“Thus, we need to abandon the Kyoto process”
I’ve just spent 1.5h this day before Christmas Eve doing something I wholeheartedly recommend everyone else to do as well - reading Bjorn Lomborg’s book on climate change. Named “Cool It ” (and yes, while I am a quick reader it is quite short) it makes an excellent case explaining that even though humans indeed cause some of the climate change in the world our response to that should be to basically continue on the same path as we already are instead of throwing money on projects like Kyoto that actually might cause more harm than good. Select excerpts:
Book · Climatechange · English · Globalwarming
334 words
2 minutes
An availability cascade is a self-sustaining chain of events, which may start from media reports of a relatively minor event and lead up to public panic and large-scale government action. On some occasions, a media story about a risk catches the attention of a segment of the public, which becomes aroused and worried. This emotional reaction becomes a story in itself, prompting additional coverage in the media, which in turn produces greater concern and involvement. The cycle is sometimes sped along deliberately by “availability entrepreneurs,” individuals or organizations who work to ensure a continuous flow of worrying news. The danger is increasingly exaggerated as the media compete for attention-grabbing headlines. Scientists and others who try to dampen the increasing fear and revulsion attract little attention, most of it hostile: anyone who claims that the danger is overstated is suspected of association with a “heinous cover-up.” The issue becomes politically important because it is on everyone’s mind, and the response of of the political system is guided by the intensity of public sentiment. The availability cascade has now reset priorities. Other risks, and other ways that resources could be applied for the public good, all have faded into the background.
Book · Climatechange · Consciousness · English · Globalwarming · Science
294 words
2 minutes
Climate variability in Northern Europe
A report from the World Bank is making rounds in media today. While portraying catastrophic scenarios, it contains no new actual research and is simply extrapolating statistical possibilities. Unfortunately the media headlines aren’t really reflecting the content - not unusual regardless of the topic.
Climatechange · Globalwarming · Scandinavia · Science
508 words
3 minutes
I’ve just finished watching The Great Global Warming Swindle - a Channel 4 documentary that basically states that something we’ve begun taking for granted, is really resting on shaky scientific grounds.
Climatechange · English · Globalwarming
136 words
1 minute
Here is the text broken up into paragraphs: In our daily exposure to science, we’ve been told that there exists a quality metric that allows us to distinguish between "bad science" and "good science". Peer review; the concept of scientific works being sent to certain publications, where editors then asks other scientists in (hopefully) related fields for their opinions, and if the paper "passes" it will be published. Some publications are taken to be "better" than others at this, and there’s a sense of pride and justification between scientists depending on how many papers, and where, they’ve managed to get published through the peer review process.
Climatechange · English · Globalwarming · Media · Science
330 words
2 minutes
The end of our warm interglacial
“Evidence is increasing, therefore, that a rapid reorganisation of atmospheric and ocean circulation (time-scales of several decades or more) can occur during inter-glacial periods without human interference.”
Climatechange · English · Globalwarming
401 words
2 minutes
…is this diagram. It’s from [probably the best climate blog](http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/more-signs-of-the-sun-slowing-down/ "probably the best climate blog") I’ve ever read, and while there’s no question of the author’s own opinions it’s very well researched throughout. [While I’ve claimed](http://blog.troed.se/2007/03/16/its-the-sun-dammit/ "While I’ve claimed") the sun to be the culprit behind not only most other climate shifts in history, but also the latest slight warming (that stopped in 1998!), it’s from reading Watt’s entries I’ve become more than sure.
Climatechange · English · Globalwarming
182 words
1 minute
You’re not charging me - I choose to pay
I’m currently paying a group of people to further a political agenda I find important
Business · Climatechange · English · Fascism · Globalwarming · P2p · Pirateparty
167 words
1 minute