<p>from the Independent <a href=“http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article345926.ece[/url]”>http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article345926.ece</a></p>
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<p>Jim Hansen, the director of the Nasa Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, is President George Bush’s top climate modeller. He was speaking to Fred Pearce</p>
<p>Hi Cheers! Good to see your name on here…The papers here have been covering how the NASA people have been silenced in large part by the administration…e.g.,
<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001766.html[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001766.html</a></p>
<p>Let them rebuild New Orleans first and sneak a few more dry Mardi Gras in.</p>
<p>Greenland is losing mass every day</p>
<p>Its pretty amazing what is going on and how excuses are made or that this is nothing</p>
<p>The world is shifting, the ocean levels are rising, the temperature of the water will change, the salt water content will shift, the sea life- animal plants - will be hurt</p>
<p>But hey, so long as its not on my land</p>
<p>Guess it has to affect people personally for them to care about this earth. And I think about my grandkids and their kids, I worry about the future of our home and what mess we will leave for them</p>
<p>Others don’t seem to though, especially if they are trying to hide the truth</p>
<p>I wonder when Bush and his minions will go after these wistle blowers</p>
<p>CGM ~ What would you have the world do? Windpower, renewables, and solar? so far these cannot replace fossil fuels without having millions die, and billions take a huge cut in living standards.</p>
<p>This is why Kyoto was rejected by both parties, and it was a toothless paper tiger, at least compared to actual reduction/elimination of the greenhouse emissions our civilization produces.</p>
<p>Better get ready for a warmer world with a lot less shoreline.</p>
<p>I’m wondering how millions will die if we switch to solar power. Check out CSP plants…outputs near that of nuclear plants, except using the sun to focus energy on a fluid which heats up, boils water and runs a steam turbine.</p>
<p><a href=“Solar power - Wikipedia”>Solar power - Wikipedia;
<p>Safe…clean…</p>
<p>R-dad, the purpose of developing renewable sources of energy is not to replace the fossil fuels but complement them, and delay their exhaustion. Despite being imperfect, there are many technologies that work as intended and are competitive price wise -solar energy hardly being the best one. </p>
<p>The problem, however, is that the resistance to a larger deployment comes from many directions, including the environmental lobbies. For instance, one of the biggest problems for windpower stems from the well-ingrained NIMBY mentality of citizens. Simply stated, we expect electricty to flow through our homes, but prefer to to avoid the sights of its production, transmission, and distribution. </p>
<p>In the end, more could be done, but it does require long-term views and the acceptance of mild sacrifices. In this regard, conservation, reduction in consumption, and increased efficiency are BY FAR the best weapons against the destruction of our planet. FWIW, our uncontrolled appetite for consumption does ruin a lot more than our environment. :(</p>
<p>Solar, renewable, and wind are all great. These techniques can provide a small portion of our needs and should be utilized to the greatest extent possible…but they will not replace a meaningful portion of fossil fuel consumption on the planet. If we look for a solution that reduces fossil fuels, we need to think about reducing fossil consumption in China, India, Africa and elsewhere, not just at home.</p>
<p>Such a transformation would cost a huge amount of money over more than a generation. Will we agree to cancel social security benefits for the elderly to pay for it? I think not. I know everyone will have his favorite programs (welfare on the right, tax cuts for the rich on the left) that should be gutted to pay, but who will agree to gut their own favorite initiatives to pay for the changeover? No one on this board: we are all too partisan.</p>
<p>Hence my prediction: get ready for rising sea level.</p>
<p>At least admit what is going on instead of trying to hide what the truth is</p>
<p>that would be a start</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s debate about whether or not there is global warming; rather, the debate lies in whether or not it’s our fault and whether or not it’s going to escalate to the point where there are consequences that threaten all life on earth.</p>
<p>"At least admit what is going on instead of trying to hide what the truth is</p>
<p>that would be a start"</p>
<p>So, do you really think that is what causes the problem? The old, “As long as we don’t know that we have a problem, we can’t begin to look for a solution?” We all know that humans cause great damage to the planet, but we also know that we still have to park billions of us somewhere … anywhere for that matter. No matter how many scientific reports come out and how many conflicting analyses are out there, only a fool would conclude that everything is fine and well. Global warming, rising waters, alarming development of pulmonary diseases in several countries … name your poison!</p>
<p>However, what do you DO if we were to agree that is bad, really bad? </p>
<p>Sadly, there are many countries that, with one foot barely out of abject poverty and feudal lifestyles, can not do much. How can we impose restrictions on countries that are experiencing the first exhilarating breath of political and economical freedom. when we abused our priviledges for eons. On the other hand, there is plenty the Western world can do, and especially the United States. </p>
<p>For starters, we need to realize that our energy bill WILL continue to rise as it SHOULD! Yes, yes as it should! We are not paying enough for most sources of energy. We lament the cost of a gallon of gasoline to the extent to call it a national tragedy when soccermoms cannot drive their monstruous SUV to get their daily Starbucks -or a more liberal brand. Yet, they do not realize how STUPID it is that the same outrageous cost of a gallon of gas is much cheaper than a gallon of the barely purified water so many carry around the clock. As much as we decry the profiteering of the Exxons of this world, how should we call the water companies that take city water, funnel it through an osmosis filter, and dump it in small bottles? What is their cost of exploration and production compared to getting oil of the frozen steppes of a dictator-run country or the parched desert owned by quasi terrorists? </p>
<p>Yes, CGM, we SHOULD pay five or six bucks per gallons and direct all the surplus to incentives to OWN new technologies. Not a single penny of the extra revenues should support the general expenses of the government. </p>
<p>This would force families to dump their third or fourth car, buy smaller cars, and stop treating the ownership and operation of gas-guzzling cars as a god given right. THAT would be a good start, but … would YOU be ready to support such a plan? Probably not. In the same way as you probably oppose the building a LNG terminal in California or the construction of any new power plants. Heck, you probably oppose the building of windfarm and biomass plants, because one silly half-blind Bald Eagle might get chopped by a blade or the biomass is a tad smelly. </p>
<p>Yes, people want cheap gas, a lot of cheap gas and the right to ■■■■■■ about it or blame others for their lack of vision.</p>
<p>actually biodiesel is fairly popular in our area
<a href=“http://www.sustainableballard.org/links/[/url]”>http://www.sustainableballard.org/links/</a>
also we chose to live in the city because
we can walk/bike/bus to the grocery, parks ,work etc.
We believe in increasing density so that we still have rural areas, rather than spreading suburban areas from shore to shore.
we also rarely buy something new- we buy organic food- dont eat much meat- buy recycled/used/vintage goods- use the libary instead of buying new books ( an amazing drain on the environment)
if you would like other suggestions how you can change your life to make less impact on the earth just ask :)</p>
<p>this is a HUGE problem that even if the KYOTO accord was not perfect it was better than Bush trying to have his scientists gagged from speaking the truth</p>
<p>the gallon of gas price- how is that relativent, since Exxon just announcement huge war time profits</p>
<p>And since the gas companies are getting a 7B dollar break on paying royalties, don’t give me that other crap you spew, they should pay up since they are making record amount of money</p>
<p>nice try</p>
<p>I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I look at an automobile. Maybe it is a similar feeling my grandfather had when he closed his horse and buggy business around 1917 and moved to SF. I can’t understand how we have gone in the 70s from knowing we needed to change our lifestyle (once again) of a now dependence on fossil fuels to this mad obsession with huge automobiles whatever you call them, SUVs and I hope gas goes up to $10 a gallon. The good thing about it: it will happen and those who have a clearer vision of the future will be prepared. Some of my son’s generation including my nephew are over protecting our oil supply in Iraq. Shame on all of us!</p>
<p>Talking about ways to use alternative energy sources. My hot water supply in this semi “third world” country has been since I arrived here free from April to November. Why? There are solar panels on the roof of the apartment complex. In the winter months I have to heat the water somewhat to get it hot enough with the flick of a switch. It can be done.</p>
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<p>Don’t give me that other crap you spew? Nice try? </p>
<p>Well, let me wrap it up for you in a nice little sentence: you do not have the slightest clue about any of these issues. You are just babbling and babbling to fill your little quota of daily non-sense. Raising the cost of gas via a surcharge would not NOT make oil companies richer, but that seems a bit hard to understand if you do not try. Do you think that Exxon gets $6 or 7 dollars a gallon in Europe? Ultimately, we WILL pay a huge price for gas, and by that time it will be too late. Now, we still have a chance to make changes and invest wisely. </p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and start reading a few books or articles and drop the National Enquirer. When you do that, come back and we will talk.</p>
<p>CGM ~ I thought that in my post I made it clear that I believe there is a major change going on in world temperatures, and that sea level is going to rise. But let’s remember that while humans probably contribute to this result, there are other powerful factors out there. A few months ago there was an interesting article in Scientific American which propounded the view of a group of scientists that this problem has been in the making for about 10,000 years and is essentially a by-product of agriculture, not industrialization. The cure? Restore southeast Asia and Europe to uninhabited grassland, forest and swampland, forego most agriculture on the planet, and reduce the human population by 95%!</p>
<p>I doubt that either of us thinks that program is going to win a lot a votes…</p>
<p>Recently another group of scientists has been suggesting that the largest chunk of global warming has been caused by changes in solar output; nothing to do with us. This theory is supported by new data just gathered this year. Remember that the planet would be “naturally” entering a new ice age now based on orbital and tilt considerations except that something (possibly us) is causing it to warm instead.</p>
<p>What most people should realize is that many Americans are unaware that there are terrible costs to drastic reductions in fossil fuel usage in the short term, so anytime a real proposal makes it to the table the voters will be shocked, shocked that more has to be given up than the opportunity to drive SUVs for a latte.</p>
<p>If we reduce the number of autos drastically, more old people are going to die at home because they could not reach the hospital in time. Suburban house values will collapse, as people have a sudden new need to live closer (or right on top of) work locations. Since most of the savings of the american people is in their homes, this will be unpopular to say the least. Without cheap gas and fossil-based fertilizers, many farms will be uneconomical, here and abroad. Food production will slump across the planet and starvation will claim many children and other helpless people at the bottom of the survival chain.</p>
<p>These are just a few of the costs of really doing something about fossil fuel use now, as opposed to waiting and hoping something saves us in the end.</p>
<p>I don’t support waiting and hoping, but my question to you is, which of your pet projects will you kill forever in order to address this huge problem? Once again, I know people can always “pay” for their prescriptions by slashing the other guy’s programs, but which of yours will you give up? Social Security payments? Medicaid/Medicare?</p>
<p>I hear our nation has saved $18 trillion in retirement accounts. Maybe all of this money should be seized to pay for refitting the economy for solar? It would not be enough but it would be a start.</p>
<p>How is the decline in house values of suburbia a bad thing? Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars a day, just to get to work? Why not live within walking distance? People did it for millenia before us, can it really be that bad? </p>
<p>Oil is going to start coming in short supply starting in the next few years. So we are going to face reduced cars on the road and extremely high gas prices that won’t quit going higher. So why not start instituting programs that put those prices high to keep demand down and allow us time to figure things out? I hate to say it, but hundreds of millions, if not billions will die in the coming years unless we can find a miracle source of energy, and that doesn’t seem to happen as fusion has always been just 50 years away.</p>
<p>Our coastal house will be beach frontal property in 50 years! I’m taking res. Tsunmi hazard will not waived. We will guarantee against icebergs during your stay.</p>
<p>Some food for thought and discussion: Solar power the way of the future? I want to live long enough to finish a history project, see my grandchildren, and see a new energy supply in use on the planet. As far as rising oceans I remember reading the SF Chronicle with my mom one day (reading over her shoulder) as she was saying that they predict rising oceans. That had to have been between 1959-1962.</p>
<p><a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4719334.stm[/url]”>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4719334.stm</a></p>