Category: Climate Change

Climate Change

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Climate Change Media

Media Gets Obama Bypass

It seems like Team Obama will be bypassing the mainstream Media in their Climate Change communications :-

https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/12/us-document-strategy-climate-talks

“…A document accidentally left on a European hotel computer and passed to the Guardian reveals the US government’s increasingly controversial strategy in the global UN climate talks…Top of the list of objectives is to: “Reinforce the perception that the US is constructively engaged in UN negotiations in an effort to produce a global regime to combat climate change.” It also talks of “managing expectations” of the outcome of the Cancun meeting and bypassing traditional media outlets…”

There you have it. I’m not surprised, given the appalling behaviour of some of the Gentlepersons of the Press in recent months…

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Bad Science Climate Change Media Non-Science Science Rules

The Great Sceptic Backlash

If you’re looking for a dose of sheer entertainment, then hop on down this Wednesday to Bloomsbury in London, for a public meeting about the dreaded, sharptoothed, hairy, boogle-eyed, Ye Olde Skeptik Backlash :-

https://www.campaigncc.org/scepticsmeeting

There you should find Dr David Adam, esteemed and seriously reputable journalist from The Guardian newspaper, and an itchy-and-scratchy, rabble-rousing Ben Stewart from Greenpeace and George Marshall (no, not that George Marshall) of pork-pie-eating, Trilby-wearing-whilst-cycling and Climate anti-denial fame :-

https://climatedenial.org/

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Climate Change Science Rules

CryoSat-2 : Up & Flying

Cause for much rejoicing and several thousand sighs of relief : CryoSat-2 makes it up into orbit :-

https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/08/cryosat-european-space-agency-arctic-ice

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8609428.stm

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7566613/Ice-missions-to-measure-climate-change-takes-off.html

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Climate Change Social Change

Hope In Our Hearts

(Wim Mertens, Quatre Mains)

Classical musicians are still welcome to form a chamber orchestra for the Climate Vigil to be held at St Martins in the Fields, London, on the night of Saturday 15th May 2010, just over a week after the local and General Elections in the United Kingdom. For more details, please contact Ruth Jarman :-

https://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/vigil.htm

https://www.campaigncc.org/overnightvigil

Let us have hope in our hearts : hope for reason, collaborative effort, commonsense, Science and survival, and a fearless new Parliament.

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Climate Change Regulatory Ultimatum

Robert Kennedy : Coal Revolt

Coal is dirty – and dangerous. This month’s coal mine disaster in West Virginia, United States should have underscored this very point for a great number of people.

It makes Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s recent debate with Massey Energy’s Don Blankenship all the more pertinent, and poignant.

It’s time we made the decision to leave the Coal in the ground.

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700021126/Robert-F-Kennedy-Jr-says-not-to-get-science-from-Glenn-Beck.html

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says not to get science from Glenn Beck : By Josh Smith : Deseret News : Published: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 : Don’t get your science from Glenn Beck. That’s the message environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to bring to citizens and media across the country, and recently he brought it to Utah. Americans should be trying to prevent further global climate change and environmental destruction for economic and national security reasons, but an “18-year propaganda campaign” by oil and coal companies has misled the public and media on their dangers, Kennedy said. “The science on global warming is stronger than it is on tobacco and cancer, yet we still have these myths that create doubt…Our children will pay the price for our joy ride,” he said. “Incumbent” energy companies, such as those using oil, coal and nuclear power, are hogging taxpayer resources and hiding the true costs of such energy, Kennedy said. “When they say it’s clean, we know it’s a dirty lie. When they say it’s cheap, we know it’s a bigger lie,” he said…

https://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/index.html

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Behaviour Changeling Big Picture Climate Change Eating & Drinking Energy Revival Extreme Weather Low Carbon Life Meltdown Pet Peeves Political Nightmare Regulatory Ultimatum Renewable Resource Screaming Panic Social Change Voluntary Behaviour Change

Nightmare on Easy Street

Every now and again, some well-meaning, or even lightheartedly jokey relative or friend lets me know I should calm down with the story of the risk of Climate catastrophe as it’s (a) not effective; (b) not necessary or (c) way off the end of the scale. Apparently I’m crying wolf, but there’s not even a messy puppy in the neighbourhood.

There are two narratives at work here. One is that people don’t like being preached too (neither do I), and they feel that the sum total of Climate Change communications amounts to somebody high up the authority chain telling them to change their behaviour, somehow making the common man (and woman) responsible for a problem that should actually be fixed by the governments, who have the power (or large companies and international corporations, who have the financial resources).

The moral of nearly every cultural telling of the Climate Change story is “ten things you can do to make a difference”, and a lot of people feel it will mean shivering in the dark with no car and more tax. People are so not into self-sacrifice and abstention from consumerism, and they react badly, even to the extent of skin rashes, to the fear of micromanaged austerity being thrust upon them.

But that’s not why I talk about Climate Change.

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Climate Change Media

George Monbiot : Wrong Call

There was a long time during my life when I refused to read British newspapers. They irritated me. The stories hinged on the opinions of a few unresearched writers; facts were dubious; the ideological cultures distinguishing the publications were artificial; and the constructed narratives offended me.

I distinctly recall the day I decided I needed to read the newspapers again. It was a chance glance at the Guardian Weekly, on the shelf in an international bookshop in Brussels. In there, I read a piece by George Monbiot, and my reaction was, in paraphrase, “how can he be allowed to write such a thing for publication ?” I was impressed, both at his audacity and his plainspeaking, and the facts to back up his position looked credible.

In overview, it was a good thing that I started to read the newspapers again, even though I have had to wade through interminable barrelloads of rotten opinions and poor research in following the public story of Climate Change and Energy Revival. I have traced the emergence of some almost acceptable Science and Environment writing in the Press, but there has been a remarkable turnaround just recently.

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Climate Change

James Delingpole : Editing Out The Truth

It appears that James Delingpole seeks to edit out the facts that don’t fit with his perrrculiarly sensationalist narrative.

I thought to engage in a little frank discussion, contributing the benefit of my wisdom at this post :-

https://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100032622/inside-the-seething-green-roach-pit-where-they-eat-their-own/

But I was thwarted.

What happened ?

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Bad Science Bait & Switch Climate Change Media Non-Science Public Relations Science Rules

A Short History of Denial

Why do people deny the facts coming from Scientists on Global Warming ?

“Well-financed conservative think-tanks”
“Unduly weighted outlier views”
“Scientific illiteracy”
“Our message hasn’t gotten through to the American people”
“Organised and systematic campaign”

https://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2010/04/science_show_on_climate_change.php

https://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2010/04/ssw_20100403_1205.mp3

Mentioned by Naomi Oreskes in the audio presentation :-

https://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/

Categories
Climate Change Extreme Weather Science Rules

The Rain in Sudan

The account of extreme weather continues to mount up, but some Climate models have not been distinguishing between rainfall (precipitation event) changes in tropical regions and mid-latitude regions.

Here’s one piece of research that goes some way towards a new understanding of increased serious flooding in Tropical countries :-

https://www.pnas.org/content/107/2/571.abstract?sid=b9c6c8bb-ee22-4729-a154-5ab4423127cf

“Precipitation extreme changes exceeding moisture content increases in MIROC and IPCC climate models : Masahiro Sugiyamaa, Hideo Shiogama, and Seita Emori”

Flash flooding is not only rising in the Tropics, it’s happening more frequently, elsewhere too :-

https://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=72458&CultureCode=en&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

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Climate Change Science Rules

Paleo Lorraine

A very intriguing study from Lorraine Lisiecki, published as a Letter in Nature Geoscience, researching the Milankovitch-sourced theories, and hinting that messing with the natural Climate cycle could have very serious consequences, shaking up five million years of progress, through feedbacks, towards relative Climate calm :-

Outline and Abstract :-
https://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo828.html
“Links between eccentricity forcing and the 100,000-year glacial cycle : Lorraine E. Lisiecki”

Supplementary Information :-
https://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/extref/ngeo828-s1.pdf

And yes, it’s quite hard to understand her work at first reading, so she’s taken the trouble to produce helpful educational material, to help with communications :-

https://www.lorraine-lisiecki.com/

https://www.lorraine-lisiecki.com/simple.html

Journalists don’t need to read the research workings – the details of the research are given for peers in the field to be able to assess her work.

Journalists do need to read around the subject, however, to be able to comment on what her work means for Climate Change Science.

Categories
Bad Science Climate Change Media Non-Science The Data

James Delingpole : Cruel Jester

Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters (and those who are hermaphrodite, or in other ways gender-alternative) when you face trials and tribulations of many kinds, from those who have not recognised in you the Light, the Truth and the Way.

James Delingpole is doing his very best-worst to be annoying, or even insulting, I’m not sure, by levelling some personally negative comments towards me. But I have responded in friendliness and lovingkindness, although I might get moderated off the comments page, so I’ve included my words here :-

https://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100032622/inside-the-seething-green-roach-pit-where-they-eat-their-own

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Big Picture Climate Change Extreme Weather Health Impacts

Life Energy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQEEfsOrAEQ

[ Nota Bene : The following was written for all those tragically lost to natural disasters aggravated by Climate Change since last Easter. May you rest in peace. We owe it to your memory to take courage, tell the truth and continue to strive to prevent further, increasing calamity from wild weather, failed rains and poor harvests. ]

Dying is hard work.
The arched back, the retching, the scrambling,
screaming in agony,
the gasp,
the panic
to keep body and soul together.

From first breath, first sore gum,
through grazed knees, peer humiliation,
learnings and forgettings,
broken bones and broken hearts.

The work of living,
pain, just a signpost on the road to flourishing.
The force for better things.

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Categories
Climate Change Social Change

Climate Vigil : Becoming Light

On the night of 15th May 2010 in London, England, an all-night, all-party, all-age, all-opinion vigil will be held to uphold the Climate of the Earth in the newly elected British Parliament.

A candlelight service of thankfulness, commitment and prayer will be held at the ancient church of St Martin’s in the Fields, just off Trafalgar Square, and then events will be held by torchlight throughout the night, in and around Parliament Square :-

https://www.campaigncc.org/overnightvigil

The organisers of the event are asking for chamber and orchestral musicians to participate in the church service, and in some of the overnight moments, which will feature a range of artistic performances, culminating in a Vigil Breakfast in the early hours.

There will be no money, but there will be plenty of love and respect, and perhaps even a little fame, for all musicians who take part.

Categories
Big Picture Carbon Commodities Climate Change Unutterably Useless Vain Hope

Cap and Trade is Going Down

Cap and Trade is….going….down. And that’s probably a good thing :-

https://www.examiner.com/x-12720-DC-Policy-Reform-Examiner~y2010m3d31-Capandtrade-dropped-from-Senates-energyclimate-change-bill

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Climate Change Media Toxic Hazard

Phil Jones : My Hero

Phil Jones – untarnished, innocent, heroic. Clean as a recently, cleanly, cleaned clean whistle.

The Media are beside themselves. No longer do they have a public victim to hold up, for us to mourn. No longer can they build the case for Phil Jones as scapegoat. No longer than they dangle Phil Jones out over the evil toothy fishes from the end of the sweating, shaking, rickety gang plank.

https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7081921.ece

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8595483.stm

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7538446/University-of-East-Anglia-refused-to-share-information-on-global-warming.html

https://news.sky.com

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Categories
Climate Change Meltdown

Greenland Melts Down : Greens Up

https://www.skepticalscience.com/Greenland-ice-mass-loss-spread-to-northwest.html

https://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2010/2010GL042460.shtml

https://news.discovery.com/earth/more-greenland-ice-melting-faster.html

https://www.skepticalscience.com/What-CO2-level-would-cause-Greenland-ice-sheet-collapse.html

https://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/233/2010/tcd-4-233-2010.html

“…Collapse of the ice-sheet was found to occur between 400 and 560 ppmv…”

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Categories
Climate Change Peace not War

Green War

https://climateprogress.org/2010/03/29/energy-and-global-warming-news-camelina-biofuel-air-force-test-ethiopia-hydropower/

Great news ! The militaries can now fly their planes on plants !

So as the rest of the economy crumbles under Carbon Tax or Carbon Credit Auctions or Carbon Marketeering, at least “our boys” can continue to fly over poor, underfed rabbles and “bomb them back to the Stone Age”, and thereby kill and maim them, on the cheap.

Categories
Climate Change Eating & Drinking Meltdown

Meltdown Himalaya

In all the uproar about the typographical error, and poor research citation, about terminally melting Himalayan glaciers in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the facts have been overlooked.

Indian Scientists are reporting that Himalayan glaciers lost 16% in the last 50 years :-

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Himalayan-glaciers-shrank-16-in-50-yrs-Isro/articleshow/5733386.cms

““Investigations on glacial retreat were estimated for 1,317 glaciers in 10 sub-basins from 1962. This has shown an overall reduction in glacial area from 5,866 sqkm to 4,921 sqkm since 1962, showing an overall de-glaciation of 16%”, says the latest annual report of Isro. Snow cover monitoring of all basin has been completed, it said. Atlases for three years are ready and one for the fourth year is being prepared. Modeling response of Himalayan cryosphere to climate change has been initiated, Isro added. Meanwhile, a study on the impact of temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) rise on the productivity of the four major cereal food crops — wheat, rice, maize and pearl millet — revealed that yield of all of them showed reduction with increasing temperature…”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty serious, and should merit a barrel-load of news articles. People still need to be made aware that melting snow and ice pack around the world is a serious and permanent problem.

And they might just be bothered to care if they realise that Global Warming can affect their own future food and water supplies.

Categories
Big Picture Climate Change Energy Revival Low Carbon Life Peak Energy Peak Oil Pet Peeves Renewable Resource Social Change Solar Sunrise Voluntary Behaviour Change Wind of Fortune Zero Net

Sustainable Future for Education

Today, I’m going to talk to you about education, and no, it’s not about the ongoing “Texas textbook massacre”, where they want to teach children about “alternatives” to the Theory of Global Warming :-

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/science/earth/04climate.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-schoolbook-massacre-rewrites-american-history-1929320.html
https://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/03/26/why-you-shouldn-t-worry-about-texas-textbook-changes.aspx

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Climate Change Social Change

Earthy Hour 2010

My Earth Hour day.

10:00 – Do some research about the failings of the international strategy for Carbon Trading. Make a few telephone calls. Type a few electronic mails.

13:00 – Cook a fantastic vegan korma curry for lunch.

17:30 – Turn off the freezer, the refrigerator, the telephones and the computer kit in preparation for Earth Hour. The natural gas central heating has only been on for a couple of hours this week. Its default position is off. There is no longer a television here. The place is strangely, yet comfortingly, silent and still.

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Climate Change

Frying the Sky

What is the average temperature of the Earth ? How can we tell if it’s heating up with all the confusing noise from variability in the system ?

The UAH satellite data record offers a view of temperatures at different heights above the Earth’s surface. It accomplishes this by analysing the outgoing radiation from the Earth.

At 4.4 kilometres above the surface, on Channel 5, where you would expect things such as the “Urban Heat Island effect” to be insignificant, and weather systems to be less randomising, 2010 is proving to be a rather warm year, likely hotter than 1998, 2005 and 2007. Drawing in the 20 year maximum temperatures, it is clear that 2010 is knocking records.

Solar activity is at a minimum, so that can’t be driving this year’s warming. Cosmic rays aren’t causing this warming either, and the warming is ongoing, despite the cooling predicted from decreasing CFCs. The Earth has continued to warm up consistently, despite recent claims that the warming has levelled off or gone into reverse.

We are frying the sky. It’s time we paid serious attention.

Categories
Bad Science Climate Change Media Non-Science

CURRU : Horrible Headlines

The Climate Unscience Rapid Response Unit would like to ask anybody out there with a few spare minutes and a reliable contact with the Daily Telegraph to have a little chat with them about this, their latest “Horrible Headline”, headlighted on their Science page thusly :-

“Will it really be a ‘barbecue summer’? : Forecasts for a barbecue summer are as uncertain as predictions of climate change, argues Roger Highfield : 23 Mar 2010”

They appear to have already bowed to some sort of internal or external pressure to change it from its original form, which appears to have had its datestamp set back to the year 2000, for some unknown reason :-

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/7499524/You-cant-predict-the-weather-or-climate-change.html

“You can’t predict the weather; or climate change : Our weather forecasts will always be as unreliable as our predictions of climate change. : By Roger Highfield : Published: 7:00AM GMT 23 Mar 2000”

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Climate Change Media

CURRU : Amazongate Badge of Honour Award

The Climate Unscience Rapid Response Unit (CURRU) has scored another major victory this week in the ongoing struggle for accurate journalism, with the submission made to the British Press Complaints Commission by a working Climate Change Scientist, Simon Lewis, concerning poor treatment of rainforest Science by Jonathan Leake of The Sunday Times :-

https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/24/sunday-times-ipcc-amazon-rainforest

https://climateprogress.org/2010/03/24/simon-lewis-jonathan-leake-richard-north-amazon-gate-ipcc-sunday-times-complaint-pcc/

https://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2010/03/leakegate_scientist_fights_bac.php

For this, Simon Lewis deserves a strong cup of herbal tea and several congratulatory back thumps, and a glorious badge of honour, which I shall personally craft myself from twigs, leaves and spiderwebbings.

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Climate Change Political Nightmare Social Change

Climate Union : One Nation, Under Water

https://www.campaigncc.org/greenjobs
https://www.campaigncc.org/overnightvigil

I’m in the Climate Union. Are you ?

Yesterday evening, I sat in an amazing discussion.

There were representatives from some of the UK’s best social movements, including environmental campaigns, faith communities and trades unions.

Part of a series of coalition talks, yesterday’s goal was to make progress on forming a united front on Climate Change. There are some politics to do.

Because, well, you know, it’s not just about Global Warming. It’s about Climate Change. And that will affect us all.

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