Global Warming/Climate Change

[Govinda]

Give it what title you will, it's topical just now, so I've got a few questions. I'm not trying to provoke some scientific debate; if I was, this would be in I.D. Not to insult anyone, this could perhaps be the layman's climate change discussion. (Remember, kids - without facts, we have only opinion).

Alright.

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

I suppose it would only be polite if I answered my own questions, hey?


1) Yes, I do. The weather where I live is changing noticeably, the bears stateside are waking up early, Melbourne enjoyed a white Christmas...plus, there's the scientific figures and prediction models, but I don't know enough about them to say with any certainty what they mean, or whether they're accurate. I do, however, know that the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere have risen by far too much in recent times.

2) I think that we're at least a little at fault. I'm not a scientist, and I'll never be one; I just know that creating a chemical imbalance in the Earth's atmosphere by pumping CO2 into it will change some things. Then there's the ideas of solar maximum, and so on, so the Earth is changing by itself too.

In truth though, I don't feel that this is the issue here. I might not be good at science, but politics I can handle: if we don't start to curb our useage of fossil fuels soon, God only knows what pedigree of and how many wars will be waged. Some say that this is inevitable; but, stop driving (unless you're disabled or have a disabled depentent, or really need your car) and it can at least be put off.

3) I think it's just right. The UN climate report got plenty of airtime, as it deserved, at least over here. I don't know what it's like in the rest of the world. People are starting to take notice, at long last.

4) No, in a word. The governments are scared to (at least Blair's is) tell voters not to drive or fly, and can't while MPs themselves continue to fly so regularly. Big business isn't doing anything really meaningful, from what I can see. Their adverts are good, and portray them well, but I don't think it's true.

5) We don't try - we just live in a way that happens to be a bit greener than most, because it's cheaper. Nobody drives (British public transport is a lot, lot cheaper than petrol, for a start). We have a limited daily amount of electicity, thanks to the powersaver card box. Scottish Hydro-Electric are cheaper than Scottish Gas. The Council gave us a recycling box which we duly use.

Well, that's that. Tattie bye.

[Itachi Uchiha]

Well this is simple enough to answer for:

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

Yes, i do believe that the climate is changing. We have seen rise in temperatues, one piece evidence being the polar ice caps melting. This is resulting in the sea levels rising, etc. Also the average temperatures of our planet has been increasing very slowly but still its getting faster. Even slight increases are having devastating effects on this planet.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

I'm not quite sure on this one. I have seen reason for both. From the ice-shelves we have taken samples of the air thousands of years ago and using this have created evidence showing that there was periods of time were the CO2 were similar to this. However, i also think humans have something to do with this. Even if it is a natural accuring effect, we have been adding to this via burning fossil fuels.

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

I'm still in high school and i have been taught about global warming. It was quite an interesting topic that i would have liked to have gone into more depth in. Still some of the things i was told did worry me such as the predicted heatwaves in the future. As for the airtime it gets, it gets a reasonable amount. But from what i can see, it isn't making much difference. And yes, i do think the goverments should do more about it. What is more important: the planet or a countries wealth?

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

At this present moment, there have been little changes. They need to do something and soon. Still, there isn't much i can say about this but something must be done.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

I doubt turning light bulbs and TV's off when we leave a room will make a difference but still, its a little.

[Jin]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

Yes, yes I do.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

Yes, yes I do beleive humans are responsible.

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

That all depends on what other news there is. The end of a livable atmosphere is more important than what is no longer on Britney's head and what was in Anna Nicole Smith's fridge in my opinion and should therefore be given more airtime than said events.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

No and no. Big business doesn't care and never will. Profits are all that sustain the ultra capitalists. What they do to get that money is neither here nor there. That does give us, the people, a power over them though. If we rise up and simpley stop buying from them, then they'll become more enviornmentally aware to win our business back (that's completely ignoring that they'd probably lie about many things). Governments can't risk upsetting big business and simply won't if they're that far right, so no, the government isn't reliable either.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

Here's where it gets funny. The people are just as untrustworthy to fix the problem. People will be all for saving the planet, but when they can no longer use their GMC Jimmy, a large "screw it" goes out to the enviornment. And I'm not acting holier than thou as I know that I'm the same way. Humans are greedy and short sighted and we probably will eventually kill ourselves off, whether the planet goes with us or not. That's all there is to it.

[OmniTense]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

Sure I do.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

I do believe that this process is anthropogenic, merely because it is the nature of man to rebel against nature and cause such effects due to either the lack or surpluss of his own nescience.

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

Media circuts feed off of fears and insecurities. This is very useful if the time is convienient. But in the between disasters it is simply noisome. We either need to be totally informed on all facts of these climate changes and act on that knowledge or continue full blast, ignoring the issue.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

They are not doing enough, nor should we dare expect/hope them to in the future. If every being acts according to it's own nature and governments and business are their own entities then, by that rationale, they will only act upon this when it become a major crisis and threatens their own existence.


5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

I generally try to consolidate my trips and carpool. But beyond that there really is very little I can do. My plants are doing all that they can but what is one nursery compared to the strips of woods that are atomized monthly.

In my mind there really is only one solution. Nature. It is also an entity of it's own. It may well counter in some fashion in response to this overabundance of greenhouse gasses. This may well result in some cataclysmic activity. But this is the way of things.

[Helter Skelter]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

Of course it's changing. It changes all the time and it always has changed. It always will.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

I don't think the results will be as apocalyptic or as catastrophic as promised by the guilt-trippers, but yes, I think we're contributing an awful lot. Other than that, I can't possibly say.

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

Governments aren't doing anything. Pretending it doesn't exist, or acknowledging its existence and exploiting it for extra tax revenue will solve sweet nothing.
Yes, it does get too much news coverage for my liking. There haven't been any terrorist attacks or major war events in so long that they've finally resorted to focusing on "Climate Change". I'm sick of seeing the little propaganda movies telling us that we're personally responsible for killing all the polar bears, guilt-tripping us into recycling more than we do. It's not going to stop anyone from flying, nor will it stop people from driving. People are, in general, mindless product-consuming machines.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

No, they're not. Here in the UK, they want to tax us in the name of protecting the environment. What a load of shit. They'll need to gain their new nuclear submarine budget from somewhere, I suppose. Remember the Hybrid Car? That's only ever in the news as the novelty "And finally..." report to warm the hearts of families everywhere and to make them feel like they're saved from this so-called "imminent disaster of epic proportions". Whatever happened to building more wind-farms and hydro-electric plants? I suppose they're not dramatic enough to frighten the life out of people. Sometimes I think the whole thing is complete bullshit.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

My family recycles, we all use public transport regularly (or we walk, which is odd, considering that most people are scared of walking anywhere these days), and only my dad has a car. He probably drives it on average for one hour a week.
Having said that, no amount of recycling and using buses instead of driving is going to help anything. I'm actually really tired of hearing about global warming/climate change, and due to all this incessant and tiring media coverage, I'm really quite skeptical that anything is happening at all. But if you say that to certain people they'll treat to you like you've just denied the Holocaust.

They say that in the next hundred years, it could wipe out a third of the world's population. Maybe it's just nature's way of telling us to shut the fu¢k up for a while. So be it. Humanity deserves it. Karma.

[Fishie]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?
I defintely believe that the earth's climate is changing. Its supposed to be cooler around this time in California, especially where I live and now its already getting the the 90's and we're still in spring!!! Also, if you've seen Al Gore's documentary, his documentary shows polar caps melting, glaciers melting, polls on temeperature increasing, etc.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?
I think that the earth itself is changing the way our weather works in our world, but as humans we are responsible as well.

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?
I definitelt think that people should be aware of what is going on in our world and what action must be taken to take care of this issue. However on some sites on global warming, there has been statements I've seen that states the government has been using Global Warming as a money maker. I can't believe whether is this is true or not, I do know that people should be aware about it.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?
Its hard to say because I feel like its gonna take more then just the government and the big businesses to take care of the issue. I feel that its gonna take more then that. I feel that everybody should contribut by recycling, etc.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?
My family and I do recycle our papers, cans, etc. We try to keep our street and when I mean "we" I mean my neighbors and my family try to keep our street tidy and clean. Other then that, we don't do much sadly.

[Chez Daja]

Originally Posted by Govinda

[]1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

I don't believe this is a state of opinion; it's fact really. Freak weather changes and other things, it's become obvious and a worry.

Originally Posted by Govinda

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

It could be a mix of both. Think about it; the Earth has changed considerably by itself, but in all honesty, I don't think we're not to blame for many things. We've ****ed up our own planet to make our lives convient. Nobody cares for the Earth, they only care aobut their own little stresses.

Originally Posted by Govinda

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

I don't think the government should keep things like this from the public, however, this subject is getting rather tiresome. The news has been saying the same thing, it's repetitive. We only really need to hear about it when the next major thing happens -- not enough of the population care aobut how to prevent such.

Originally Posted by Govinda

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

I don't think so. The problem is, now that we've got it easy, it's tough for the world to adjust, to "go back" and use less of things that are contributing to the state of the Earth. Cut backs on airplanes and the like do need to be taken but definately aren't.

Originally Posted by Govinda

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?[/b]

*looks sheepish and uncomfortable.*

My parents and siblings don't. But I don't often use anything of the like unless I'm really going a long way away... I guess I've been a bit hypocritical.

I recycle and save electricity and the like, though. >_>

[Angantyr]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?

Yes it is, however people do not realize its different in each area of the world, for example NZ being where it is will hardly see any change from it except maybe rising sea levels, rising rivers but for the most part NZ is one of the least effected countries.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

Bit of column A and little bit of column B, it is part of the natural cycle of the earth which we they do not often mention, If I remember correctly its going to last roughly 100 years being at its peak then start going backwards and throughout the next 1000 odd years fade back to the Ice Age. But hey if you are really worried we can hope for Nuclear Winter which is also quite likely to happen, perhaps even it out

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

I do not think at all, this along with aids, the rise in homosexuality, Sars and all that are nature's way of keeping the worlds population in check. I do not watch the news that often but I often see documentries and the like about Hurricanes and such things, but on our news its mostly about Politics, Our dangerous Roads (We have some of the most dangerous in the world apparently) and Rugby.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?

Yes I think they are doing an excellent Job, at least down here so I am not sure about the USA, however NZ is quite the Hippie nature loving country so its no surprise. I think they are actually do much more to help than the average person.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?
Well not really, I mean where exactly do they come from? We have heating through Natural Gas which is a good thing I guess, I also walk/bike everywhere depending on the time of day and where I am going.

Again like I said its natures way of cleaning itself, the world has 6billion people on it yet it is designed to only sustain 500 million, even if we manage to populate Mars that still wouldn't really be enough room to sustain. But to the conservative hippies the truth is Human kind is nothing more than a pimple on the Earth compared to what it's been through. We do not have to be aware of it for Mother Natures sake, but for our own, and our childrens sake.

[Secret Azn Man]

1) Do you believe that Earth's climate is changing?
It's not about what I believe. Climate change due to global warming IS happening. There's no arguing about it. The many, many scientific studies and plain old anecdotes are evidence enough that our climate is indeed changing rapidly. These indications of a rapid global climate change are no mere coincidences. The correlations are so strong, we'd be ignorant to disregard them.

No scientists worth their salt, disagrees with the unanimous consensus that global climate change due to global warming is real. Any "expert" who do disagree are found to be working with the interests of large oil companies. And their "argument" have no solid ground. They're just smoke and mirrors, weaseling words to cast confusion and doubts onto the public.

2) If so, do you believe that is is the fault of human CO2, or is it just the natural progression of our planet's weather systems or something similar?

I feel that the global climate changes we are witnessing is largely caused by global warming or the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. It is NOT a natural cycle. The spikes in changes are too significant and too rapid to be a natural cause. Not to mention these spikes and rapid changes do not fit the previous pattern or cycle of changes as recorded and evidenced in the past thousand years or so. The climate has changed much more in the last century, right around the start of the Industrial Revolution, than in the last millenia. How is this natural?

3) Do you think that climate change gets too much airtime on the news just now? Do people need to be educated, or should it be up to governments?

The public is already aware of global warming. I think we need to increase the public awareness of the severity and seriousness of global climate change and that we still have the time and means to begin reversing global warming caused by CO2 emissions. We've already solved the hole in the O-Zone problem. And we're already taking baby steps towards reducing CO2 emissions which are already showing positive effects. We just need to increase our efforts globally and continue our efforts. We can do this.

4) Are governments and big business doing enough about the issue?
While many governments and big businesses are starting to put effort into changing, I think they need to be much more serious. The changes need to be more drastic and achieved in a faster time frame. But it's not just the governments and big businesses' responsibility. It's our responsibility too. We must voice our desire for changes as well as actually doing our part.

5) Do you and your family do anything to try and cut your carbon emissions?

One of the good benefits to cutting CO2 emissions is that it saves you money. We use energy efficient appliances, high fuel economy cars, and love energy saving florescent light bulbs.