[geo] Re: Starvation - the great leveller

[John Nissen]

Hi Ray and Gene, I think there is still hope, if we can change the way people look at the situation.  This is where security of food supplies comes in... If we can get the politicians to realise that global warming is a SECURITY issue, then they may also be able to think of global warming as an enemy - a common enemy for all mankind.  This is the big "mind set" change which is needed. Only when everybody sees a common enemy will they unite - to attack the enemy.  This is part of the human psyche.  But while global warming is seen as a consequence of lavish, resource-hungry life-styles, the battle will be between those who want to defend those life-styles, and the rest of humanity. Only when global warming is seen as an enemy can people face the consequences of defeat.  Before that time, talk of the consequences is branded as "doom-mongering" and therefore necessarily unscientific.   Thus the collapse of our own civilisation has been a taboo subject. Only when global warming is seen as an enemy, will a proper strategy for attack be developed - with due attention to the most critical aspects, establishing the time-scale for action, assessing weapons capabilities, plugging gaps, establishing resource requirements, budgeting, cementing strategic alliances between nations, and sorting out a plan of campaign. Then people will realise that geoengineering techniques, such as solar radiation management and carbon air capture, are essential weapons to attack the enemy, particularly on the fronts where the enemy is most advanced. And people will realise that the side-effects from particular geoengineering techniques have to be seen in the light of what the techniques can do to win the war. And people will realise that the sooner one can deploy these techniques the better, where the enemy is building up strength, has an arsenal at the ready, and/or is most unpredictable (as in the Arctic). Cheers, John --- Eugene I. Gordon wrote: It is too bad that humans cannot overcome their basic selfishness and greed and deal with such issues. Burying children that have starved to death is the ultimate monument to man's stupidity and inherent flaws. -----Original Message----- From: geoengineering@googlegroups.com [mailto:geoengineering@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ray Taylor Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 3:56 AM To: geoengineering Subject: [geo] Re: Starvation - the great leveller I think you're right on the button with this John. Global famine is going to be the ultimate wake up call. Unfortunately FAO and others predict european and north american harvests to increase for at least 10 years, which will mask what's happening to yields in southern africa etc. as far as global wheat price is concerned. This is why I think for now the messages have to be positive and obviously doable: (As per the book "The Tipping Point", the psychological environment doesn't help doom messages to be "sticky".) - early emissions reductions of HFC23 and other short-lived forcings - priority to energy efficiency, cement sector, aluminium recycling etc - opportunties in localisation - lots of research/pilots on CCS, geoengineering, land-atmosphere etc - focus on green growth and technology transfer - attention to land-atmosphere interactions and flood prevention Hopefully there will be no deal in Copenhagen except on short-lived forcings, which will ramp up the pressure for a good deal in Mexico 2010. Ray On Jun 27, 10:16 pm, John Nissen <j...@cloudworld.co.uk> wrote: When it comes to the prospect of starvation, all other issues will become secondary.  Widespread crop failure may be the first major impact --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---