Here is a link to a video presentation of a talk given by Professor Noah Robinson of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine at the annual Gilder Telecosm event in October, 2007.
Of course, a fairly large segment of the population does not permit any discussion of this side of the global warming argument to be so much as whispered. Simply uttering such views makes one a target for abuse, ridicule, and personal attack.
The presentation by Dr. Robinson contains evidence about the retreat of glaciers and the increase in CO2 that should be considered by any thoughtful participants in the "global warming" and "climate change" discussion. The data presented cast serious doubt on the connection between human hydrocarbon use (first coal, then coal plus oil, and ultimately coal plus oil plus natural gas) and temperature change and ice melt. Data on glacier retreat show that the retreat began long before significant human hydrocarbon use and that the pace of the retreat has not increased along with the increase in hydrocarbon use.
This issue is one with serious economic consequences, as the calls for international reduction of carbon use grow louder and louder. The same voices denouncing anyone presenting evidence like that shown in this film are often the voices calling for greater government regulation of business through carbon taxation, "cap and trade" regulations, bans on incandescent light bulbs, taxpayer funding for the weatherization of homes, and so on. Over the next several days, you will be hearing about the international gathering in Bali where participants will be discussing these and other government measures.
Influential media outlets such as the New York Times are carrying prominent stories such as those featured on this page, all of which are from the perspective that the connection between human carbon use and climate change is settled science and that "federal regulation of greenhouse gases" is the logical way forward. A prominent story in today's edition of the Times features the title "A Future Without Skis: Alpine resorts are trying to stay ahead of global warming." A New York Times blog entitled "Dot Earth" features an entry today entitled "A Few (Hundred) Things the Next President Can Do to Limit Warming."
National Public Radio, which is primarily funded by taxes, features a similar collection of "Climate Change" stories to those found in the Times. One story from today's Morning Edition features the human-interest angle of a family in Iceland which has been trekking out to the glaciers every year, only to find that they (the glaciers, that is) are shrinking.
"The trip is no longer just about adventure and companionship," says the story's author. "This group has become unintended witnesses to climate change. Leifsdottir says the last 10 years have been much warmer. But global warming isn't good for the world, she says."
Other links on the page take you to "Top Ten Tips for Fighting Global Warming" which urge you to forgo red meat, dry your clothes on a line instead of in a dryer, and "leave the car at home and take public transportation to work," among other suggestions. Calls for "federal regulation of greenhouse gases" mentioned on the Times website are merely calls to make "suggestions" become mandatory for all, and to enforce similarly-minded restrictions on businesses as well.
There are real economic consequences to suggestions like these. Before we return to levels of government regulation of business last seen in the 1970s, we should at least be unafraid to examine compelling evidence showing that such regulation may have no impact on climate change at all. (Even if carbon reduction would be effectual, it does not necessarily follow that governmentally-mandated carbon reduction is the best course of action, but that is a subject for another day).
For more recent posts dealing with this same issue, see also:
Subscribe (no cost) to receive new posts from the Taylor Frigon Advisor via email -- click here.
Of course, a fairly large segment of the population does not permit any discussion of this side of the global warming argument to be so much as whispered. Simply uttering such views makes one a target for abuse, ridicule, and personal attack.
The presentation by Dr. Robinson contains evidence about the retreat of glaciers and the increase in CO2 that should be considered by any thoughtful participants in the "global warming" and "climate change" discussion. The data presented cast serious doubt on the connection between human hydrocarbon use (first coal, then coal plus oil, and ultimately coal plus oil plus natural gas) and temperature change and ice melt. Data on glacier retreat show that the retreat began long before significant human hydrocarbon use and that the pace of the retreat has not increased along with the increase in hydrocarbon use.
This issue is one with serious economic consequences, as the calls for international reduction of carbon use grow louder and louder. The same voices denouncing anyone presenting evidence like that shown in this film are often the voices calling for greater government regulation of business through carbon taxation, "cap and trade" regulations, bans on incandescent light bulbs, taxpayer funding for the weatherization of homes, and so on. Over the next several days, you will be hearing about the international gathering in Bali where participants will be discussing these and other government measures.
Influential media outlets such as the New York Times are carrying prominent stories such as those featured on this page, all of which are from the perspective that the connection between human carbon use and climate change is settled science and that "federal regulation of greenhouse gases" is the logical way forward. A prominent story in today's edition of the Times features the title "A Future Without Skis: Alpine resorts are trying to stay ahead of global warming." A New York Times blog entitled "Dot Earth" features an entry today entitled "A Few (Hundred) Things the Next President Can Do to Limit Warming."
National Public Radio, which is primarily funded by taxes, features a similar collection of "Climate Change" stories to those found in the Times. One story from today's Morning Edition features the human-interest angle of a family in Iceland which has been trekking out to the glaciers every year, only to find that they (the glaciers, that is) are shrinking.
"The trip is no longer just about adventure and companionship," says the story's author. "This group has become unintended witnesses to climate change. Leifsdottir says the last 10 years have been much warmer. But global warming isn't good for the world, she says."
Other links on the page take you to "Top Ten Tips for Fighting Global Warming" which urge you to forgo red meat, dry your clothes on a line instead of in a dryer, and "leave the car at home and take public transportation to work," among other suggestions. Calls for "federal regulation of greenhouse gases" mentioned on the Times website are merely calls to make "suggestions" become mandatory for all, and to enforce similarly-minded restrictions on businesses as well.
There are real economic consequences to suggestions like these. Before we return to levels of government regulation of business last seen in the 1970s, we should at least be unafraid to examine compelling evidence showing that such regulation may have no impact on climate change at all. (Even if carbon reduction would be effectual, it does not necessarily follow that governmentally-mandated carbon reduction is the best course of action, but that is a subject for another day).
For more recent posts dealing with this same issue, see also:
- "'Earth Day' investment lessons" April 22, 2009.
Subscribe (no cost) to receive new posts from the Taylor Frigon Advisor via email -- click here.
0 comments:
Post a Comment