I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Oh no.... So sad to hear about Apple. It hurts more every time to lose another sister.



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Suzie, unless one is a scientist I wouldn't presume to know more than the experts on this. There is evidence for global warming everywhere and poor Australia has been hit hard.

I believe in evolution even though I didn't see it happen. That doesn't mean that unevolved species don't exist today - like Rush Limbaugh and the gun appreciation day fanatics, for example. Natural selection isn't infalliable. 

Many of your countrymen have been suffering greatly in severe weather events recently.

The fact that somehing is naturally ocurring and essential to life is beside the point here. Cell growth and division are naturally ocurring, but we believe in cancer, right?

It isn't the existence of CO2 emissions but the preponderance and how greenhouse gases produced by pollution and deforestation are wittling away the ozone layer. Climate change is only one of the consequences. The overall trend is warming, but severe events like floods, fires and hurricanes are also produced from the melting ice caps and fewer trees.

Again, many people --even political leaders-- do misunderstand what it means, as the media do a bad job of explaining it and they often get caugh up in what this means for big business. People suppoirting polluters them go on to spread misinformation so as to confuse the issue.

I hope I am saying this properly and in a measured way.

I think you got it right Athena. Simply said, we humans are trashing the planet we live on and it's becoming evident that we will pay dearly for our foolishness.....at least some generation will.

So this isn't the first time they've had to add a new color to indicate a high temperature then?

The pace of change and how it is felt certainy varies. More industrialized countries saw some changes earlier. Australia, with such a vast land mass, would see it later. Brazil may see more than some places in South Asia and the melting of the  ice caps is certainly not visible everywhere.

And yes, there has been faulty data - that happens all the time in science, without such mistakes having to negate the underlying truth.

In the 20s Australia would likely have been unaffected. In the United States, the "Dust Bowl" happened. In India and Egypt, deforestation had happened hundreds of years ago and famine and barren land were the result. Much of the famine in Africa, when not brought about by civil war and tyranny, has been exacerbated by oversused, barren land which has affected the atmosphere and the ozone layer and the ability of the land to produce more food.

Some of the world can stand some insult at some point. But when things start to accumulate, the effects begin to speed up and multiply.

Fortunately, some very progressive policymakers in the United States - including in California, the world's 8th largest economy, are beginning to work on curbing emissions by requiring higher gas mileage standards.

Cap and trade is another way that may help - again, the world's 8th largest economy is showing leadership there, with California recently announcing measures in that area.

European countries are even further ahead.

Japan instituted something known as "cool biz" years ago to protect the ozone layer. Offices are kept at 82 degrees in summer (not 100 percent sure about the temp - but it's high) to save on a/c.

Whether these and other efforts are enough remains to be seen. Chine and others oppose curbs saying it hurts their production goals. The US used to be so obtuse that it even used to forbid officials from admitting that the polar bear was an endangered speices. Old fossils die hard, but luckily Bush is out of office.

Maybe the efforts some are making are too little too late. Most important of all, we have to be aware of what is going on and not be sidetracked by politicians. Otherwise our planet is truly in peril.

In Arizona all you have to do is go outside in an area that has "DesertLandscaping"  and an air conditioner going  and know a lot of the "warming" is manmade. The rocks and streets soak up the sun during the day, and release the heat from the rocks and streets all night. Right now we are experiencing cold, this morning all of AZ(according to weatherman) was in freeze. Electricity is a big culprit,summer the a/c has to be at 63 to get about 75 and that is only after running for 3hrs, the reverse is true in the cold snaps. In California at least you have several weeks of open windows. Arizona it might be nice to open windows, but wait-----MASSIVE DUST STORM!!! For maybe a whole week of open up time before again A/C Heater time.  Nevermind the hot flashes in summer.    I MISS THE CA Coastline-----kad2kar

Athena - BTW I agree we have to reduce pollution - but a "carbon" tax such as we have here is not going to do it. The polluters will just pass the cost on to the consumers and nothing will change. Funnily enough my electricity bill went down last quarter due to my new energy efficient pool pump. I wish I had been able to afford solar power before they dropped the feed in tarrif - friends got a power bill of nearly $500 credit. I have had solar hot water for over 30 years and love it. 

Sun - it is very hard - in fact I thought of leaving here because I just can't cope with this sort of news any more. She was such a lovely lady.

It is indeed so sad about Apple. I just loved her kindness, sense of humor and zest for life.

Bren, it was me who posted about the head cold. It definitely does not feel like the flu, although my throat is getting scratchy, probably from the drainage and coughing.

RR ... thanks for posting that.  I knew Apple was an accomplished pianist and that certainly proved it ... wonderful.  So sad to hear she has passed on   I want to cry and scream at the same time over each wonderful woman we lose to this monster.   

I am crazy - went out and trimmed the hedge (it was still in the shade). Sweat dripping off me I had a swim at 9:30am. Sitting in my wet swimsuit in front of a fan - love it.

Wet Susie

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=87

Why we know the CO2 is ours ^^

RR - thanks for posting that link.  What a beautiful pianist she was.  I can honestly say I've never watched someone dance on the keys like that before.  I didn't know Apple, as I'm in a newer BC generation, but I have seen her picture and remembered it.  I always thought, what a beautfiul woman in that scarf.  I hate cancer.

Kam, I'm also with the 98%. But it seems the corporate PTB are leading us down the proverbial garden path. The horrors of global warming will be more than a match for the world's current fiscal woes. God help us all.

You know, I didn't believe in the climate change theories when it first made the headlines many many years ago.  But we are farmers.  My parents and grandparents were farmers.  Believe me. We have seen not only the subtle changes, but the drastic ones too.   This change in climate is real and will have drastic effects on our food sources.