The Great Global-Warming Swindle
This recently aired Channel 4 documentary exposed some sad truths about how desperate the situation has become. Many environmentalists have been trying to get their varied messages across for decades, possibly centuries. Scientific proof of man-made global warming is the holy grail that many see as the message that will galvanise humanity into taking up the cause. Deep green environmentalism is indeed a spiritual philosophy and taking personal responsibility for our role in the changing climate requires an element of belief. Many feel that the green movement will be able to fill the spiritual void that has opened up in society. This is dangerous territory and there is no place for dogmatic thinking in science.
I can sympathise with long-suffering environmental campaigners ('martyrs') who are finally being vindicated. It was not that long ago that environmental responsibility was seen as a a threat to econcomic growth and therefore, well-being. The Stern Report and the latest IPCC findings have been proven to be key catalysts in tipping the scales. Having said this, neither of these documents is a bible and to question the findings is not blasphemous. It has taken a painfully long time to get to this tipping point, deep green philosophy and climate-science do not easily lend themselves to tabloid headlines, vox-pops and sound-bites.
Luckily, 'smoke and mirror' tactics as used by the tobacco industry have given us the hindsight to question the real motivations of so-called experts on such matters. It is true that the loudest lobby against anthropogenic global-warming has been funded by some sections of the oil industry and car enthusiasts who clearly have a bias towards burying the issue. This has caused an immense amount of frustration (see global warming is a myth). Now that the general public is paying attention and looking for guidance, the challenge for the green lobby is to avoid sinking to the same level. In that spirit, here's a plug for 'The politically incorrect guide to global warming and environmentalism' by Christopher C. Horner.
As with all religions, fundamentalist 'eco-extremism' is usually counter-productive. We don't know all the facts and must be open to all possibilities. No-one does provocative, sensationalism like Channel 4 and as long as they represent 'the other side' (i.e. their documentary 'The War on Terra') then long may such programmes continue... just don't accept them as gospel! The precautionary principle may be flawed, but when coupled with equitable, globally-distributed carbon-rationing
and new technologies like nuclear fusion, a win-win situation is still achievable.
Documentaries like this keep the fire alive... but let's hope that sensationalist media, politicians and corporations will allow scientists to get back to being politically neutral. In the meantime, I suggest that we all continue to work towards green solutions that improve well-being for society as a whole.
I can sympathise with long-suffering environmental campaigners ('martyrs') who are finally being vindicated. It was not that long ago that environmental responsibility was seen as a a threat to econcomic growth and therefore, well-being. The Stern Report and the latest IPCC findings have been proven to be key catalysts in tipping the scales. Having said this, neither of these documents is a bible and to question the findings is not blasphemous. It has taken a painfully long time to get to this tipping point, deep green philosophy and climate-science do not easily lend themselves to tabloid headlines, vox-pops and sound-bites.
Luckily, 'smoke and mirror' tactics as used by the tobacco industry have given us the hindsight to question the real motivations of so-called experts on such matters. It is true that the loudest lobby against anthropogenic global-warming has been funded by some sections of the oil industry and car enthusiasts who clearly have a bias towards burying the issue. This has caused an immense amount of frustration (see global warming is a myth). Now that the general public is paying attention and looking for guidance, the challenge for the green lobby is to avoid sinking to the same level. In that spirit, here's a plug for 'The politically incorrect guide to global warming and environmentalism' by Christopher C. Horner.
As with all religions, fundamentalist 'eco-extremism' is usually counter-productive. We don't know all the facts and must be open to all possibilities. No-one does provocative, sensationalism like Channel 4 and as long as they represent 'the other side' (i.e. their documentary 'The War on Terra') then long may such programmes continue... just don't accept them as gospel! The precautionary principle may be flawed, but when coupled with equitable, globally-distributed carbon-rationing
and new technologies like nuclear fusion, a win-win situation is still achievable.Documentaries like this keep the fire alive... but let's hope that sensationalist media, politicians and corporations will allow scientists to get back to being politically neutral. In the meantime, I suggest that we all continue to work towards green solutions that improve well-being for society as a whole.
Please post your thoughts by clicking on 'comments' below this post.
Alternatively, you can join the debates raging in the following forums:
* Friends of the Earth
* Channel 4
* YouTube
Some counter-arguments to the claims made in the Channel4 documentary:
* Sir John Houghton, chair of the IPCC; also Director General and Chief Ex of the UK Meteorological Office
* The Independent, 14 March 2007
* The graphs that the article refers to
* George Monbiot, The Guardian, 13 March
Revolve's bookmarks on "global-warming": http://del.icio.us/revolvin/Global-warming.
