There are many interesting ideas in this world. This blog is dedicated to pursuing them wherever they go. Politics, philosophy, religion, environment, and anything else that captures imaginations and leads to healthy discussions. Never take the world for what it is, there's always a better way to do something.
A poll conducted by Time in 2006 found that 64% of those surveyed believe that there is “a lot of disagreement” on global warming among scientists. This belief is contradicted by studies such as Orkes 2004 and Doran and Zimmerman 2009 that indicate a strong consensus among climate scientists on anthropogenic global warming.
Looking 11 Years Back – The GCST Memo
In 1998 the American Petroleum Institute’s “Global Climate Science Team” issued an Action Plan to influence the public’s view of global climate change. According to the memo, victory would be achieved when:
“-Average citizens “understand” (recognize) uncertainties in climate science; recognition of uncertainties becomes part of the “conventional wisdom”
-Media “understands” (recognizes) uncertainties in climate science
-Media coverage reflects balance on climate science and recognition of the validity of viewpoints that challenge the current “conventional wisdom”
-Industry senior leadership understands uncertainties in climate science, making them stronger ambassadors to those who shape climate policy
-Those promoting the Kyoto treaty on the basis of extent science appears to be out of touch with reality.”
The Copenhagen climate summit is less than two months away. Taking place in Denmark from December 7th through December 18th, the conference will be a site of intense negotiations over curbing carbon dioxide emissions world wide. This is important. This is very, very important. Most the of the world realizes the importance of fighting global warming.. except the United States. We on the other hand seem be going backwards on the issue.
While our new President and the Congress has taken action to combat heat-trapping emissions for the first time, and they’re working towards an international treaty to slow global warming, the public doesn’t seem to be interested in joining them. A poll of 1,500 adults was released by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, dealing with American viewpoints on environmental issues. Lets just say the results were shocking and very, very disheartening. It appears we have taken a GIANT step back on the environmental front. Just 57% of Americans think there is solid evidence that global warming is real. That’s 20 percentage points down from three years ago, when Pew started polling on this issue. TWENTY PERCENTAGE POINT.. that is astounding!
It doesn’t stop there, only about a third of Americans feel that human actions, pollution for cars and factories, are responsible for temperature increase. That number was at 47% only three years ago. I understand we are caught in a midst of an economic turmoil, however, can we afford to let environmental issues just sit there unattended? If you found out you had cancer that hasn’t metastasized yet, would you ignore because you were going through financial hardship? Global warming as a result of pollution is a cancer.. and it threatens the lives of millions worldwide. From continual soil erosion and desertification in Australia and Africa, increasing frequency of hurricanes, the melting of polar ice caps, and the rise of sea levels that threaten nations like the Maldives
The most disappointing fact about our nation’s views on environmental issues is that the opinions seem to break down by party lines. According to the Pew poll, three-quarter of Democrats believe that the evidence behind global warming, and nearly half believe that the problem is serious. However, 57 percent of Republicans believe that there is no solid evidence for global warming, a figure that has risen by 26 percentage points from 2007. In the academic world, with a few exceptions, majority of scientists agree that global warming is happening, and that the primary cause is the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
I saw this article on Yahoo! news tonight, and I just loved it. First off, I’m a supporter of the Green movement (Although to be honest.. I’m not the most conscientious recycler out there). I do believe Global Warming is real, and we, both United States and the World, need to do something about it.
What the Maldive government did is beautiful though. Pure brilliance!! The Maldives are a country composed of 1,192 islands and a population of about 309,000. According to Wikipedia, the Maldives are also the lowest country in the world (an average of only 1.5m above the sea level). The continued rise of the global sea level threatens this country with the fate of Atlantis. The President, along with 13 other government officials, signed document calling for worldwide cut in carbon dioxide emissions, while submerged 20 feet under the ocean. A publicity stunt or just prediction of the future?
Unfortunately United States has been one of the worst countries when it comes to going green. I know we are still very much reliant on oil and other fossil fuels. But at what point do you stop making excuses and realize that there are parts of the world where this is an issue of life and death, not convenience. I truly hope we as a country move forward into a new direction.
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