Why "global warming" Gets Me Heated

I read this with admiration .Everything you say i concur with and it only proves what iv'e allways thought .My favourite quote about poloticians is "They are only in it for the money"..We have had wars fought and countries invaded for a supposed threat of nuclear bombardment and weapons of mass destruction (They still haven't found any" ..These wars and propoganda on Global warming are as you say not proven...All the wars in the near east have been fought over OIL .The war in the Falklands was fought over the belief by the British Government that there is OIL in the South Atlantic .
following on from that please read my poem published 2 years ago on my Art and poetry forum ..

Since man has been upon this earth
He's many a battle fought;
About religion or rights of land
And many a victories sought.
Many a battle has been won and many a battle lost
It's mainly greed or difference of creed
Despite the dreadful cost;
It drives mankind to fight these wars
To gain another's soil
And now we have another fight
They're fighting over oil.
Would Britain had gone to the Falkland war
Just for a few dumb sheep,
Or did they fight and lose good men
For oil rights to keep.
Are we fighting in the Gulf,
for the rights of man?
Or are we there to secure,
The oil from Iran.
I just don't know when it will end
I don't know what to say
I only know I'm sick of it
So to our leaders say
Tell us the truth you congressmen
Don't tell us a pack of lies
Or you'll go down in history
And the world will all despise,
The way you kept us in the dark
And didn't tell the truth
Will live in all our memories
Handed down to youth
So I say to all of you
If you want us to fight your wars
Then don't just give us bull
Give us a just cause
We'll always fight for liberty
The enemy we will foil
But don't ask us to risk our lives
Over a barrel of OIL
John H Ventham (c) 2006

John Vee, I love your poem. I agree with your words.

AC, I can't argue with a lot of your facts and I agree that we're manipulated by the media, but I do think in this case you can apply the old saying,'where there theres smoke, theres fire' (/pun)
Another instance of this is in the MMR jab scare you write of. I truly believe that for a (small) percentage of children it is preferable to have the immunisation broken down into three jabs (one for each of the childhood diseases)spaced over a month or so, and the fact that the preservative used for the vaccine was mercury was another possible factor for the increase in autism over the last 15 years.
My child with autism developed normally until around 18 months. It could be a coincidence and I know immunisation has done wonders for all of us,however as a parent you can't help but feel guilt and look for answers for a lifelong condition that suddenly appears out of nowhere.
I know my post went off the beaten track, but I wanted to mention this.

Your comment, "A scared public are a malleable public" sums up my own stance perfectly. But I'll come back to that....

As for global wamring, it has, imho, become more of a tag line, a brand, than a factual description of events. They say Global Warming, we arew supposed to automatically know they mean the world getting warmer and global climatic change. What they dont tell you about however, is Global Cooling.

Global Cooling is the thing that scares most real (as opposed to media) scientists at the moment, but they only began to take it seriously after 911.

Global Cooling is a direct effect of pollutants in the atmosphere, reflecting light and heat back away from the Earth. Global Warming has decreased the effectiveness of the Ozone Layer forcing the Earths temperature up, but Global Cooling almost neutralises that effect, bringing the temperature down.

What is scary, is what happens when we decrease the pollutants in the atmosphere without, at the aame time, decreasing the damage to the Ozone Layer.

After 911, when all flights in and out of the USA were halted, there were unseasonably clear blue skies and a definite rise in temperature. There was already a team of scientists trying to get this idea taken seriously, but no-one in the scientific community would take it seriously. Then someone took notice of the difference in temperature in a specific area when pollutants from airplanes was removed for just one day.

But do they tell us about this, in the news do they say "due to Global Warming and Cooling" no......which is what brings me back to your most excellent post.

There is something very interesting going on behind the scenes. We all know that we are quickly running out of fuel. Well actually....no we are not.

The USA is sitting on a massive supply of a different type of oil that would halt the fuel crisis immediately. Unfortunately, this oil needs to be refined in a different way, and that refining method will produce 8 times more pollutants than the current supply.

Wales is sitting on 250million Tonnes of coal. England has millions too. As most of you probably know, the Thatcher years saw the closing down of the coal mines - over a union row and not wanting to give in to demands (demands for higher pay and better working conditions that IMHO were desperately needed) and this saw the collapse of many mining communities, higher unemployment and many other social and economic problems in the UK, especially Wales.

The first coal mine to be re-opened was in Wales in November last year. We are already getting ready.

More importantly, there are ways to produce "Clean Coal" that causes no pollutants. I suspect the UK will become a dominant force in the fuel war.

Are we told any of this? No. I mean it doesnt take much googling to find information on any of this, but it is not mainstream news thats for sure. The average person who does not question what they are taught through the medium of news would not have a clue about any of this, and they are the ones that are the most malleable.

I have always believed very strongly that we owe it to ourselves to question everything our world leaders and advisors and news readers tell us. I dont think I have bought a newspaper for a good 10 years, and only watch the news to see what crap they are trying to make us believe in this week. Read between the lines.

I agree totally that the driving force behind many news stories and enforced general consensus is business, but also power.

This may be a bold statement and may make people think me odd, but I look forward to a global catastrophe...as that is the only thing that will wake people up to the reality - that we are asleep and are drip fed information, designed to keep us grateful and buying into whatever makes them the most money.

Here Here Daughter xxx

You should try following politics via the "news" in the States.
They are so one sided it is horrible.
I think we will see another ice age before global warmming.

AC I thought this was going to be Global warming is to climate change as Hatch is to Darma stations.

Thanks AC, your view on this has actually made me feel a lot better about global warming. And most importantly I can feel smarter than the news reporters on TV!

"This may be a bold statement and may make people think me odd, but I look forward to a global catastrophe...as that is the only thing that will wake people up to the reality - that we are asleep and are drip fed information, designed to keep us grateful and buying into whatever makes them the most money." SP

I am right there with you I personally want the aliens to come that will be the one thing that can unite us. Beacuse at that point we are not Americans, Europeans, black, white, Pagan,Christian we will be Human or Earthlings which ever you prefer.

AC Great Post!!!!

I notice that, AC, you use 'Cynical' a lot. I don't actually know what this means. I mean I sorta know but I don't actually know. If you get what I mean.

Can someone explainin their own words what that actually means?

HSM, I think he means it as believing the worst of human nature and motives.

ie a cynical person might believe newpapers only give out the bad news (or half truths) because it sells papers, not because it's necessarily true.

Cynical: my definition is to take a negative opinion as a path to real 'truth'.

An out-and-out negative view, mind, is just plain pessimism.

The opposite of pessimism is optimism.

Cynicism is kind of close to pessismism, I suppose. . . only the negativity is defined by logical understanding.

Let's take an easy example, with three people: Person A, Person B and Person C.

Person A is an optimist. They wake up in the morning and look out of their window to a cloudy sky. They think, I am sure the sun will come out soon.

Person B is a pessimist. They wake up in the morning and look of out their window to a cloudy sky. They think, I am sure it will rain soon.

Person C is a cynic. They wake up in the morning and look out of their window to a cloudy sky. They think, It rained yesterday and those clouds look heavy - it'll probably rain. Especially if I plan a picnic!

[quote="vincentthedog"]You should try following politics via the "news" in the States.
They are so one sided it is horrible.
I think we will see another ice age before global warmming.

quote]


I think for every 5 minutes of real news there's another 55 minutes of crap. Especially with the 24 hour news like CNN, MSNBC and FOX new. You get a sound bite of info on what’s happening in Iraq and then the rest of the hour is about Britney Spears farting in an elevator. The morning network news shows like ABC's Good Morning America, are really bad about that. You get a quick rundown of things that happened in the real world while you were asleep, then half an hour of Diane Sawyer interviewing the cast of Dancing with the Star's because there's going to be a new episode on ABC that night.
And they thrive on misinformation. Remember all those weeks ago when Barack Obama and his wife did that little fist bump after the primary victory? The next day it became a "terrorist fist jab" at Fox news and the rest of the networks followed behind with their panels of experts to debate whether it was or wasn’t a call to jihad or just a low key high-five.
It wasn’t, they knew it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop them. It filled time. It didn’t matter if it was real news or not. They had already sold the commercial time.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover what Glen Beck, Bill O’Reilly and their clones do. I can’t watch those shows without getting peeved at the stupid b/s they spew. Not even to get a cheap laugh at how stupid they are.

Wow, it is really nice to see like-minded thinkers on this website! I think AC has done a brilliant job, and I wholeheartedly concur with all of his statements!

John, I so like your poem! Truer words were never spoken!

Sunny P, your dad certainly has bragging rights on you!

It is difficult to accept that so many people follow the "media spin" and the words of the Politicians, as opposed to doing their own independent research and thinking.

There are a couple of issues nagging at me at the moment. Canada has already begun off-shore drilling. What is NOT known to the majority, is it takes ten years to finally get the results of those labours, to the public consumers. The US is saying they don't want to start off-shore drilling because it will deter the beauty of its coastlines. Considering the rigs are 15 miles off of the coast, it seems hard that any intelligent person would believe this!

The other major problem is with the lack of Border Security between the US and Mexico. Considering this is a major entrance way for drugs, human trafficking, and terrorists, it would behoove them to secure them. This is an issue of 'national security', with 'international repercussions'. Yet, the public is being 'sold' on the idea, that this has something to do with 'illegals' crossing the border, therefore there is no need to secure them, and it would be too costly! What a crock!

When people are being kept in a continual 'state of fear', they lose their power and independence, therefore relying on the very people, who are holding them in this state. The solution, "Knowledge is Power". Everyone needs to be their own skeptic, and ask themselves this question. What am I being sold, and who is it that will benefit from it. Perhaps, that will lessen the hold of the 'media spin-doctors' and the Politicians, on society.

PS: You can reserve me a permanent seat at the "Cynics" table, btw!

I am no cynic and I do not believe everything that I read or see on the telly, but I recycle everything from aluminum cans to cable knit sweaters.

Waste not, want not.

AngeloComet wrote:Cynical: my definition is to take a negative opinion as a path to real 'truth'.

An out-and-out negative view, mind, is just plain pessimism.

The opposite of pessimism is optimism.

Cynicism is kind of close to pessismism, I suppose. . . only the negativity is defined by logical understanding.

Let's take an easy example, with three people: Person A, Person B and Person C.

Person A is an optimist. They wake up in the morning and look out of their window to a cloudy sky. They think, I am sure the sun will come out soon.

Person B is a pessimist. They wake up in the morning and look of out their window to a cloudy sky. They think, I am sure it will rain soon.

Person C is a cynic. They wake up in the morning and look out of their window to a cloudy sky. They think, It rained yesterday and those clouds look heavy - it'll probably rain. Especially if I plan a picnic!

Thank you AC, I understood Pessimism and optimism already and I knew being cynical was something close to it. I understand now.

dabiatchishere wrote:The US is saying they don't want to start off-shore drilling because it will deter the beauty of its coastlines. Considering the rigs are 15 miles off of the coast, it seems hard that any intelligent person would believe this!

Not too unbelievable.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2006/05/tilting_at_windmills_in_the_se.html
This link is to an article about a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. its from 2006, so its a bit dated, but still relative.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/04/sd_county_approves_rezoning_for_new_oil_refinery/

And thats a neat little tidbit about the first new oil refinery being built in the U.S. in 30 years.
So even if we could open up all these new oil feilds, we can't turn it into gas.


"America: Where half-assed is good enough!"

Lateralus wrote:

"America: Where half-assed is good enough!"

Now thats a quote to be proud of!

TheHolyStickman wrote:

Lateralus wrote:

"America: Where half-assed is good enough!"

Now thats a quote to be proud of!

and it would make a nice bumper sticker

TheHolyStickman wrote:

Lateralus wrote:

"America: Where half-assed is good enough!"

Now thats a quote to be proud of!

OMG Laterlaus! LMAO!


Add 10 years on top of that 30 years, and perhaps your children may benefit from it, providing the war mongers and politicians haven't blown us all to hell-o by then.

I thought the Kennedy comment was appropriate. Who would know more about 'wind' than him!

PS: While the US like any other country has its drawbacks, it is still one of the greatest countries in the world! Be proud to be an American!

dabiatchishere wrote:

PS: While the US like any other country has its drawbacks, it is still one of the greatest countries in the world! Be proud to be an American!

I agree, I'd love to go there sometime. Maybe pay MSHL a little visit.

Lateralus wrote:
I think for every 5 minutes of real news there's another 55 minutes of crap. Especially with the 24 hour news like CNN, MSNBC and FOX new. You get a sound bite of info on what’s happening in Iraq and then the rest of the hour is about Britney Spears farting in an elevator. The morning network news shows like ABC's Good Morning America, are really bad about that. You get a quick rundown of things that happened in the real world while you were asleep, then half an hour of Diane Sawyer interviewing the cast of Dancing with the Star's because there's going to be a new episode on ABC that night.
And they thrive on misinformation. Remember all those weeks ago when Barack Obama and his wife did that little fist bump after the primary victory? The next day it became a "terrorist fist jab" at Fox news and the rest of the networks followed behind with their panels of experts to debate whether it was or wasn’t a call to jihad or just a low key high-five.
It wasn’t, they knew it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop them. It filled time. It didn’t matter if it was real news or not. They had already sold the commercial time.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover what Glen Beck, Bill O’Reilly and their clones do. I can’t watch those shows without getting peeved at the stupid b/s they spew. Not even to get a cheap laugh at how stupid they are.

I listen to sports radio in the car just to veg out but will sometimes put on air america or cnn radio and although they are often against popular rederick they are also one sided byist.

Angelo, kudos on speaking your mind on this subject, I couldn't agree more! And, as Dab said, it's nice to be around so many like minded people!

SunnyP, I do still get the newspaper, for the obits!! I cannot understand people who accept the news media's views on such important subjects without some healthy skepticism. They are in the business of ratings, not necessarily interested in truth telling.

In the U.S., the three major stations are so slanted, they were even invited to go with Obama on his mid East trip. The cable news channels are not much better, I've found with the possible exception of Fox News. But, I've learned to do my own homework, too. Global Warming has become big business, at least here in America. People are spending fortunes making their homes and businesses 'green'. Who's raking in the dough? Mostly the Home Depots and other businesses who were smart enough to get into the 'going green' business early on.

Who else? The investors! Yes, they are making money, too.

Yes, Angelo, Global Warming is a big business just as the big 'ice age coming' in 1970. I remember that well. If I recall, the East Coast saw one ice storm and one very severe blizzard, 'The Blizzard of '78'. Something, I'll never forget. We were housebound for a week! But, certainly no ice age.

The winters have never been as bad since then, I guess it was a mini ice age!

I, for one, am proud to be am American, but being an American includes my right to question my leaders and what the news puts out as fact.

Thanks for posting this, Angelo. I'm right there in the skeptic's corner with you!!

Hi AC

a very interesting read and of course your statements about the media and their love of bad news is correct. Some of us are old enough to rember the threat of Y2K, the millenium bug.

That said, it is perhaps harder to argue against the effects of a weakened ozone layer when you live in Australia. We have been experiencing a drought, a drought that has no precedent. A drought that just seems to have no end. A drought that has lasted since 2001.

We do not need news people, weathermen or Governments to tell us that there is something wrong. We see it everyday, the dry weather continues and promises of heavy rain fail to materialise.

Everyone in Australia is faced with water restrictions everyday, some communities are having to cope with the most highest level of restricted water usage as the water may run out.

In Melbourne we have been at Stage three water restriction since April 2007.

Which basically means that any water related activity is probably illegal. Eg, putting water on plants in a garden is legal only for two set hours twice a week, and then it is restricted to using a hose with special restricting nozzle or a bucket.

Washing a car is also illegal unless you use a bucket and wash only windows, mirrors and headlights. Even water toys, such as water pistols can not be used at anytime!

The media loves bad news but not when the bad news is really bad. The number of experts who have predicted the ending of the drought over the past years is amazing. They predicted that the rains would come and that there have beens signs that the worst of the drought is over. They make these predictions and from the news reports one would think that the drought was over, and yet the rains refuse to obey the experts and the long dry continues.

In Melbourne our water catchments are at 30% of their capacity. I think that the Australian expeience needs to be considered as evidence that there is something wrong with the weatherdown here.

Also what is alarming is that Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with over 380,000 people diagnosed every year. It is important to rember our total population is 21 million. The incidence of skin cancer is scary. No rain, blue skies, more sun, and located close to where scientists say the ozone is depleted.

Whether global warming is real or not, whether it is pollution, nature or some other cause, it is important that this 'industry' does keep researching the area.

Although billions of dollars each year are spent in the 'cancer' industry to find a cure, none has been found. Yet AC, we would not see this as a waste of money. In Australia the finacial and social cost of our current climate is one that cries out for any research that might help explain the situation and one that offers some hope for the future.

Some recent stories:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7499036.stm

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a399QOLd9KVI&refer=australia

and the following article about the sacrificial lambs, , read it and think about what it is actually saying:

http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/livestock/sheep/lamb-production-hits-record-high/1239240.aspx

Stitch

Great post Stitch and I agree with everything you have written.
I haven't checked out the links yet but I will.

It has to be said though that a large part of our country is desert and that although its the longest drought in recorded history, we don't have a long history for comparisons.

Whether global warming is real or not, whether it is pollution, nature
or some other cause, it is important that this 'industry' does keep
researching the area

Exactly
Its true that the media love to exaggerate, but that doesn't negate the need for and results of research.

Well. . . never expected to kickstart such well-considered comments, and never really expected to find so much agreement.

Seems we are mostly a cynical lot, and that's fine with me!