs to the schools?)
#24 Calum
My Gaelic is really poor.
However - If only windfarms were built for the people and not for big business then they would be sensitively sited and of appropriate proportions benefiting the all of the local community. As it is big business cares not except for profit and their shareholders dividend and they succeed because of the indecent haste of a few to get rich quick.They use any means fair or foul to hoodwink the unwary into supporting their schemes and using the neo-pagan religion of environmentalism is just one of their tools.
(I think I'll take cover now)
Colinallcars writes that he is Bsc Applied Chemistry...would he agree salt is sweet if a sufficient number of others, with acceptable attachments to their names, said it had become sweet. Also suspects that this writer would 'believe "there be dragons" on ancient maps rather than take the trip?' Interesting statement and one that perfectly sums up Al Gore's theory and perhaps paints an ironic but unintentional self portrait of Colinallcars.
#32--tof-- FYI--the USA has the most stringent environmental laws of any country in the world! bar non!!! the US Congress per the Federal Environmental Agency placed mandates on American businesses that in turn spent millions of $on changes & of course the cost of this eventually went to the American tax/payer. so, before you go off on the American people, Pres. Bush/ the Kyoto treaty, do your homework!!!!!!!
Hey folks, go easy on Al Gore! After all, he invented the internet, now this brave crusader has set out to save the planet by banning us peasants from driving our evil SUV's - celebrities and politicians can still drive them, though - and teaching schoolchildren to fear a heatwave. In 1944 on this day in my midwestern American city, the temperature was a record 74 degrees! Today in 2006, it is 12 degrees and snowing. I think we should sound an alarm - it's global cooling!
I believe in God and whether you believe it or not, He is sovereign over everyone and everything. He controls the climate, the environment and ultimately, the world. According to the Bible, when Christ comes again, God will destroy the earth with fire and there's not one thing ANY hysterical Chicken Little can do about it. The godless Al Gore and his ilk will continue to bang their global warming gong, but those of us in the United States who know better have already tuned them out.
Sandy, if you re-read my post you'll see I speak of Bush. I'm enough smart to not mix all americans !
Bush don't want to sign this treaty in order to keep the high life level of american citizen.How can you say that USA is the most of... ? What do you know about France or Europe policy ?
USA is the most pollutant country... until chinese and indian reach our life style, It's a fact ! not another attack of an axis-of-evil-country :)
So stay cool and don't feel attacked each time someone send a criticism about USA !
The heading letter on the letters page is also about the government (& therefore us) paying for lots of ads about how we should support the government (when it puts up taxes) to combat warming.
Its all propaganda. Pwerhaps every schoolchild should also get a copy of Crichton's State of Fear about "climate change" being a scam & with a good bit about how the media went looking for any other sort of "catastrophe" as soon as the Berlin Wall went down. Despite Gore's invention of the internet I think Dr Crichton knows infintely more about science.
Did anybody see how Gore said that smoking was a major cause of global warming. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/9/28/220035...Will the kids get told that too.
Mickey 10 do you know what "naysayer" literally means? You write as if catastrophe was something to look forward to not a bad thing - to be fair a lot of Luddites seem pretty enthusiastic for the end of the world.
Phocus - no, salt is always salt. This is a fact. This hypothesis is proven.
Climate change driven by man made contributions is a hypothesis(I apologise for using 'proposition previously) that is strongly supported by expert opinion. The experiment to prove the fact will not be pleasant ending.
The argument against it is not scientific - it is based on 'we won't do anything as it will harm our economy" . Contra indications are made to support a political position. Most of which are not supported by the majority of not funded by energy pressure groups scientists.
My belief in the science is also amplified on the risk not to believe. I don't believe my house will ever burn down, but I spend money to insure against that risk.
I find it amusing to find so many americans commenting. Stop teaching intelligent design if you believe in facts so much. This is irony. In fact stop being religious. There is no factual basis for this.
Drop the Al Gore criticisms. Do you think when you watch "Toy Story" that Tom Hanks is actually a toy cowboy? As I say, you are making mistaking political argument for scientific argument.
Actually, the most polluting area of the planet, according to NASA satellites, is Africa with the Western world being the least.There is absolutely no PROOF that global warming is actually happening, let alone man caused.If this was a court of law, the verdict would have to be "NOT GUILTY".But by all means, lets spend trillions of dollars and sacrifice our economy so that Africa, India and China can do whatever they want.The USSR was the most polluted country in history, does anyone think that China will be better?You can't even drink the water already.
Would you libs try thinking for yourselves for once please.
#40"I find it amusing to find so many americans commenting. Stop teaching intelligent design if you believe in facts so much. "
If alternative hypotheses are not examined, for example intelligent design, how will anyone gain the knowledge to test the evolution hypothesis.Or does everyone just have to accept your word for it because you are a scientist?
Actually I find it amusing that so many scientists can't see the flaws in their own arguments.
When Gore lectures us & even scientists on the GW science being proven he must expect to be criticised by scientific standards.
The insurance argument is a fair one if the risks have been calculated correctly. If the world spends $400 million a day on Kyoto, which even supporters privately accept is merely a token, how much should we be spending on stopping the next ice age?
so TCB221, even if there is a part of "Nature" in the global warming and a smaller part of human action, do we continue to pollute ?
For less some people go to war !
"Africa, India and China can do whatever they want.The USSR was the most polluted country in history, does anyone think that China will be better?" China and India yes, Russia (USSR is gone for many years !) of course but Africa ? what this bullshit !look a night picture of the world. Look at the lights and you'll see who need and use energy to switch them on !
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speeches/complexity/comple...
Colinallcars - Interesting discussion, but now I must work to buy copious amounts of gasoline. You insure your house because houses have and do burn down...perhaps even in your neighborhood...that's a fact. On religion...that is a belief based on faith. You understand faith...it's what you use to support warming theories. Are you suggesting world changes in economies based on a group's 'hypothesis'? Not very scientific. Finally, never mention Al Gore and Toy Story in the same sentence. Al Gore is a cartoon. Toy Story was funny...Al Gore is not. Finally, take a minute and read Michael Crichton's interesting speech referenced above. His website is also interesting. Check his bio... lots of letters after his name. Best to you...
I recommend the book, "Collapse", by Jared Diamond. In it he outlines history of societies that have succeeded or collapsed based in part on how these cultures acted and reacted to environmental changes, some of their own making, some not. He also addresses some of the arguments made in these comments. Most are not very new. The choices we make in the present have profound effects on a very long future. While the effects of anthropogenic climate change will not seem remarkable in our own lifetimes, anybody who has children, or anyone who is capable of thinking past their own lifetimes, should consider environmental choices VERY carefully.
Al Gore never said he invented the internet, though he did fund it.
http://www.splefty.com/rcalhoun/algore-internet.html
#38--tof--re;#32--"when i read ALL THE AMERICAN'S COMMENTS i understand why Bush don't want to sign the Kyoto Protocol!"then, re-read # 36--i stand by my entire post. prove me wrong-------you can't!!!
Regardless of global warming, the additional CO2 already in the atmosphere will severly damage the ocean. Re the children's education: information is not brainwashing - obviously you don't have a clear idea of the concept of brainwashing. #8 - the consensus is based on overwhelming EVIDENCE - not overwhelming OPINION. #11 - Gore does not make ANY money from this film. #21 - I suspect that you only listen to that drug addict, Rush. #27 - Where were you when they were teaching logic? The temp today compared to this day in 1941 disproves global warming? Try 5 of the warmest years on recond have occured in the last 6 years.#36 - This is not about pollution per se - it's aboutburning great quantities of carbon. And whoever said that they saw the movie and it's about Gore'selection loss is just flat lying.
The most extreme proposals for economic/lifestyle changes "to combat global warming" would only change total global CO2 by a very small fraction over 100 years.
NO Serious Proposals have been put forth that would *significantly* change worldwide CO2 levels.
In that same time, natural cycles that produce much greater change will occur, resulting in warming or cooling that is not reliably predictable.
Think volcanoes, deep ocean current shifts, and variation in solar output.
Greenland will be farmed again, Britain will produce wine again, and France will be upset about it again....and it will not be because man changed the climate!
dick_data,Look foreward to seeing your plan to get countries like China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and etc to drastically cut CO2 production....they will continue to produce more, and neither you nor I can do anything about it.Kyoto did not even try!
Don't listen to a word this SO.B. has to say, he was a rich left wing Pol and that is all!
1. The number of birds killed by windmills at Altamont Pass in California is 5,000 a year. of which some are golden eagles ( a protected species) Owls ect. In fact they are shutting half of them down because of this fact alone.2. The eruption of 1 Volcano puts out more gases . of all kinds than all of mens activities in scores of years.. 3. the planet goes thru cycles the sahara used to be a full of lush vegetation. 4. The BIG SWEAT is when the Magnetic pole shift occurs. which is due . It occurs every 6,000 years.. 'Worry about all computer operated equipment. In other words everything. Power,Transportation,hospitals , police , ect.. because everyones going to be burning wood , coal , tires, anthing to stay alive.5, Al Gore invented the internet. He also (and i saw this myself) asked while on a tour with press on camera .'WHOS THIS GUY " or something similar. It was a bust of George Washington. Billly Goat Clinton who was also present, spun in an about face and stepped off camera. The tour guide said George Washington.... Of course liberal media kept it very quiet.. Same Asses who critisized and laughed at Dan Quale who read a card at a spelling bee that had an E on potato (potatoe)
So kill billions of birds with wind power or hook Al Gore and his liberal ;{Chicken Littles}] 'THE EARTH IS WARMING !!!THE EARTH IS WARMING !!!!!! to a HOT AIR MACHINE with the combined heat force and wind force it should take care of all energy problems .
Finally.. buy property in canda ,alaska,greenland siberia, Iceland and Antartica cause real estate is going to be great... and the Earth Keeps on Rolling Along.,
well sorry one P.S. what are the looneys worried about. Maybe everone will be wiped out then we won't hurt any animals, or cut any trees, or pollute the streams ect. The perfect solution for Environmental Chicken Littles.
Al Gore? Didn't yon sly old foxy woxy invent dimpled chads or some such?
"The sky is falling!" cried Chicken Little. "We must tell the king."
"I know a shortcut to the palace," said Foxy woxy sweetly. "Come and follow me."
But wicked Foxy Woxy did not lead the others to the palace. He led them right up to the entrance of his foxhole. Once they were inside, Foxy Woxy was planning to gobble them up!
Branda the Barbarian
Well, I suppose we must have an epilogue.
Okay children gather 'round and listen up:Chicken Little, Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey, you must have courage and don't be a fearful Chicken Little. The sky is no fallin' unless the chads be hangin'.
Global warming as an issue, should be taught to kids, if going to see the movie involves that issue then by all means. There are many lessons in the debate that students can learn from. In my opinion very few are scientific, mostly they are general critical thinking skills. When I started reading the facts versus the media protrayal I was appalled to find out the blatent lies that can be found on both sides of the issue. Inaccurate graphs, stretching of facts, withholding all the facts and why, to win an argument. It is not about who is right, even the experts that advised both Al Gore and Micheal Crighton know this. The only people that don't is the general public they get offended about someone saying "Polar bears aren't really in danger" and they act like someone is threatening their dog. I teach high school science, I don't agree with everything in the video but I would show it to my classes and discuss it with them as an opportunity for them to see what sort of preconceived notions they have, as well as what sort of methods are appropriate and inappropriate for a proper scientific debate.
sandy, you can see in all the posts above that all american comments said that there is no problem, the weather change because of Nature or your god. At the opposite of the major part of European ones.
The past changeling in the global weather did'nt came suddenly. it's taken a long time. you can see that in the ice carrot.
Don't you think, even if the part of the human activities is not perfectly calculated, we should take care of our planet ?
Hopefully, I know that all the citizens of USA don't think the same as the comments above.
So once again, stay cool, don't feel offenced, keep an open mind without all these "politricks", read all kind of opinions and don't forget one thing : we are all the same ! Peace !
#57--Tof-- :)
Sandy : ahhhhh bonne nouvelle = good news !
people who start a relation with fighting become sometimes very good friends !
And in order to rebuild the connexion between the two sides of the ocean, please accept a kiss (not french just a kiss :) )
bye !
I think it's a great idea - what are you all afraid of? Think harder...
#59--Tof--i'm watching the birds (cardinals, blue-jays, doves, woodpeckers etc) dining at the tree outside my window in the snow & am getting that warm & fuzzy feeling, that the earth will survive after all, in spite of the human element. kiss across the O, accepted!!!happy holiday's.
Future will say !
Maestra : as a "gaulois" the only thing we are afraid of is that the sky fall on us... (joke isn't it )
and i'll invite you to listen this song :
The Beastie Boys : An open letter to NYC ; one of my favorites songs
A true vision of what should be friendship
I am almost too embarrassed to admit that I am American (and from Arizona, although it is by way of New York).
Is it the issue of global warming that so many of my fellow Americans disagree with or is that the presenter was Al Gore, that so many find unappealing? Have you read the book or seen the movie? Al Gore makes some very persuasive logical arguments.
It is a fact that the Earth has a limited supply of unrenewable resources. It is a fact that human populations are increasing and our civilizations are expanding. It is a fact that we are withdrawing precious natural resources from the earth at a rate that cannot be sustained. It's like having $200 in a bank account without ever adding any additional funds. If you keep withdrawing money at some point you will reach the end ($0 blanace). Additionally, what we expel into the air, water, and land and the rate of the expulsion is too much to ask the Earth to process. Her cup overfloweth (and not in a good way). To deny that there is a cause and effect relationship between humans and their environment is ignorant. To add religion to this discussion is to introduce the irrelevant. That's right I said it, religion has no place in the scientific discussion of global warming. It has no place in schools, politics, or any other public forum. If you want to talk about your God and faith go to church and leave science to those who are interested in logic, truth, and facts. The injection of religion into any enlightened discussion causes the breakdown of that discussion into inane, irrational, faith-based nonsense. Call it whatever you want, but humans are negatively impacting their environment in ways, and at a rate, that is unprecidented and unsustainable by the planet Earth.
Ah, I must say that there's some solace in seeing that Americans have not cornered the market on intractability, arrogance, and denial. Afraid of "brain washing young minds" by allowing them to see a movie, eh? Yes, yes, much better to stick your heads in the sand. Your children will inherit your world of your making. Such are the sins of the father...
Another thought that seems so appropriate here (and one I can not credit myself with).
"apres nous le deluge"
I have a science degree, live in the Alps and have recently seen the movie. This film is not suitable for children under the age of 14 years because it is quite simply TOO FRIGHTENING. The science is accurate and Al Gore is a wonderful speaker who presents the material excellently. Scottish Power ought to target the teenage and adult population. This is an issue which requires action now. By the way, here in the Alps we have just experienced our warmest Autumn and December in 1300 years. There is no snow to ski on and that is most unusual. I do not think we responsible adults can afford to ignore this (especially if you live in America). On the other hand I would like to see children under the age of 14 left alone to enjoy their childhood.
Langara 64 -"I am almost too embarrassed to admit that I am American (and from Arizona, although it is by way of New York)."
Oh please tell me you're moving your Marxist derriere back to New York. I'd even provide a one-way ticket to France if I thought you'd stay there.
Branda
Why not Branda !?
We just finished to melt all the iron of the Eiffel tower into a huge statue of Karl...Langara will be at home thus.. !
(joke of course)
Langara : where from come this sentence ?Is there a link with what has been said by Madame de Pompadour ?
#67--Izy--"i do think we responsible adults can('t)afford to ignore this (especially if you live in America). WHY!! especially living in America?????our American mountains & ski slopes have plenty of the white stuff!! are we, America, responsible for the lack of snow on the Swiss Alps???? not.
More of our enlightened American citizenry weighs in: Global warming is a political issue! Communist, Marist plot! And our parochial vision! Look out the window, is there not snow?
Tell it to the U.S. EPA. No doubt, communist all!http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/stateofknowledge...
Or scientists who are no doubt godless liberals!http://www.ucsusa.org/
And that look out the window? Of course, each day when you see the sun or the moon, it MUST be a different sun or a moon that the one someone in China or Russia or Indonesia must see! Ridiculous to think that we share the same air! So look only in North America.http://www.climatehotmap.org/namerica.html
Whether you agree with Al Gore and the CO2 science or not, we can all do with less. As a geologist, I tend to think in geologic time frames, which include droughts that lasted decades to hundreds of years, before man had any impact. That much is certain. We are too short-sighted and ignorant to be able to predict the future with any certainty, but it is certainly true that we will run out of crude oil one day, before we are ready for it. We have ruined a lot of places on our planet in a lot of ways, and the sooner we all think about reducing our own little impacts, the better. I applaud Al Gores message simply because we can all use less energy, and whether it saves the planet or not, we will be better off for it.
There was once a man named Al Gore,And he turned out to be such a boor, He pretended he knew science,But falsehoods were his reliance, And he hoodwinked fools by the score!
Many of the comments made miss the point.
Regardless of whether climate change is happening or not we as a planet are reliant on non-renewable resources.
Very few people seem to associate the words "non-renewable" with the fact it is going to run out.
Our way of life is not sustainable, the coal and oil energy sources driving the planet must decline. We need to switch to alternatives if we want to attempt to continue our current way of life.
Climate change is ust one of the many drivers we have to move to a more sustainable energy model.
"non renewable energy?" is not the point. We are not going to run out of energy (I hate to be the bearer of good news). We will and are constantly experimenting with new and different forms of energy. The earth is entirely made of energy, all we need to do is become more technologically advanced to use it. The point, in my opinion, is this juggernaut called global warming. Not in the way you think, I am not afraid of the oceans potential slow rise or even the potential of an animal going extinct (as horrible as that is).I am worried about legislation being taking on behalf of unclear herd science. I always hear, well people don't need to drive SUV's (No, they don't) but that is not important. It has come to the point that everything is blamed on global warming. The news the other day blamed Global Warming on teachers for using too much paper and the effects are never enough, now they are selling a Brazillian CD to help the "Victims" of Global Warming, is that future potential victims?To top it all off, the science from both sides is often lies, personal attacks or skeptical foresight. Why is either side allowed to show us information that is not accurate? Especially when so much depends on it.
Scottish Power should be applauded. Those of you that are so quick to support climate change naysayers might find this letter to the CEO of ExxonMobil (the world's largest oil corp.) a little sobering. Guga, and others, think about 'brainwashing' when you read these articles:
http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/06/stop-feeding-us-lies/
http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/11/28/50000-inconvenient...
As Mikey says above - if the scientists are wrong about global warming, what harm does it do us to improve our energy systems. Even if you insist on shrugging off global warming, we have a myriad of other issues that need to be dealt with - like water contamination and loss, desertification, etc. - not to mention many countries, including the UK, are struggling to provide enough energy for basic needs through the winter months.
Wind Powered turbines are killing thousands of wild birds 24/7 around the globe. In Scotland hundreds of Golden Eagles are killed by these infernal machines every year. In New Zealand and all countries that allow these wind machines hundreds of rare native birds fall victim. Wake up people - stop the brain washing of our children - Why do you think they pay hotshots like Al Gore to put his name on the materialistic rape of our planets wonderful wildlife and scenery
