[mikeg]

According to this rather scary though probably authoritative article (see link below), all current plans for reducing carbon dioxide buildup, and consequently climate change, are probably futile. And, the one method that is proposed by the interviewee for permanently sequestering carbon dioxide, is probably not even being seriously considered anywhere. If the interviewee is right, then the only major (though still important) benefit of spending billions of dollars on green energy development is to gain freedom from imported oil.

One last chance to save mankind - environment - 23 January 2009 - New Scientist

 

[jonathanjong]

There are scientists on both sides, which reveals how complicated the situation is. Rather, how complicated such issues are. Paper bags v. Plastic bags v. Reuseable bag? Paper bag production leaves a larger carbon footprint (maybe), and they don't really biodegrade either (maybe). Reuseable bags are also costly to produce and ship, and lots of them are just thrown away (and don't biodegrade). Should we provide monetary aid to poor nations? Does it help or hinder? Does child sponsorship work? The data on all these things - environmental and social issues - is scant, few and far between. There are lots of contradictions in the research, etc. So...what to do? Intuitively, lots of people think it's a waste to siphon money into research. I hear "What? $2 million grant? You can feed thousands with that!" a lot. Ironically, without good research, we wouldn't know how to use our dollars in these sectors.

 

[shigzeo]

here is the answer: i promise it will fix most of our woes
marinoni bicycles

 

[troymadison]

Just don't worry about it. Go for a walk.

 

[Nocturnal310]

Green Warming = Hoax.

 

[883dave]

It took thousands of years to get to this point, ok maybe more like a hundred. We have been unable to determine if there is a problem and what that problem is, however our political systems have declared that they know for sure.
We have now debated for years as to what we can do to fix this problem, if there is a problem and it can be fixed. Our simple answer? spend money of course.
Instead of finding the solution and trying to get people and countries to comply, wouldn't it make more sense to devise a solution to how we will live with this in years to come? That is if there is really a problem

 

[Lazarus Short]

Relax - the warming for the past 150+ years is simply a rebound after the end of the Little Ice Age (ended ~1850). The more recent warming which scared everyone is now over - the climate is cooling again. Some people just aren't paying attention. Temp and rainfall both vary above and below a mean, and human input is very small, the BIG regulator is the Sun (duh) which is quiet these days (few/no sunspots). The hoopla continues largely because there is grant money in it.

Laz

 

[J.D.N]

Its all just conjecture, even the best scientist can only make educated guesses. Granted, they might be very educated, but its still a guess. You could spend your life trying to find the answer and still never know for sure.

 

[analogsonar]

just read into it, way into it, follow the money, its a scam. then, change the subject to more happier stuff (after you know all, all, of the facts)

 

[krmathis]

Hmmmm, smells like hoax to me..

 

[cash68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturnal310 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Green Warming = Hoax.

That is just ignorant. Go grab the issue on the subject from National Geographic at your local library.

 

[cash68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.D.N /img/forum/go_quote.gif Its all just conjecture, even the best scientist can only make educated guesses. Granted, they might be very educated, but its still a guess. You could spend your life trying to find the answer and still never know for sure.

Yeah, just like electricity and gravity. They're just conjecture, it's only an educated guess.

I suppose you believe in creationism too, eh?

 

[cash68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus Short /img/forum/go_quote.gif Relax - the warming for the past 150+ years is simply a rebound after the end of the Little Ice Age (ended ~1850). The more recent warming which scared everyone is now over - the climate is cooling again. Some people just aren't paying attention. Temp and rainfall both vary above and below a mean, and human input is very small, the BIG regulator is the Sun (duh) which is quiet these days (few/no sunspots). The hoopla continues largely because there is grant money in it. Laz

Wow. I cannot believe the amount of ignorance spouted in these forums on this subject. Did you know the lakes in my home town, Madison WI, have pretty much had a consistently shorter 'frozen over' state every year since the early 1900s?

 

[malldian]

See the problem here is that there is just enough uncertainty in the science and a whole lot of ineffective plans to change the environment that it really doesn't make sense to go green on an individual level yet. Once it is economically sensible for companies to stop polluting or create an accessible and economical way for individuals to make an impact on the environment then and only then will you see people actually starting to make a change.

Guilt and conjecture don't work. There is an untapped market out there waiting for people to find products that are both good for the environment, desirable for the consumer, well marketed, and cheaper than other non green alternatives. I have faith that as all this hype heats up that companies will start devoting more time and research into putting products like this out.

Just because people aren't trying to turn their skin green doesn't mean that they are dumb or ignorant, it just means that there arent viable options out there for them to make the correct choice.

 

[cash68]

Malldian, as an individual, you can vote with your wallet. Support companies that do have a positive change at heart (sourcing food/materials locally, not using toxic chemicals, etc), and more and more companies will switch over, because that's what the market dictates.