> -----Original Message----- > From: Scott Stewart [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 1:37 PM > To: cf-community > Subject: Re: SCIENCE! > > This goes back to one of my sticking points with the entire "Global > Warming doesn't exist crowd." > > 1) We know that dumping chemicals into rivers and stream is bad, why? > it > kills fish. While we are not fish, we need many of the same things that > fish need to survive. > 2) We know that dumping chemicals into the air is bad, why? because it > kills birds and trees, While we are neither we need many of the same > things... > etc.etc,
Actually I would take exception to that line of argument as well - but for a different reason. The "Global Warming" debate is about just that: global warming or, more generally, climate change. There are several issues that often get snowballed into it that aren't truly related. A few of the most common are pollution, ozone depletion and resource management. Although these are often lumped together under the umbrella of "being green" they are all very different things and I think it's dangerous to lump them together. CO2 is not a "poisonous" gas (in and of itself) - although in some cases it could be a predicate for individual disasters (some algae blooms and the like may be partially blamed on unusual CO2 concentrations). We could, in theory, address Global Warming (specifically CO2 emissions) without addressing any pollution or reusable energy concerns (for example if we sequestered just CO2 in order to become "Carbon Neutral" but maintained all other practices as we are). By the same token we could address pollution concerns (stop or filter dumping) without ever addressing other concerns and so forth. So, in short, arguing (as I think you are) that we should worry about Global warming and presenting clearly pollution-related reasons just isn't convincing. Although the causes are often the same (burning "dirty" fuels) the two problems really are separate. I just think it leaves open an unnecessary vector for attack: namely that "greens" and "liberals" are just anti-industry and don't really know why. Now, as I've said (over and over) many of the solutions being proposed naturally address multiple points of concern (and, I think, this might be your underlying point). Renewable power (Solar/Wind/Geothermal/Hydroelectric/Ocean Current/Etc) has issues, but does address Global Warming, pollution, resource management and, in some cases, Ozone depletion. The various "scrubbers" and sequestration techniques being proposed will also capture pollutants. "Zero footprint" tree farms and lumber practices address several points as well. My biggest complaint levied against the anti-Global warming crowd is the absolutely moronic opinion that because there's a question as to degree nothing should be done. In other words because we don't know how much of an effect we might have we should do nothing until we're "sure". Don't get me wrong tho': this is just as stupid as those that believe that the current evidence warrants drastic, civilization changing measures to prevent global disaster. Either position is ridiculous on the face of it simply because of that underlying point: investing in those solutions that address multiple concerns is clearly a path to compromise and effectiveness. At this point we might all agree that technologies that cut pollution, reduce resource usage and preserve habitat are "good"... and the simple fact is that most of them also address the concerns being raised about climate change. Not to mention that most also reduce our dependence upon foreign resources and increase our potential economic footprint. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:283209 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
