Blog About the Weather

Globalwarming awareness2007 isn’t all about hugging trees. There may be some good points to be awareness of in 2007 as globalwarming increases:

• more naked chicks because globalwarming raises awareness of 2007’s scanty fashion options and causes them to sweat a lot
• no need to buy cigarettes — can get carcinogens straight from the greenhouses gasses in the globalwarming air
• dead lawns mean no more lawnmowing to distract from globalwarming awareness2007 keg parties and beer drinking
• cactuses with little Christmas ornaments on them instead of Christmas trees, even in ‘northern’ climates, due to globalwarming temperature changes
• skis can be used as doorstops
• potential to use polar ice caps as martini ice cubes, as it’s use-it-or-they-melt

Awareness2007 of globalwarming is very important. You must listen to all sides of the globalwarming awareness2007 debate to make your own 2007 awareness judgements about globalwarming.

In the wake of the Oscar nod for An Inconvenient Truth, conservative critics of the globalwarming awareness2007 superhero have taken to attacking his energy use in blogs. They are relying on a press release by the ‘Tennessee Center for Policy Research.’

It’s even been picked up in the ‘legitimate’ press, such as the Detroit Free Press. However, as journalists, they researched further to find that Al Gore purchases ‘green’ energy credits and carbon-emissions offset credits. He and his wife drive a hybrid SUV.

The basis of much of the criticism is the cost of the Gore’s energy bills. However, part of the expense is allegedly that they are using alternative energy, which may be costing them more.

Nonetheless, it is hard to debate that Al’s globetrotting in the name of globalwarming awareness uses a lot of energy — no doubt more than his three homes do. His homes are also quite large, especially relative to the amount of time he spends in them, and the fact that as former Vice President he undoubtedly has an awesomely powerful security system sucking down juice.

Criticism of Gore’s own energy use is nothing new. USA Today was criticizing his energy use in August 2006. The current flurry of activity is mostly a result of the new attention on An Inconvenient Truth, and continuing angst that the Democratic party retook Congress and can take steps to legislate new energy rules and ideas.

Hopefully, more of the honest media will also look into the background on the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. While they claim to be non-partisan, they are big believers in free-market solutions for social and policy issues. Speakers from the group are popular speakers at Libertarian Party of Tennessee meteings. Like many think-tanks (both conservative and liberal), here’s betting they have a lot of dirty laundry if only someone sniffs.

It’s important for people within the globalwarming awareness2007 movement to consider if energy usage is purposeful or proper, and match their actions to their outspoken advocacy for globalwarming awareness. It is almost undoubtedly true that Al Gore’s electric bills aren’t a complete picture of his energy use, and his other energy use is probably also higher than most Americans. However, he seems to be doing more with the energy he’s using. Perhaps a fair trade? Only time and globalwarming will tell; in 2007, we cannot have awareness of the long-term impact of his outspoken advocacy for globalwarming awareness versus his present energy use.

In today’s most exciting cow-related globalwarming awareness news, the California Dairy Industry is facing the challenge of reducing globalwarming emissions.

California farm families are now looking at carbon-credit trading. No mention was made of cow farts (or dinosaur farts).

Oh, wait, it was hidden:

Michael McCormick, policy director for the California Climate Action Registry Protocol, outlined the development of a voluntary protocol to support the installation of methane digesters. The proposed protocol encompasses direct emissions reductions related to manure management.

Globalwarming awareness2007 has a new mantra: ‘manure management for methane reduction.’

Dairy farms may be impacted long-term by globalwarming; awareness suggests that milk production may decrease as global temperatures rise. Agriculture allegedly accounts for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions.

I wonder if there are flex fuel/hybrid farm equipment, or if milking machines might be able to be powered by wind generators?

We get QUESTIONS!

Dear Globalwarming Awareness2007: I read today that meetings make us dumber. To fight globalwarming, many people have meetings, suggest communal living, and carpool in flex-fuel vehicles. Could all of these actions make us dumber, and less scientifically able to fight globalwarming? –signed, clueless in the carpool lane

Dear Clueless in the Carpool Lane:

Meetings making us dumber may explain a lot. However, arguably, starving because globalwarming harms agriculture and the food chain probably isn’t a great way to add to our smarts.

Cows gathering together is almost undoubtedly a bad idea: mass cow farts!

Developing nations, which tend to have big populations, would be bad if they started emitting the average carbon output of an American — Americans are energy hogs.

We would recommend only carpooling with smart people.

Today’s important learning:

There is actually an Oilweek Magazine.

They’re covering issues around coal-fired energy plants and their contributions to globalwarming.

There really is a magazine for everything, isn’t there. Holy frijoles, Batman.

In her continuing efforts to be an environmentally attractive candidate for the globalwarming aware crowd, Hillary Clinton toured a clean-coal facility in upstate New York.

As part of her tour, she pledged to wean the US from foreign oil dependency, and as Senator will be introducing a bill in the near future — doubtless in as showy a fashion as possible.

She touts clean coal technology, among others, to combat globalwarming. The US has a lot of coal, although mining coal is frequently dangerous and has long-term health hazards for miners.

Clinton called for more efficient use of electricity and natural gas, expanded use of wind and solar energy, new biofuels, and expansion of technology such as that being refined at Huntley that removes and captures toxic emissions from coal.

These alternative energy sources will help expand fuel options throughout the world, and Ms. Clinton’s campaign appearances will no doubt further the cause of globalwarming awareness2007. She is a polarizing figure, and adopting energy independence and alternative fuel production in her platform for 2008 president will increase awareness of these globalwarming issues.

Globalwarming awareness2007 includes a new research project — the International Polar Year. This exciting scientific expedition will cost more than $1.5 billion and includes globalwarming research at both the arctic and Antarctic poles.

Climates at the poles impact climate worldwide, as well as the environment for polar bears, penguins, and plankton.

Globalwarming is impacting sea life, including cod fishing, snow crab breeding, and shrimp harvests. Gone unstudied and unchecked, sea temperature change may mean the end of shrimp deals at Red Lobster for Americans in flyover states.

Scientists describe the International Polar Year as a ‘grassroots’ effort for globalwarming awareness, although I’ll be damned if I can name any grassroots with $1.5 billion (a BILLION) in funding. While globalwarming awareness efforts may someday be truly grassroots, the funding on this project is pretty large.

The US is involved in the project, both scientifically and in funding. A kick-off ceremony, sure to be a politician photo op dream, will take place in Washington on Thursday. Maybe hugging a furry polar bear will be the new baby kissing in the new globalwarming awareness paradigm?

CBS News: International Polar Year to start Thursday

At last night’s Academy Awards, Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, won an Oscar as Best Documentary.

While the award was really won by the director, the director threw praise and a speaking opportunity to Mr. Gore. Naturally, he used it to promote globalwarming awareness2007 and beyond.
Mr. Gore also spoke with Leonardo DiCaprio earlier in the evening and made jokes about running for president. Melissa Etheridge performed her Oscar-nominated theme song from the film, as well.

The continued focus on this film will increase the cause of globalwarming awareness2007. Even at an event like the American Birkebeiner — North America’s largest ski marathon race — multiple showings of An Inconvenient Truth were held on Thursday and Friday, and many skiiers sported bumper stickers and pins proclaiming SKIIERS FOR GLOBAL COOLING.

The globalwarming awareness2007 message is catching on more and more each day. Hollywood’s recognition of Al Gore’s documentary will encourage more popular entertainments on the subject of climate change, and spread the message further. Globalwarming awareness2007 uber alles!

Coverage of the issues facing winemakers worldwide as globalwarming harms their crops and damages wine quality is getting big-time coverage from USA Today, aka the McPaper of the McMasses.

Italian experts are sounding a warning on behalf of globalwarming awareness2007: continued climate change will turn Scandinavia into a vintner’s paradise.

Some vintners are downplaying risks, though, fearing that alarmism will hurt the current market for their product.

Meanwhile, olive trees are also feeling the effects of globalwarming. Globalwarming awareness2007 must fight to keep bread, olive oil, and wine production high and of high quality. Globalwarming impacts our way of life, the food we eat, and the happiness we feel at Italian restaurants.

More: USA Today coverage of globalwarming and wine

Catholic Online today offers timely commentary on the past and future role of persons of faith in fighting globalwarming and raising awareness in 2007 and beyond. The article is in response to the recent UN report on globalwarming, as well as the words and actions of globalwarming dissenters.

The article cites numerous popes, from Pius XII to John Paul II, on the subject of global climate change, globalwarming, and the need for stewardship of the earth and its bounty.

Catholic Online states the following about the impact of globalwarming, and the need for 2007 awareness:

Together these gas emissions have raised air and ocean temperatures worldwide and amount to catastrophes in the making. They are already melting the arctic sea ice and adjoining ice sheets, leaving puzzled polar bears stranded on ice floes. Rises in sea levels may sweep away the homes of people living on seacoast plains, scientists warn, and heat waves are expected to disrupt agriculture.

The articleurges persons of faith to take heed of the danger and be aware of globalwarming in 2007. Recommendations include using less energy through various means, including air-drying dishes, driving smaller vehicles and hybrid autos, and even sharing rides via car pools.

Articles like this show that persons of faith are increasingly linking globalwarming awareness2007 to their religion and their holy doctrine. This is a great sign for the future of the globalwarming awareness movement.

Wisconsin — a state full of cow-emitted methane — is proposing legislation to make the state the midwest’s front-runner in globalwarming awareness2007 action.

Governor Jim Doyle has proposed a globalwarming task force to be formed in 2007. The assembly bill demands action and awareness of greenhouse gas emissions, and looks for a significant decrease in globalwarming contribution from state residents and businesses. It is modelled after a California law with similar goals.

Not all Wisconsin legislators are on board to vote for the globalwarming awareness bill:

“I am not one of those who is rushing to join the bandwagon of accepting as indisputable fact that we have man-made global warming that puts the planet in jeopardy,” Ziegelbauer said. “I think that’s grossly overstated and most importantly, far from scientifically decided.

Ziegelbauer promotes nuclear energy as an alternative to coal. Shockingly, he also proposes new plants be built in his legislative district.

Watching the progress of this Wisconsin bill may be very telling of the ongoing progress of the globalwarming awareness2007 movement in shaping national globalwarming policy.

It is important to have awareness that ‘heat waves’ or ‘cold snaps’ do not indicate the onward march of globalwarming. Warm weather is purely incidental to globalwarming awareness, even if unseasonal weather snaps can make globalwarming skeptics more aware of the potential issue.

Globalwarming awareness requires a recognition that climate change takes place a degree or a fraction of a degree at a time. Temperature changes are gradual. A winter heat wave of 15 degrees above average is not an indicator of globalwarming, although it may be a result of systemic changes that are affected by globalwarming.

Climate is not weather. If it were, unseasonally cold snaps would indicate that globalwarming is not a problem. Does the recent cold snap in Minnesota indicate that globalwarming is not an issue? Of course not.

Weather can help people understand the long-term impacts of climate change, and can create globalwarming awareness in 2007. If short-term weather causes people to change behavior to show their globalwarming awareness2007 and fight global climate change, it is not to be discouraged completely. But it is important to be sure that they maintain the changes even if the weather returns to ‘normal.’

Ceres, a group of shareholder activists with an interest in globalwarming and the environment today released a list of the most nefarious environmental villians among US companies.

These companies are responsible for soil and water pollution, as well as air pollution that may be leading to global climate change and globalwarming. The ten companies named in today’s report are specifically targeted for their activities impacting the climate and globalwarming in 2007.

Companies included in the list include big oil and energy companies, such as Exxon and ConocoPhillips, but the list also includes low-cost manufacturers of household goods like Bed, Bath & Beyond, who may be valuing low production costs over sustainable production that does not result in pollution in third-world and developing nations. Many developing nations are used as low-cost producers of consumer goods, in part because these countries have low industry standards and low wages. Banking giant Wells Fargo is also on the Ceres list,

Some investors are looking at the environmental practices of companies with an eye to not investing in them, or voting as shareholders for sustainable energy and production standards. Other investors, however, are focused solely on the bottom line of profitability, with no eye to long-term globalwarming impacts. Ceres believes that CEOs need to take a long view and plan their business relative to environmental issues and globalwarming awareness.

For more information: Ceres Names 10 Climate Watch Companies

As of this weekend, Barack Obama has officially declared for the US presidency. His environmental stance, and his stance on globalwarming, is well defined, as previously explained on this very blog.

Senator Obama’s Senate web site contains lots of information on his views of the environment, including his April 2006 speech on globalwarming and climate change.

Obama’s 2007 declaration of candidacy, which comes close on the heels of the 2007 UN Globalwarming Report, is sure to be excellent for globalwarming awareness. His environmental record makes it plain that globalwarming advocacy is sure to be a big part of his campaign, and that outspoken environmental advocates will flock to his organization.

Already his campaign site  offers insight to his globalwarming policies:

• encourage hybrid auto development by helping auto companies with retiree health costs
• encourage fuel efficiency
•  increase E85 and ethanol development and use
• encourage technology growth to allow clean-burning use of coal, which currently emits many greenhouse gasses in its use

Senator Obama also believes in maintaining clean water and avoiding radiation release. His environmental goals are in accord with many of the aims of globalwarming awareness2007, and we can hope that his campaign remains a friend of this critical cause for the future of life on earth.

Noted adventurer and explorer Ann Bancroft, of Minneapolis Minnesota, and her expedition partner Liv Arneson of Norway, are to spend 50 days in the arctic starting in February. Their goal? To walk more than 850 kilometers (528 miles) while towing sleds to raise globalwarming awareness.

As with past Bancroft-Arneson expeditions, people around the world will be able to follow the expedition online, with daily updates on progress and location of the explorers, as well as regular online chats, blog postings, and photos.

Unlike prior expeditions, this trip is not to be ‘first’ at anything, but is solely to help teach the world’s children about the impact of globalwarming on the polar ice caps.

Bancroft and Arneson traditionally focus their educational efforts on school-age children, a perfect group to receive the message of globalwarming awareness2007. Ms. Bancroft hopes to specifically encourage youths to combat the effects of globalwarming, and fight worldwide climate change.

Due to globalwarming, Bancroft and Arneson expect to find bad ice in their arctic travels. They are equipped to handle it when necessary. Globalwarming is most evident in the arctic, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average.

Ms. Bancroft, in an interview with Canadian TV, encouraged people to take small steps to fight globalwarming, including using public transportation, turning down the home thermostat in winter, planting trees, and take political action. Globalwarming awareness is a cause dear to her, due to the amount of time she has spent in the arctic and Antarctic regions.

Read more of the interview.

Thursday’s US House of Representatives Science Committee meeting degenerated into massive silliness when several House Republicans decided to take their time on CSPAN to make completely ridiculous statements to downplay the risk of globalwarming and mock those whose awareness of the problem have resulted in the UN Report on Globalwarming, as well as these Congressional hearings on the danger of climate change.

Proving that breathing Wisconsin’s legendary ‘dairy air’ may have touched his wits, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) asked one scientist the following doozy:

Does (it) mean to stop this increase in methane we’ve got to put catalytic converters on the backs of cows?

Meanwhile, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) proved a dissenting voice against that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Ms. Pelosi is a noted friend of the globalwarming awareness movement, and since taking the post of Speaker of the House in 2007 has made it an important cause. However, Rep. Rohrbacher questioned if globalwarming might be cyclical:

“We don’t know what the other cycles were caused by in the past,” he said. “It could be dinosaur flatulence. Who knows?”

As these Republicans blame cow farts and dinosaur toots for the globalwarming of today, many others are increasingly aware of the problems caused by human use of such things as oil — which is in fact a byproduct of dead dinosaurs. Friends of globalwarming must continue to pepper their Congressional delegations with their concerns about global climate change, and encourage US investment in new energy technologies.

In an act of support for the globalwarming awareness movement in 2007, British tycoon Richard Branson — owner of the Virgin Group — is offering a $25 million prize to any scientist who can devise a way to scrub greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

This is Branson’s response to the UN report on Globalwarming released in February 2007.

Branson teamed up with globalwarming superhero Al Gore to make his announcement. Branson has also committed $3 billion of his personal fortune to the globalwarming fight, including all profits from his global travel companies. His new Virgin Fuels business is investing more than $400M in alternative energy technology in the next 3 years.

Notable figures like Mr. Branson show great commitment to the globalwarming battle by committing their personal fortunes and notoriety to the globalwarming awareness cause. It is to be hoped that his incentive helps encourage scientists to pursue globalwarming reduction, as such a reward helps prevent other science from seeming more profitable.

More: British tycoon offers $25 million prize to fight global warming (Star Tribune).

Stop Globalwarming has a ‘virtual march’ of people against globalwarming. This tribute to slacktivism features numerous celebrities and political figures ‘marching’ against the dangers of globalwarming.

Some of the ‘featured marchers’ include presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, probable candidate John McCain, as well as numerous other political figures (such as Arnold Schwarzenegger of California).

Some of these politicians have taken legislative stands to help promote alternative fuels and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Others are clearly hoping the American public does not investigate their true environmental records. For instance, Governor Schwarzenegger touts his environmentalism, but has accepted campaign money from big oil companies, and has opposed taxing said companies to help fund alternative energy research.

Meanwhile, those very big oil companies are also funding a think-tank that is offering phat cash to scientists willing to criticize the newly-released 2007 report on global warming released by the United Nations. Greenpeace, especially, has commented negatively on this development, although it may in fact lead to greater globalwarming awareness. Call it ‘link trolling’ for the scientific community.

Voice of America News reports today that China is pinning blame for greenhouse emissions on other industrialized nations.

In particular, China points to its low per-capita emissions, although the country is the second-highest contributor of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere among world nations. As a ‘developing nation,’ China claims to be unable to devote resources to reducing their emissions.

Increased scrutiny on China and other nations comes in the wake of a 2007 United Nations report on the growing impact and danger of globalwarming.

China also suggests that other countries should adopt the Kyoto Protocols, although Bejing has not agreed to reduce any of China’s emissions. Developing nations, such as high-producing China and India, are exempt from caps set in the Kyoto Protocols. The United States, the largest globalwarming culprit, is not a part of the Kyoto accords.

China, and other high-emitting nations, needs to take responsibility for their contributions to globalwarming. As a nation proud of their technological advancements, China should not rely on foreign technologies to move forward, but should pioneer new ideas that work in their culture and economy — and that may become exportable. Awareness of globalwarming is a first step; taking responsibility for it and acting to create scientific solutions to this scientific problem is critical for the success of the globalwarming awareness movement in 2007 and beyond!

CBS News reports that 45 nations have expressed support for a French call for a new environmental body devoted to slowing the ravages of globalwarming and raising new awareness of climatological issues.

Naturally, the three greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions — China, India, and the United States — are not among this coalition of the willing, this coalition of globalwarming awareness in 2007. The United States remains a notable holdout to the Kyoto Protocols, designed to decrease greenhouse emissions and control the effects of globalwarming.

United Nations scientists, meanwhile, claim that the ‘debate’ on globalwarming is now over, and that action is now a must as the science has proven human involvement. Still, many skeptics continue to lambast the ’science’ of global warming, particularly in light of last week’s revelation that government scientists were asked to downplay globalwarming’s impact in US government reports. A Canadian scientist writes that globalwarming is ‘the greatest deception in the history of science.’ And Texas Republican leaders call globalwarming reports ‘bad science’ that should not be used to make policy decisions.

However, as the Burlington Free Press suggests, why not fight globalwarming even if you don’t believe it’s real? What harm is to be done? Even doubters of globalwarming care about trees and bunnies and polar bears and ice cubes for their drinks, do they not? Globalwarming awareness in 2007 can make room for even such skeptics at our cocktail hours… so long as they bus, bike, or walk to the event!

Following Friday’s release of the landmark 2007 report from the United Nations on globalwarming, many papers have been providing awareness-raising coverage of the climate change issue.

Today’s LA Times weighs in with an article that illustrates a major factor in globalwarming awareness: That even with drastic lifestyle and behavior changes from world citizens, there is enough carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere that the impact of globalwarming is likely to last for centuries.

Globalwarming results when the atmosphere is unable to absorb all of the greenhouse gas emissions caused on the planetary surface. A fossil fuel emissions expert cited in the LA Times article estimates that all motor vehicle use in the United States probably represents 7.3% of all global emissions. In fact, if every country on Earth returned to Stone Age technology levels, save China and the United States, globalwarming would continue due to those two nations’ emissions levels.

The article also raises something known by many in the globalwarming awareness community: Some actions, such as buying hybrid vehicles, is an illusory contribution to emission reduction. While driving such vehicles does reduce emissions, even if every vehicle in the US were replaced with such vehicles, overall reduction would be in the single-digit percentages. Bicycling, walking, and public transit are all more effective reducers of globalwarming emissions.

However, even knowing this, it is important to take such steps, and for outspoken advocates to continue to rally political and economic forces to reduce emissions and take further steps towards creating livable communities based on energy-efficient principles. 2007 must be the year for globalwarming awareness!

The Associated Press, via Yahoo News, reports that private advocacy groups have found evidence of political pressure on government agencies to downplay awareness of globalwarming.

Further details of their findings are expected to be presented on January 30, 2007, to Congress.

As hearings on climate change begin, globalwarming statements by both Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and perennial Republican hopeful John McCain are expected. Each is expected to back increased globalwarming awareness, including mandatory greenhouse gas emission reductions, and each is involved in sponsoring 2007 legislation designed to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Government agencies accused by advocates of tampering with globalwarming reports include the White House Council on Environmental Quality, NASA and the EPA.

These accusations are in stark contrast to recent UN action related to globalwarming, including the 2007 release of new scientific findings on climate change.

Globalwarming advocates are well advised to maintain awareness of these 2007 hearings, and to write their congressional delegations to endorse support of important globalwarming measures.

The New Zealand Herald reports that 13% of Americans have never heard of globalwarming.

The result comes in a 2007 survey done by AC Nielsen in 46 countries to gauge global awareness of the globalwarming problem. US respondents to the survey were not only least aware of globalwarming, but also the least concerned about globalwarming’s impact on the planet. (Latin Americans were most concerned, possibly because they are particularly at risk of increased hurricane activity or loss of critical cash crops due to weather pattern change.)

Around the world, 57% of survey respondents called globalwarming “a very serious problem,” and another 34% considered it a “serious problem.” Only 42% of respondents in the United States thought globalwarming “a very serious problem.”

Surveys like this show that globalwarming awareness must be increased in the United States, which is the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in 2007. As the most serious contributor to the problem,the US mustact to limit globalwarming and protect our planet and our economy.