"I've made up my mind. Don't confuse me with the facts." Steven Milloy says that this is the mantra of "global warming fanatics." I say it's the mantra of fanatic global warming deniers. Let's examine Milloy's "Top 10 Climate Myth-Busters for 2007" and see, shall we? I busted Milloy's first five myth-busters back in December; will the next five hold up better?
The multiplication of straw men. Milloy cites the discovery that "brown clouds" (aerosols) in the atmosphere are a warming factor, instead of a cooling factor as previously supposed, to be somehow a reason for dismissing all concern about global warming. He represents climate scientists as having portrayed CO2 as the one culprit in all global warming, and since it isn't, the scientists don't know what they are talking about, at all at all.
#1: No, climate scientists do not claim that CO2 is the one & only man-made influence on global climate change. #2: Learning you were wrong about something is not evidence that you don't know your science; it is evidence that you are doing real science.
Milloy claims that global temperatures are not rising as fast as global CO2 levels, therefore the two are not after all connected. From Wikipedia: "None of the effects of forcing are instantaneous. The thermal inertia of the Earth's oceans and slow responses of other indirect effects mean that the Earth's current climate is not in equilibrium with the forcing imposed." source is a pdf.
Milloy cites research published in "April" (it was published in December 2005) indicating that while planting more forest in the tropics could lessen global warming, planting more forest in Northern latitudes could increase it. From here, he jumps to "so maybe Northern forests are causing all the global warming." Read what the research actually says. Oh, and he missed one in 2001.
Milloy cannot end the year without crowing that a British judge gave the movie An Inconvenient Truth a "spanking." What the judge really ruled was that An Inconvenient Truth is "broadly accurate" and "substantially founded upon scientific research and fact" and that it can be shown in schools as long as students are informed of nine "errors and omissions" -- none of which invalidate the major premises of the movie.
Unhappily for Mr. Milloy et. al. Justice Barton declared that "These propositions, [which the government] submits (and I accept), are supported by a vast quantity of research published in peer-reviewed journals worldwide and by the great majority of the world's climate scientists."
global average temperatures have been rising significantly over the past half century and are likely to continue to rise ("climate change");
climate change is mainly attributable to man-made emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide ("greenhouse gases");
climate change will, if unchecked, have significant adverse effects on the world and its populations; and
there are measures which individuals and governments can take which will help to reduce climate change or mitigate its effects.
Even the Judge's list of nine 'errors' is in dispute.
Judge Barton disputed that "coral reefs were bleaching because of global warming and other factors." The Judge pointed out: "The actual scientific view, as recorded in the IPCC report, is that, if the temperature were to rise by 1-3 degrees Centigrade, there would be increased coral bleaching and widespread coral mortality, unless corals could adopt or acclimatise, but that separating the impacts of climate change-related stresses from other stresses, such as over-fishing and polluting, is difficult." The bottom line is:
The Judge does not dispute the IPCC report or the general scientific consensus about global warming.
The impacts on the coral cited by the IPCC are man-made.
Global climate changes that have a disastrous effect on human lives and societies are happening.
We need to address questions like "how do we provide clean drinking water after the glaciers melt" and "how do we support communities whose land is washing out from under them." Those problems aren't going to go away no matter how much junk science the Denial Brigade piles up to prove It's Not Really Happening.
female, age 59
married, 2 children
Seattle, WA, USA
ANITRA'S SHARES
Feb 19
Alert: Please sign petition to help homeless veterans
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— A group trying to
establish a home for
homeless vets in Nebraska
needs your help.
Please sign their
petition:
http://www.thepetitionsit
e.com/1/a-home-for-homele
ss-veterans-in-americas-h
eartland more
Feb 15
Blog: Abortion Ethics: Beyond Religion
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— Dale The Honorable
Skeptic raises some
thoughtful arguments
against abortion that are
not based on "My God
says you shouldn't,
so there." I am
glad to see them; this is
the discussion that needs
to take place. Law in
human society must... more
Message: News of the Day
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— I am still a newbie at
Care2 messaging;
according to Care2, I
have 26 friends, and none
of them are in my
addressbook! So
I'm using network
messaging, and I have no
idea who this is going
to; I can only hope that
I am not annoying
you. ... more
Blog: Beauty and the Beast: McCain and Palin by Yoda L.
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—
Beauty and the Beast: How
McCain’s lack of
judgment will cost him
the presidency
John McCain’s
recent surprise selection
of a running mate with
hardly any policy
experience will be the
hammer that drives the
nail into the coffin ... more
Aug 29
Message: The Truth about McCain's VP by Yoda L.
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—
www.truthaboutpalin.blogs
pot.com
Join the discussion
here:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/
groups/disc.html?gpp=8637
&pst=1279707&save
d=1
more
Blog: Sarah Palin On The Death Penalty by Barbara O.
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—
If legislature passed
death penalty law, I
would sign it. (Nov 2006)
- Full Quote:If
legislature passed death
penalty law, I would sign
it I support adequate
funding for a strong
public safety presence in
Alaska. Feeling safe in
our communities is so... more
Blog: A little story about Faith by Maria O.
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—
This dog was born on
Christmas Eve in the year
2002. He was born with
three legs — two
healthy hind legs and one
abnormal front leg which
need to be amputated. He
of course could not walk
when he was born. Even
his mother did not want
him. ... more
Blog: Poodle Grooming is Essential for Poodle Owners by Standardpoodl S.
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— Poodle grooming is an
important part of owning
a poodle. Poodles are
expensive primarily due
to the grooming costs, so
learning to do this
yourself will save money
and offer time to bond
with your pet. Although
grooming poodles may seem
complex, anyon... more
Blog: Jessica Simpson Hopes To Get Married In 10 Years by Rosette R.
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— Her marriage to Nick
Lachey may not have
worked out, but Jessica
Simpson still wants to
walk down the aisle again
someday.
The singer revealed in a
new interview: “I
would love to be making
records and making
babies, and hopefully
I’m ma... more
Blog: Stand Up to Cancer telethon takes over network TV by HM S.
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— LOS ANGELES -- After
seeing what "An
Inconvenient Truth" did
for environmental
awareness, Hollywood
producer Laura Ziskin
wanted to make a
documentary about cancer,
a disease she has fought
since 2004. more
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