Global Warming

[Bobbie En Tejas]

I saw Al Gore's movie tonight, Inconvenient Truth. I believe wholeheartedly that the world has changed in the last 40 years, the feeling is very different, the reality is different, life is different, but it is absolutely mindboggling what has happened to our world physically in that time period. Al Gore is passionate about the issue of global warming, and you have to wonder how different the 2000's would have been on a world scale had he been elected. (Oh, I forgot.. he was).

One bright spot that I didn't know, that although the US government has failed to take the problem seriously, cities across the United States are taking it upon themselves to put strong local policies and programs in place to reduce global warming pollution. From an article written in 2005, "168 mayors in 37 states committed their cities to the Kyoto treaty. The cities are a varied lot -- conservative and liberal from Vermont to California."

This movie should be required watching for everyone. People can squabble about statistics, but it is hard to argue with pictures taken 10 or 15 years ago and comparing them to today.

[Tom B]

Bobbie,

Thanks for posting this, I look forward to seeing the film. Do you think it'll change enough attitudes in the States ?...25% of world emissions from there, as opposed to 2% from the UK. Sounds like Al Gore might be doing a good job in highlighting the problem "at home" in the US, which can only be a move in the right direction. I hope he and the film are successful.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Bobbie,

Thanks for posting this, I look forward to seeing the film. Do you think it'll change enough attitudes in the States ?...25% of world emissions from there, as opposed to 2% from the UK. Sounds like Al Gore might be doing a good job in highlighting the problem "at home" in the US, which can only be a move in the right direction. I hope he and the film are successful.

Tom, to be fair, considering the size and the populations of the countries involved, I think both those statistics are outrageous. http://www.omsolar.net/en/omsolar1/co2_emissions.html The United States is way off the board for emissions, but take into context we are the 3rd largest country in the world. The UK is the 78th largest country and it is 7th for CO2 emissions. If the UK were the same size as the US, you wouldn't be far behind us.

Attitudes have already begun changing. California and other states have already passed their own emissions laws (California has have required catalytic converters on their cars since the 70's) and cities are taking it in their own hands. My mayor in 2003 was on the forefront of getting the mayors of individual cities to make laws and policies in accordance with Kyoto. Many people here do have the right attitude and are trying to do what they can do on the scale they can control. I can do no more about it than you can do, but we are both responsible to do what we can. Hopefully what the movie will do is get people in the US to vote the right people in who actually can make a difference on a larger scale.

[Tom B]

Agreed. We've all got a long way to go.

[Machrihanish]

Good post Bobbie
More about the movie here: http://www.climatecrisis.net/

Something else on the same subject, a bit of fun but a serious issue none the less: http://www.climatemash.org/
The Boris Karloff fans among you will love it
All the best

[John S]

Read his book a few years ago, I think it was called Earth in the Balance, impressive stuff and ridiculed at the time as being overly pessimistic. Looking forward to the movie.

[Sweltered]

Bobbie,

Thanks for posting this, I look forward to seeing the film. Do you think it'll change enough attitudes in the States ?...25% of world emissions from there, as opposed to 2% from the UK. Sounds like Al Gore might be doing a good job in highlighting the problem "at home" in the US, which can only be a move in the right direction. I hope he and the film are successful.

Tom, to be fair, considering the size and the populations of the countries involved, I think both those statistics are outrageous. http://www.omsolar.net/en/omsolar1/co2_emissions.html The United States is way off the board for emissions, but take into context we are the 3rd largest country in the world. The UK is the 78th largest country and it is 7th for CO2 emissions. If the UK were the same size as the US, you wouldn't be far behind us.

Attitudes have already begun changing. California and other states have already passed their own emissions laws (California has have required catalytic converters on their cars since the 70's) and cities are taking it in their own hands. My mayor in 2003 was on the forefront of getting the mayors of individual cities to make laws and policies in accordance with Kyoto. Many people here do have the right attitude and are trying to do what they can do on the scale they can control. I can do no more about it than you can do, but we are both responsible to do what we can. Hopefully what the movie will do is get people in the US to vote the right people in who actually can make a difference on a larger scale.

FYI

China has more rigorous emission laws than the US. I just wrote a paper on this for school.

[Tom B]

Finally got to see An Inconvenient Truth a couple of night ago. Amazing stuff, and would recommend it to all to see. If he's sincere, and I think he is, it would be amazing to see what AG would have done as president. But we are where we are.

[Ville Valo]

http://www.goveg.com/veganism_environment.asp if america wld stop eating so many damn burgers.........

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Your facts are from 1998. Now Luxembourg, New Zealand, Denmark, and a few others have surpassed the US as of 2002. Them first And according to the LA times in March 2006, the five biggest beef consuming countries per person were Brazil, Mongolia, Luxembourg, Uruguay, Argentina.

[Christian]

Anyone seen "The Day After Tomorrow"?

[The Hitman]

I am not able to see into the future so I am afraid I can't help there buddy. Although I do have a firend from France who could. The Names Voyant, Claire Voyant.

[£3.73]

FYI

China has more rigorous emission laws than the US. I just wrote a paper on this for school.

"Taxi for Shaw !!!" .... you'll be on a one way flight to Guantanemo Bay talking like that

[general jack o'niell]

[Charlie]

Isn't it all just over-hyped ? - just a natural pattern of temp rises over time ?