Some links discussing the cycles of global cooling and warming: From the Center for Global Food Issues: http://www.cgfi.org/materials/articles/2004/jan_12_04.htm Frontier Center for Public Policy (Tim Ball actually says we are still cooling down): http://www.fcpp.org/main/publication_detail.php?PubID=864 In another thread, the same argument was made with regards to it not hurting to be prudent, but there are costs and it affects the lowest income levels the most. I'm sure you understand this considering your acknowledgement that the cost could be passed on to the consumer. I am all for alternative energy sources, but they have to be able to sustain the level of efficiency that fossil fuels provide us at this point. Nuclear energy is clearly the best solution we have at this time. If anything, we should be working toward converting our electric companies at this point while development of electric cars is fine tuned. I don't know if you have seen this video clip before, but this looks like it could be the next big thing in alternative energy sources: http://www.thatvideosite.com/view/2602.html
I got a buddy, hardcore conservative. Blasted the "treehuggers" for years about the global warming "bullshit". Then he finally drew a tag for a polar bear hunt up in Churchill. Came back and said, "damn Ricter, you needed binoculars to see the ice it was so far from shore. It used to come right to the shore this time of year!" I struggled with a tactful response.
This doesn't prove that the warming is catastrophic. The earth's temperature rises and falls normally. That is what the debate is about.
I suppose you don't own car or health insurance because you haven't gotten sick or in an accident yet? It's not a very good argument especially considering the fact that global warming is a fact. It's only the causes that are under debate and what to do to resolve the issue.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19623118-30417,00.html Q Climate change threatens glaciers Leigh Dayton, Science writer June 29, 2006 GLOBAL climate is undergoing an abrupt change that could lead to the melting of most of the world's glaciers in the near future, threatening freshwater supplies in the most populous regions on earth. The warning comes from US scientists who have studied the retreat of glaciers at seven sites in the Andes of South America and the Himalayas in Tibet. Evidence from ice cores, aerial photographs, maps and plant remains reveals that the sudden warming began last century and ends a cooling trend that began with a cold snap 5200 years ago. The team, led by glaciologist Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University in Columbus, reports its findings this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. According to the group, the cooling event coincided with the rapid rise of cities in the overpopulated Nile Valley in Egypt and Mesopotamia's fertile crescent. Professor Thompson's team claims the melting glaciers may "signal that the climate system has exceeded a critical threshold" that will see most glaciers vanish within decades. UQ
The east and west coast of north america are in danger. But additional potential cataclysms would contribute. It should be pointed out that the Nile used to flow easterly across the Sahara region. When poles shift in orientation to the sun, ice caps melt and reform elsewhere. There is torque now building up that is having effect on magnetic poles. What would happen if cosmic waves pulsing through the polar areas were to liquify that part of the interior that binds the earth's mantel to it's core? At that point the earth is off it's "foundation" and the mantel will shift relative to the core. As interior matter is ejected, the mantel undergoes topographical changes. In the bigger picture, this solar system will be entering an electromagnetic null zone. The Higher Evolution will be using that for massive reprogramming and transpositioning. Think globally, act locally. Jesus
You no, that's a cute story but it doesn't prove a damn thing. Wow, the earth cools and warms! Whoda thouht that? EricP makes good points. Lets assume GW is real and is caused by manmade actions. What do we do about it? How do we reverse it?