Blog About the Weather

The UN black helicopter crowd has seized on globalwarming skepticism as a new way to spread awareness of their slightly weird views.

Tammy Bruce, a ‘chick with a gun and a microphone,’ claims that the UN will tax everyone to empower their agenda, using globalwarming awareness as an excuse.

It is hard to imagine why so many skeptics exist as to the science of globalwarming. Even if one is suspicious of the UN, many other agencies and academic institutions have researched the phenomena of globalwarming, and have increased awareness of its effects through publication of scientific findings.

Looks like some of these people are using the issue of the day — globalwarming awareness2007 — to tie into their pet paranoiac agendas. Globalwarming awareness is not going away, and it is critical for international bodies and governments of all types of take leadership in regards to preventing famine, climate change, polar ice cap loss, and more killer hurricanes and tsunamis like those that hit New Orleans and Sri Lanka in prior recent years.

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.

Online speculation remains hot that Al Gore will eventually sweep in for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Proponents of Al Gore running think that Hillary and Obama, as well as other Democratic hopefuls, will pick each other to shreds, and Gore will be able to come in as a statesman and take the helm. Hillary will no doubt take some heat from Republican candidates (like Guiliani) and political action groups.

Al Gore’s attempt to raise globalwarming awareness has been notable, and there’s almost no reason to believe he will declare a presidential candidacy any time in 2007. Why should he? Right now, traveling to promote his globalwarming awareness agenda, he is working in an area of his passions, getting high visibility among many people and nations.

The primary season doesn’t even start until early 2008. Al Gore can easily spend 2007 promoting globalwarming awareness. One thing is for sure, though: If Al Gore runs for president in 2008, globalwarming will be a key part of his domestic and foreign policy agenda. No doubt his domestic agenda will include funding for alternative energy research, benefits for hybrid auto users, and other eco-friendly steps to help curb globalwarming at its root — human carbon emission. He would also no doubt work with the UN to help promote solutions to globalwarming and climate change worldwide.

Debate continues over the role of globalwarming on Atlantic and Gulf hurricane activity. Awareness of the increased severity of hurricanes rose to new levels after New Orleans was leveled by Hurricane Katrina.

Many scientists believe there is a link between increased hurricane activity and an increase in sea surface temperatures. A one-degree increase in ocean temperature can make hurricanes more serious and long-lived.

However, other scientists scoff at the globalwarming awareness of these scientists, claiming that there is no known reason why the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) changes speeds and temperature cyclically.

Arguments between the two sides is increasing in the wake of the 2007 Globalwarming Report from the United Nations, and will undoubtedly continue through the 2007 hurricane season.

For my part, I’m glad we’re living in Minnesota. We may get the odd prairie tornado, but damned if we’ll see a tsunami in Minneapolis any time soon.

Article: Scientists debate the impact of global warming on hurricanes

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.

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).

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.

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.

A study to be released next week by the United Nations is getting attention as it declares that globalwarming is already happening now, in 2007, and it is getting worse.

News outlets are raising awareness that the study will contain much new, scientific data on globalwarming. It is expected that the report will cover globalwarming’s impact on polar icecaps, sea currents, and weather patterns.

Future chapters of the report to be released later in 2007 may contain information to raise awareness of how globalwarming impacting human health, food production, and non-human species survival as climate change destroys habitats and cultivation environments.

Globalwarming advocates are looking forward to the release of the initial report on February 2, and subsequent chapters to follow in 2007. We all hope that the data will help convince globalwarming skeptics to take action!