Blog About the Weather

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.

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.

Online intelligence providers HitWise reported that in mid-February, interest in globalwarming heated up online, with people seeking awareness2007 up more than 173%.

They credit some of this increase to the UN Report on globalwarming, and a search for more awareness of the many problems that can be caused by globalwarming and climate change.

Al Gore’s continued campaigns on behalf of globalwarming are also a contributing factor.

“When you examine the actual search terms and the end destination of those search missions, you can also discover intent behind those searches,” said Tancer, adding that people are eager to learn more about global warming.

Globalwarming awareness2007 is on the move. Many people are seeking out truths, or seeking out support for their skepticism about the science of globalwarming. Hybrid vehicles, as well as searches for alternative fuel transportation information, are also hot search terms according to major SEO services like Keyword Discovery and WordTracker.

On this very blog we see many people interested in the environmental positions of top political candidates.

People fear floods, famine, tsunamis, and other horrors as a result of melting polar ice caps and atmospheric warming due to globalwarming. Awareness in 2007 may lead to action by many.

More: Online interest in globalwarming heats up

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.

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.’

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.

Al Gore, former presidential candidate and poster child of the anti-globalwarming movement, is everywhere right now:

• In Madrid, Gore says that the globalwarming fight needs China, in the wake of China’s statement that globalwarming action was the responsibility of major nations, not China.
• Gore is scheduled to testify before the US Congress next month as their globalwarming awareness hearings carry on.
• Gore has been nominated for a prestigious Spanish award for his globalwarming work, as well as for the Nobel Peace Prize.

To date, Mr. Gore has not declared for the US presidential race in 2008, but given his recent stature, it is not hard to imagine him doing so. Many in the globalwarming awareness community are spending 2007 encouraging Al Gore to run, holding community events and bake-sales to raise funds and awareness.

However, we really have to wonder if Gore’s recent global advocacy work is enough to win him the White House. As well, if he were to run for president, would the many demands of that race and position in fact distract him from globalwarming work? It is true that as president, he would work for Congressional acceptance of the Kyoto Protocols and try to get the United States a leadership role in alternative energy development. Tax breaks for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel sources would also undoubtedly be part of the agenda.

Either way, Gore remains a figure to watch as 2007 shapes up as a year of globalwarming awareness.

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!