Global Warming.

[Gen'l Knight]

I don't think ten years or even 20 years will tell you anything about the weather cycle.

Even our lifetimes are a drop in the bucket when we talk about this issue.

I remember in 1978 where it was 100 degrees give or take for over a month. Same cloudless skies, high pressure setting in. I know cause I was driving spikes for the good old railroad at the time. Whew!!! Hot!!

A giant HP area is tough to break.

[Nusentinsaino]

We shouldn't be worrying about global warming, but over-population instead.

[Real-BadSeed]

Hey i wont dispute that weather changes naturally and is cyclical, but this is dramatic changes in short periods, thats the unnatural part here. We've had changes in climate before, but it happens over thousands of years, not in a only a few decades.

I still say we are effecting our climate, and at the very least helping those changes in weather, and causing an excellerated change at that. Whether that spells doom remains to be seen. But i certainly believe it means hard times at the very least. With lots of drought and expanding desertification of fertile areas.

[MkH^]

Originally Posted by [5th]Lupin

Here's a link to a very well made video that shows that global warming is nothing but a natural cycle and it has been going on for millions of years.

The Great Global Warming Swindle

I think the "natural cycle" idea is bullshit. Sure the earth has warmed and cooled down over its existence - in periods of few hundred thousand years or something - but how come the changes have become so evident over the last fifty years or so? Since the industrial revolution, so to say. That's merely a blink of an eye in the history of the world, and during that very blink the temperature just suddenly rises for many degrees, of course without any influence on behalf of man, despite the population and industrilisation that has been skyrocketing for the past two centuries?

I hate alarmists and enviromentalists as much as the next man, but I believe what I'm seeing by my own eyes. With all the senseless pollution and consumption going on nowadays, that must have a negative effect on the globe. Fifty years ago the winter had only reached its peak in january, and this year I could have worn shorts and a tee at that time?

Say what you say, but at the light of the current evidence, I have easier time believing the opinions majority of actual scientists on global warming, than some asshole with his makebelieve documentary.

[stylie]

I had to laugh at that snowboarder, the one with the red hair. His name is Sean White. Not that this guy is supposed to be doing anything about it or anything. But I just saw him in a PSA about global warming and what you can do about it, then he was in a commecial for American Express getting text messages telling him what country to go to the next day to catch powder. Too funny.

[caeno]

Ok, I don't really want to get involved in this discussion more than by saying: I do believe we are killing the planet in multiple ways. It might not be apparent to everyone everywhere, but that doesen't change the fact that we are doing it. And human greed is the only cause really (think about it just for a little while, I know it might sound dumb)... Invent or do something that "cures" greed and maybe planet earth will see a couple of more hundred years...

Also, as a general indication of my pessimistic attitude:
Don't believe in internet sites or videos you find on the internet. Don't believe in anything published, simply because everything can be a lie no matter who wrote it. Does it make a text reliable when it says Nasa? or George Bush? or Merlin? Or Napoleon? Or Reuters? Or The Fox News? Or KGB?

And yes, I know I'm making myself look stupid, but who cares?

[Komrad_B]

I don't think its 100% certain man is the main cause of climate changes, but I think we shouldn't take the risk of continuing uncontrolled pollution. It s kinda like ignoring mysterious phone calls by a murderous maniac that wants your skin : it could be a prank, but it could be real too

Theres no doubt in my mind, for all those saying humans can't affect the planet because its too big, that we have the power today of destroying it if we please. We overpopulate it, send billions of tons of gases in the air every weeks and we possess nuclear weapons that could probably destroy life many times over if they were all used at the same time.

Originally Posted by Mkh^

I hate alarmists and enviromentalists as much as the next man, but I believe what I'm seeing by my own eyes. With all the senseless pollution and consumption going on nowadays, that must have a negative effect on the globe. Fifty years ago the winter had only reached its peak in january, and this year I could have worn shorts and a tee at that time?

Very true. I can say the same about Eastern Canada, last year (and the year before) in Quebec we barely had snow in February, and people were playing friggin golf at New Year's eve. Ski conditions were disastrous, too. When I was a kid we used to have huge snowfalls before christmas, imagine. Anyone who doesn't see those changes across the years is either blind, or doesn't live in an area that is affected much.

[Pasquill]

Originally Posted by Komrad_B

I don't think its 100% certain man is the main cause of climate changes, but I think we shouldn't take the risk of continuing uncontrolled pollution.

I too believe this, but I think the media/government are blowing it way out of proportion. There is only X amount of years of fuel left on the earth as far as I know and a lot of these oil companies with ties with politicians (tin foil hat time) want to make as much as they can out of it by slapping on taxes on fuel under the guise of helping the environment and trying to force people into public transport. Just last month 4x4 and SUV where given a hefty charge here in the UK. Its like the Taxes on Alcohol, they put 7p on a pint to help stop people drinking and cut down the health risks. To an alcoholic or even me who only drinks at weekend, it ain't gonna do swat, I am not gonna miss 50p and all those drinking nation wide on saturday night are not as well, but the Gov will get a shit load of cash. Same with the fuel.

Last year some bright spark figured out and modded his engine to run on vegetable oil and with in a week quite a few people did the same. Cheap, no where near as damaging on the environment as fuel but the Government came down like a ton of bricks on them. Why? You tell me.

Also my father was a scientist and in the 60/70s worked on "the hydro engine" in Leyland motors. He will admit it was not as powerful as the combustion engine but they where making advances in leaps and bounds. An engine that runs of water and the only bi product is water, but the government stepped in, the project was canceled and early this year, India produced its first car that ran on water.

Edit: Just looking up water cars and found this:

Coming soon: a water-fuelled car-Health/Science-The Times of India

[stylie]

Originally Posted by Pasquill

Last year some bright spark figured out and modded his engine to run on vegetable oil and with in a week quite a few people did the same. Cheap, no where near as damaging on the environment as fuel but the Government came down like a ton of bricks on them. Why? You tell me.

This is gonna sound weird but hear me out...

I fear ethanol. I think it will cost us waaaaaaaaay more environmentally then petroleum. Here's why.

Its made from food. Plain and simple. We need the food, not the cars and trucks. Using this stuff would cause deforrestation the likes of which we havent yet seen. Whole countries will tear down forrest to grow corn. Well actually sugar is the best method pound for pound. N. America will use corn cause its the cheapest, but not the best way. We cant grow sugar like the middle latitudes can. This will also drive up the cost of food and what corporations will all of the sudden start sucking up food for their transportation needs? Possibly taking it from our mouths? It is proven, at this point, that it requires more energy to create a gallon of ethanol then you get back out of it. I love the idea of seeking out alternatives. But I fear ethanol! Am I being paranoid?

[jumjum]

Originally Posted by stylie

...I fear ethanol. I think it will cost us waaaaaaaaay more environmentally then petroleum. Here's why.

Its made from food. Plain and simple. We need the food, not the cars and trucks. Using this stuff would cause deforrestation the likes of which we havent yet seen. Whole countries will tear down forrest to grow corn. Well actually sugar is the best method pound for pound. N. America will use corn cause its the cheapest, but not the best way. We cant grow sugar like the middle latitudes can. This will also drive up the cost of food and what corporations will all of the sudden start sucking up food for their transportation needs? Possibly taking it from our mouths? It is proven, at this point, that it requires more energy to create a gallon of ethanol then you get back out of it. I love the idea of seeking out alternatives. But I fear ethanol! Am I being paranoid?

No, you're being rational. Excellent, valid points.

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