More Americans believe in haunted houses than global warming : A scary Halloween tale.
posted by: Dave R. 25 days ago
In the United States, more people believe that houses can be haunted by the dead than believe that the living can cause climate change. Is this simply a scary Halloween tale or our frightening future?
The latest Pew poll on global warming shows a large drop in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising, from 71% down to only 57% in the last 18 months. And global warming due to human activity? The overall numbers have declined from 47% to 36%. To put this in perspective, a Gallup poll found that 37% of Americans believe that houses can be haunted. This contrast is particularly dramatic among conservatives: Only 18% of republicans believe that there is evidence of global warming caused by human activity, while 28% of conservatives believe in haunted houses.
Haunted houses remain a favorite theme for entertainment media, from TV shows such as Ghost Hunters to movies such as Paranormal Activity. While there have been a few movies dealing with the human causes of climate change, maybe we need more to sway public opinion. Or perhaps we could just use Jason as the spokesperson for cap and trade legislation.
On a more positive note, the 57% who still believe that the planet is warming is significantly higher than the 39% that believes in evolution. Since Darwin has had a hundred and fifty year head start, I guess scientist should rejoice at the rather speedy success in spreading the word about a warming planet. To be fair to the natural selection crowd, they have tough competition: The world's most read book is in conflict with evolution. 44% of Americans believe the biblical version of creationism --that humans were created in their present form by God less than 10,000 years ago --and this number climbs to 70% among weekly church-goers.
Since republicans attend church much more regularly, perhaps a more active stance by churches on climate change would increase the urgency and conviction? Well at the highest levels, this has already happened. In 2001, the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement saying, in part, "At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God's creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both 'the human environment' and the 'natural environment' ...Passing along the problem of global climate change to future generations as a result of our delay, indecision, or self-interest would be easy. But we simply cannot leave this problem for the children of tomorrow."
If anything, the science, advocacy, and global commitment on climate change is stronger than ever. But as climate bills move through the house and senate, the dollar costs of taking action is also becoming clearer. My guess is that the drop in belief, which coincides with a reeling economy, is more about the emerging realities of fixing the problems. Once again it is an inconvenient truth, and it is easier to dismiss the science than deal with the problem. As Ibn al-Haytham, the early developer of the scientific method said: "Finding the truth is difficult, and the road to it is rough."
But the truth is out there and needs to be dealt with, whether we like it or not. For those who doubt it, a summary of the science is available on the ClimatePath Website.
The latest Pew poll on global warming shows a large drop in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising, from 71% down to only 57% in the last 18 months. And global warming due to human activity? The overall numbers have declined from 47% to 36%. To put this in perspective, a Gallup poll found that 37% of Americans believe that houses can be haunted. This contrast is particularly dramatic among conservatives: Only 18% of republicans believe that there is evidence of global warming caused by human activity, while 28% of conservatives believe in haunted houses.
Haunted houses remain a favorite theme for entertainment media, from TV shows such as Ghost Hunters to movies such as Paranormal Activity. While there have been a few movies dealing with the human causes of climate change, maybe we need more to sway public opinion. Or perhaps we could just use Jason as the spokesperson for cap and trade legislation.
On a more positive note, the 57% who still believe that the planet is warming is significantly higher than the 39% that believes in evolution. Since Darwin has had a hundred and fifty year head start, I guess scientist should rejoice at the rather speedy success in spreading the word about a warming planet. To be fair to the natural selection crowd, they have tough competition: The world's most read book is in conflict with evolution. 44% of Americans believe the biblical version of creationism --that humans were created in their present form by God less than 10,000 years ago --and this number climbs to 70% among weekly church-goers.
Since republicans attend church much more regularly, perhaps a more active stance by churches on climate change would increase the urgency and conviction? Well at the highest levels, this has already happened. In 2001, the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement saying, in part, "At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God's creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both 'the human environment' and the 'natural environment' ...Passing along the problem of global climate change to future generations as a result of our delay, indecision, or self-interest would be easy. But we simply cannot leave this problem for the children of tomorrow."
If anything, the science, advocacy, and global commitment on climate change is stronger than ever. But as climate bills move through the house and senate, the dollar costs of taking action is also becoming clearer. My guess is that the drop in belief, which coincides with a reeling economy, is more about the emerging realities of fixing the problems. Once again it is an inconvenient truth, and it is easier to dismiss the science than deal with the problem. As Ibn al-Haytham, the early developer of the scientific method said: "Finding the truth is difficult, and the road to it is rough."
But the truth is out there and needs to be dealt with, whether we like it or not. For those who doubt it, a summary of the science is available on the ClimatePath Website.
Read more: global warming
comments
Denial is not just "a river in Egypt." It is also how people deal with real fear.
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Well written, Serena.
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Global Warming DOES scare me far more than ghosts - these don't trouble me at all. The Global Warming/Climate Change fiasco would be funny, were it not meshed with the New Global Religion of Ecology and Social Darwinism and we all know what that means - radical depopulation or rather, genocide. Pre-meditated genocide ala Club of Rome circa 1972 when the idea of Global Warming was chosen as the best option in convincing the public that they were destroying the Earth due to 'over' population and rampant consumerism. Bearing in mind that these 'experts' on Climate Change represent the oligarchs who are truly raping resources and deploying weather modification technology (all at our very great expense), the Global Warming political agenda aught to scare the bejeezes out of all of us. The oligarchs are responsible for forging rampant consumerism for profit.These same proponents of CO2 (life sustaining) as pollution have been trying to eliminate the masses for centuries and now it appears that they have the winning formula; a mix of religion (Ecology) a perceived deadly foe (us!) and the technology available to cripple resistance and control the minds of billions of deeply hypnotised, programmed minds dependent on the media to do their thinking. It is a joke, a sick one, and I'm not laughing. We are being programmed to self-destruct and it won't make a fig of difference to the planet, either way.
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Richard L. Horse shit doesn't carry or cause disease. Most people that grow up on farms with animals actually have better immune systems than city folk. Poor analogy.
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Richard C – Care to explain what aspect of the sentiment that the world would be a better place without humans disgusts you, or are you just another Rush wannabe?
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Richard L – you’re really angry aren’t you? Guess that somewhere deep down there’s a nagging little voice asking ‘What if the ‘myth’ is true?’
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Richard, the cold war is an interesting analogy. In that case, common sense (and the fear of retribution) stopped the world from "pushing the button", and creating an environmental and humanitarian disaster.
Unfortunately, both seem to be missing in this case. As my piece points out, the idea that "global warming is a myth" is itself the myth, perpetuated by people with agendas built on maintaining a status quo that is ecologically out of balance. My agenda is to encourage a more sustainable path (and social justice.) What's yours?
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Friends:
I am disgusted by the people-haters on this site who think the world would be a better place without humans.
They each have the ability to reduce the human population by one by removing themselves from existence. And the world would certainly be a better place if they did.
Richard
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You are right Marc there is a drop in worlds temperatures , it cooled a bit since its most recent peak in 1998
That's given global warming skeptics new ammunition to attack the prevailing theory of climate change. The skeptics argue that the current stretch of slightly cooler temperatures means that costly measures to limit carbon dioxide emissions are ill-founded and unnecessary.
But many scientists agree however that hotter times are ahead. decade of level or slightly lower temperatures is only a temporary dip to be expected as a result of natural, short-term variations in the enormously complex climate system, they say.
But the weather has changed every where , I call it Gloabal weirding ..that's more like it.
I agree we need to reduce our negative impact on this earth regardless.
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Sorry but update!! global warming is a farce, last decade temp actually dropped. However that does not mean we have to pollute the earth any further and we need to prepare for when our current fuels are gone. If anything is harming then its methane, a cow produces more of those then 200 cars. so think when you order a nice steak. i`m employed in environmental friendly warming systems, but that doesn't mean i have to believe that idiot Al gore who uses up more energy then a small village . Fist clean your own street, then take on the world Mr Gore
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