Discussion: Global Warming and Other Environmental Issues

[Zoken]

It's nice to meet someone who just has to be right. It isn't enough that I agree pollution does need to be curbed, I have to agree to your reasoning for why.

You're kind of like a religous fundamentalist in that way. It isn't enough that I agree to live a moral life, I have to agree with their reasoning as to why.

 

[Mr Sparkle]

It's not MY reasoning for why, apparently you have a hard time comprehending stuff you read.
it's the scientists you see, they are the ones talking about this, since they are the ones that study these things far more than me or you.
I can see why you're reaching for a comparison that suits you, but like I said, in the end, it's your choice to be ignorant.

 

[Zoken]

You really just can't handle the fact that someone disagrees with any part of your thought process can you. You have studies on your side, people who disbelieve have studies on their side, But you're scientists are the right ones... right?

And that list jab. Again, just like a fundamentalist: "It's your choice to go to hell". You see them as ignorant for their faith based agendas, I see you as ignorant for being mislead by politicians with a team of scientist they pay to tell you what they want you to hear.

 

[Kitsune]

I just rented Al Gore’s video on global warming and had to comment.

Do I believe humanity can mess up our environment to the degree that we make our planet actually inhospitable to life? Yes, I do!

You see, like everyone on this forum, I have an opinion. But the world is so complicated today I can’t possibly know enough to develop an informed opinion on every issue impacting my life. So, I rely on faith. The question is whom do I believe? The scientist or the politician. The scientist examines and tests data to arrive at studied conclusions. The politician manipulates data to support their self serving conclusions. It’s the spin, I believe, that confuses people and prevents intelligent well thought out and executed solutions.

Certainly, Al Gore is a politician, not a scientist. Yet, I believe he is truly serious about protecting the environment. His, is not a politically profitable fight. He would have little hope of winning elections proposing changes that might negatively impact peoples lives. Sadly, he is nothing more than the messenger of doom.

Al Gore’s message is indeed frightening. I accept the legitimacy of the warnings proffered by the scientific community. The data they’ve collected is indeed overwhelming. The planet is certainly getting warmer. There’s no doubt that the ice caps are melting. The data firmly establishes that the atmospheric changes are unprecedented and not part of normal fluctuations. The danger is evident. Yet, there are still many that refuse to believe that we will soon have a day of reckoning.

Why? Why do people choose to accept the words of politicians and industrialists over scientists? I believe its because they fear change. Change can impact their lives taking away that with which they’re familiar. Change can damage industries, lose jobs and lower standards of living. It’s far easier to ignore warnings and continue blindly on assuring each other that danger doesn’t lurk ahead.

It’s so convenient to disbelieve warnings and do nothing. That appears to be what we’re best at, doing nothing especially if any action might cost us something or cause us to lose something. We can, without any knowledge of the facts, dispute anything we wish. We can find a thousand reasons not to accept the “experts” opinion. That doesn’t make us safe. Even inaction is an action when not moving prevents other things from happening or, as in the case of global warming, causes real events to continue unabated.

So, as Al Gore plainly put it--would you rather have money or the world? Who will you serve: Earth or Benjamin?

Found this online.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301067,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3661743&page=1

 

[Mr Sparkle]

You really just can't handle the fact that someone disagrees with any part of your thought process can you. You have studies on your side, people who disbelieve have studies on their side, But you're scientists are the right ones... right?

And that list jab. Again, just like a fundamentalist: "It's your choice to go to hell". You see them as ignorant for their faith based agendas, I see you as ignorant for being mislead by politicians with a team of scientist they pay to tell you what they want you to hear.

no, it's just that the scientists on my side, for the most part are simply far more numerous.
in fact, I can't think of a single scientist that says Global warming is not affected by pollution.
and, uh...hate to break it to you, but the scientists that say that pollution doesn't affect global warming (implying man has no impact on his environment) are the ones on the politician's payroll.

again, it's your choice to remain ignorant, also, I've seen "fundamentalists" and they are seldom about choice. you must live in some bizarro world I have no access to.

is spinach poison in your world? do horses ride people?

 

[chaseter]

It is soooo easy. Here: Carbon dioxide is KNOWN to be a greenhouse gas. As in it traps the radiant heat from the sun's rays and instead of allowing it to dissipate outside of our atmosphere, it traps it in. That is a fact plain and simple. It has been proven, it has been tested.

Now, we are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through many venues. Is it hard to connect the dots?????????????

 

[Mr Sparkle]

and Uh.....you guys do know that many scientists were talking about climate change before the Gore movie right?
I mean, he might have invented the internet, but Global Warming was pre-gore movie.

just so you cats can get your ducks in a row.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

There is no such thing as global warming. It's polar bears licking salt off of all the ice.

 

[Zoken]

It is soooo easy. Here: Carbon dioxide is KNOWN to be a greenhouse gas. As in it traps the radiant heat from the sun's rays and instead of allowing it to dissipate outside of our atmosphere, it traps it in. That is a fact plain and simple. It has been proven, it has been tested.

Now, we are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through many venues. Is it hard to connect the dots?????????????

Here's a nifty little fact for you. All the CO2 in the world, out of all of it. Humans are responsible for 3%. That's all 7 billion of us put together. The rest is caused by decaying plant life, forest fires, and other natural occurances.

no, it's just that the scientists on my side, for the most part are simply far more numerous.
in fact, I can't think of a single scientist that says Global warming is not affected by pollution.
and, uh...hate to break it to you, but the scientists that say that pollution doesn't affect global warming (implying man has no impact on his environment) are the ones on the politician's payroll.

again, it's your choice to remain ignorant, also, I've seen "fundamentalists" and they are seldom about choice. you must live in some bizarro world I have no access to.

is spinach poison in your world? do horses ride people?

So you've taken a personal head count. You gone out and sought out the scientist who denounce global warming. You've listened to the arguments ove everysingle one of them and found them without reason, and what's more you researched their financial histories and discovered incontrovertable proof that they are being paid by government officials? Wow, we need to put you on this whole "Who killed John Bennette Ramsey" thing. You're just one kick ass investigator.

and yeah, you still sound like a fundamentalist to me. Unwilling to believe there might be an better interpretation of your "holy scripture"

 

[Superhobo]

Why is it that this thread and the "do you believe in a higher power/god" thread always seem to get resurrected in unison?

 

[ScottyBBadd]

Why is it that this thread and the "do you believe in a higher power/god" thread always seem to get resurrected in unison?

Go figure.

 

[chaseter]

Here's a nifty little fact for you. All the CO2 in the world, out of all of it. Humans are responsible for 3%. That's all 7 billion of us put together. The rest is caused by decaying plant life, forest fires, and other natural occurances.


So you've taken a personal head count. You gone out and sought out the scientist who denounce global warming. You've listened to the arguments ove everysingle one of them and found them without reason, and what's more you researched their financial histories and discovered incontrovertable proof that they are being paid by government officials? Wow, we need to put you on this whole "Who killed John Bennette Ramsey" thing. You're just one kick ass investigator.

and yeah, you still sound like a fundamentalist to me. Unwilling to believe there might be an better interpretation of your "holy scripture"

Here is a nifty fact for you. What do you think happens to the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere when we cut down and clear out those little nifty plants that convert it into O2

 

[Johann Krauss]

I believe


Chaseter, is June 1 when conan takes over Lenos spot?

 

[chaseter]

I believe


Chaseter, is June 1 when conan takes over Lenos spot?

Yes Sirt:

 

[Johann Krauss]

sweet

 

[Mr Sparkle]

So you've taken a personal head count. You gone out and sought out the scientist who denounce global warming. You've listened to the arguments ove everysingle one of them and found them without reason, and what's more you researched their financial histories and discovered incontrovertable proof that they are being paid by government officials? Wow, we need to put you on this whole "Who killed John Bennette Ramsey" thing. You're just one kick ass investigator.

and yeah, you still sound like a fundamentalist to me. Unwilling to believe there might be an better interpretation of your "holy scripture"

no no no, I have a life you see, I cannot dedicate myself to science, because, well I'm not a scientist.
and, despite that, if someone came out against gravity I would still think they are misinformed or willfully ignorant.
still, I like to keep informed and read up on the subject in places like Scientific American and many others.
THEY say this, and well, mainstream media sources as well.
apparently, and oddly enough it is you who apparently is heir to some "holy scripture" none of the rest of the world is privy to.

good luck with that

 

[Alex The Great]

*walks in*


It was snowing yesterday...


something aint right.

 

[Superman4ever]

The North Pole is now, for the first time in history, an Island.

 

[SuBe]

Global warming is a lie made up by scientists in order to try and give humans something else to worry about. If global warming is supposed to be real and temperatures are supposed to rise every year, explain why this summer where I live it more cool like it were spring or winter than it were summer?

You are right, Global Warming was an April Fools joke from a couple of years ago that caught Media Attention, now we are stuck with it.

 

[Alex The Great]

The North Pole is now, for the first time in history, an Island.

Damn.


Oh and look. Today it's going to be 6 degrees! (canada temature measuring thingy)

tomorrow, 5.

Is september....Early September....

 

[Metamorpho1977]

There is no global warming. It's polar bears licking all the salt off of the icebergs.

 

[The Senator]

Use this thread to discuss environmental issues, ranging from global warming to water pollution.

What do you feel is the number one threat facing the environment? Is it global warming? Dependency on oil? Urbanization?

How can we reduce our impact on the environment? Should we explore market-based solutions, or should we put the environment first and forgo any market-based incentives to rapidly pursue environmental change? Or are there other ways for us to help reduce human-induced environmental change, such as limiting family size, "going green," or purchasing locally produced goods?

Also, for anyone who is interested, you can calculate your ecological footprint at the link provided. Your ecological footprint is the number of planets necessary to support the entire population if they had the same habits as you.

Have at it.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Personally, environmental issues is one of my top concerns. After being in Europe, I was amazed at how much they do to recycle. My friend actually told me that Europeans have a maximum of how much trash a person can throw away. I threw away my baggage tags and later went back and recycled them.

Working in a supermarket shows me just how much gets thrown away. The company's policy of throwing away plastic bags that customers bring in to be recycled bugs me, as does all of the newspapers and aluminum cans that get tossed out.

I'm sure I'll be called a hippy (*looks out for hippy hunter* ) but I really wish people would take environmental issues more seriously. Its a reason I'm voting for Obama. Yes, McCain says that he will invest in alternative fuels, but I keep hearing Republicans say "drill drill drill" and mention alternative fuels as an after thought.

I want someone that will get us out of the energy crisis ASAP and that means offshore drilling. But I dont want to be on fossil fuels forever. The sooner we get going on developing new formes of energy the better.

 

[The Senator]

I personally believe we need to do whatever we can to limit human-induced environmental degradation. I am anticipating responses from some of our more conservative posters which will be along the lines of "forcing companies to reduce carbon emissions will cause them to cut jobs!" or "we need to drill offshore to lower gas prices now!," with short-term economic stability being a primary concern of theirs.

But I have one point which I would like to make: If we don't do something about the environment now, our economy will be in far worse shape in the coming decades than it is now.

Think about it: If we continue to rely on oil, we will continue to deplete the supply. The United States reached peak oil production in the 1970s, and the Middle East is expected to peak by 2040 at the latest. That means that oil prices are going to continue to increase well into the future, even if we start drilling domestically and open up the petroleum reserves. If supply continues to decrease as global demand rises (and it is rising globally, the introduction of the Tata NANO in India, priced at $2500, will allow millions of people who could never afford automobiles in developing countries to finally have access to one), our economy will not flatline.

Think of all the businesses which will be affected. Airlines will have to cut back flights to conserve fuel. Travel fares will increase to offset the price of fuel. Companies will have to downsize or cut jobs because fuel costs-- whether heating or transport-- will rise exponentially.

Granted, this crisis is something we won't have to expect for a few decades-- but it is coming. There will be a day when we can no longer rely on oil. We have to invest in alternative energies NOW, or else we are going to face possibly the worst economical disaster imaginable on a GLOBAL front. Nevermind the politics of the situation-- the mere fact that we are reaching peak oil production globally shows that a crisis is pending.

And that doesn't get into agriculture or business practices. Our society has become infatuated with consumption. We buy things we do not need, things extracted from the environment. Our consumer-based society has caused far more environmental degradation in the past fifty years than anything else. We LIVE to consume. Why? Because our economy apparently depends on it.

But if there is nothing left for us to consume, if we start running low on resources, then how is our economy going to survive? Yeah, again, we'll be better off in the short term-- but what about our children, or our grandchildren? What kind of a world will they inhabit? One overrun by pollution? One overrun by economical disaster? Or one where we have reached a balance between consumption and environmental protection, where clean, renewable energies are the primary component of our energy production?

We need to do something now, or else we may never reverse some of the effects we have unleashed on the world. Whether you believe in Climate Change or not, there is a greater picture, one which deals with the supplies of our resources and the future state of our economy. Not only on a national scale, but a GLOBAL scale. Because the environment should be a global issue, and the United States should pull the stick out of its ass and start leading the way on global environmental issues instead of pointing at other nations which refuse to comply.

 

[The Senator]

Also, I am a strong supporter of single-child households. I believe that those who are able to reproduce should consider having one child. While impossible to enforce on a global scale, I do believe that the re-emergence of single-child households would help add to a negative population trend and, as a result, would limit our ecological footprints.

Additionally, I consider myself a fairly "green" person. I buy recycled paper, barely purchase bottled water/ soda, and have converted my lighting to florescent lighting. I also refuse to buy what I do not need (I do not have an iPod or any MP3 player, I do not have any video game consoles, I do not own a car, a stereo, or any CDs, and I buy very few books). I take five minute showers and use public transportation. And if I ever adopt a child, I will only have one.