Comments on: A Little Controversy is Fun! http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/ Girls by Design: This is a blog. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:13:34 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: scott http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-3249 scott Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:29:10 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-3249 "...And when you aren’t supposed to question something any longer I get a little curious..." "I want to be the kind of person who looks at things from all angles, open and willing to take in information and then determine what I think seems the most true." Bravo! Bravo. Respect for Truth with a capital T should always be the crucible that our ideology is forged by, not the other way around. To the subject: We are stewards of all that surrounds us. We are responsible to each other, to further generations, to our Creator, for the resources we have been gifted. These are the simple truths that real sustainability can be built upon. The ideas are not complicated, nor is the change required in our attitudes. We resist the change, however, because we see it as overwhelming. The truth is, It takes 21 days to break a bad habit, and 21 more to form a good one. A month and a half to change the world. That is not so overwhelming, really. (Full disclosure: I work for the government in the environmental regulation field.) “…And when you aren’t supposed to question something any longer I get a little curious…”

“I want to be the kind of person who looks at things from all angles, open and willing to take in information and then determine what I think seems the most true.”

Bravo! Bravo. Respect for Truth with a capital T should always be the crucible that our ideology is forged by, not the other way around.

To the subject:

We are stewards of all that surrounds us. We are responsible to each other, to further generations, to our Creator, for the resources we have been gifted. These are the simple truths that real sustainability can be built upon.

The ideas are not complicated, nor is the change required in our attitudes. We resist the change, however, because we see it as overwhelming. The truth is, It takes 21 days to break a bad habit, and 21 more to form a good one. A month and a half to change the world.

That is not so overwhelming, really.

(Full disclosure: I work for the government in the environmental regulation field.)

]]> By: Alex http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-3098 Alex Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:24:29 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-3098 Hi Kristin, There are all kinds of facts that lead us to believe global warming in indeed man-made. For a great documentary filled with facts and figures you should see "An Inconvinient Truth" , the Oscar winning piece by Al Gore. Let's all wake up before it's too late. http://www.climatecrisis.net/ Alex. Hi Kristin,
There are all kinds of facts that lead us to believe global warming in indeed man-made. For a great documentary filled with facts and figures you should see “An Inconvinient Truth” , the Oscar winning piece by Al Gore.
Let’s all wake up before it’s too late.
http://www.climatecrisis.net/

Alex.

]]> By: Kevin http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-3012 Kevin Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:39:27 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-3012 State of Fear - Michael Crichton Read it, it's a fiction book but uses real world stats to show that even though a lot of people have heard about global warming and believe it, doesn't necessarily mean it's true. I believe that global warming is a good theory, however it's far from being proven. If you really care about your world, even if it isn't true, you should still try to use less and be more supportive of your environment. State of Fear – Michael Crichton

Read it, it’s a fiction book but uses real world stats to show that even though a lot of people have heard about global warming and believe it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. I believe that global warming is a good theory, however it’s far from being proven. If you really care about your world, even if it isn’t true, you should still try to use less and be more supportive of your environment.

]]> By: Lorène http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2942 Lorène Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:53:54 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2942 Hello Kristin, It is terrified to think that the global warming is able to destroy us. But unfortunatly it's the ugly reality. In a way, it was a little foreseeable. I mean USA don't want to respect Kyoto Protocol ; there were nuclear tests in atmosphere , atomics bomb ,... the list goes on and on . I think today it's essential to change and a huge one is necessary . One line from one song in particular stands out :"I'll trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday". And the worst in week it is because when it is finished ... this begins again . Here is for actuality and tomorrow will be worse ... :) huge kisse xoxo :) Hello Kristin,
It is terrified to think that the global warming is able to destroy us. But unfortunatly it’s the ugly reality. In a way, it was a little foreseeable. I mean USA don’t want to respect Kyoto Protocol ; there were nuclear tests in atmosphere , atomics bomb ,… the list goes on and on .
I think today it’s essential to change and a huge one is necessary .
One line from one song in particular stands out :”I’ll trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday”.

And the worst in week it is because when it is finished … this begins again .
Here is for actuality and tomorrow will be worse … :)
huge kisse
xoxo :)

]]> By: Randy http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2937 Randy Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:25:44 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2937 I agree with Kristin (and pretty much everyone else here) that it is not so much whether or not Global Warming is man made or not.....(Or to what degree it is our fault.) To try to completely understand the entire puzzle is well beyond even the experts. (Just look at how many "experts" have conflicting arguments or change their opinions over time.) However, this is completely understandable when you take into consideration all of the things that can contribute to Earth's climate change....Solar cycles, volcanic activity, ocean circulation, methane release from the oceans and permafrost, CO2 emissions, etc. The number of variables is staggering…. That being said, I do agree that we DO have to make an attempt to protect our environment and increase our sustainability in any ways that we can. For instance, humans throw away BILLIONS of tons of trash everyday….we deforest an area the size of North Carolina every year in the tropical rain forests…..and …..(just take your pick of things we do to the planet….) Now I am not saying that all of these things could/do contribute to global climate change, but they definitely do affect the world around us. It does not take a genius to realize that we do have to change the way that we treat this planet…..otherwise future generations WILL have to pay the consequences….be it a changed climate….or just a polluted one…. I am reminded of something I heard a long time ago….it goes something like this…..”We NEED the Earth….BUT the Earth DOES NOT need us….” Just something to thing about. I agree with Kristin (and pretty much everyone else here) that it is not so much whether or not Global Warming is man made or not…..(Or to what degree it is our fault.) To try to completely understand the entire puzzle is well beyond even the experts. (Just look at how many “experts” have conflicting arguments or change their opinions over time.) However, this is completely understandable when you take into consideration all of the things that can contribute to Earth’s climate change….Solar cycles, volcanic activity, ocean circulation, methane release from the oceans and permafrost, CO2 emissions, etc. The number of variables is staggering….

That being said, I do agree that we DO have to make an attempt to protect our environment and increase our sustainability in any ways that we can. For instance, humans throw away BILLIONS of tons of trash everyday….we deforest an area the size of North Carolina every year in the tropical rain forests…..and …..(just take your pick of things we do to the planet….) Now I am not saying that all of these things could/do contribute to global climate change, but they definitely do affect the world around us. It does not take a genius to realize that we do have to change the way that we treat this planet…..otherwise future generations WILL have to pay the consequences….be it a changed climate….or just a polluted one….

I am reminded of something I heard a long time ago….it goes something like this…..”We NEED the Earth….BUT the Earth DOES NOT need us….” Just something to thing about.

]]> By: Stephen K http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2920 Stephen K Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:29:38 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2920 Kristin, Sounds like you came across a closed mind. But the faith that was exhibited can be almost religious in its zeal. The technique here, indignation, is used to close off any debate. Always ask why. When talking about "global warming" it is important to frame the debate, to make sure everyone is referring to the man-made portion/contribution. As Taylor Nikole pointed out, it is a fact that the globe has been warming since the last ice age. Plus, within this long term natural warming trend there have been many shorter, variable, (500yr, 25yr etc) heating/cooling periods. Human made CO2 does contribute to natural global warming, the main question is what is the effect (%). I think the research shows it is small. Mother nature does as she pleases, we're just along for the ride. It is certainly not a crisis that requires a $5 Trillion dollar crash program. But to continue with our ongoing 40 year cleanup is a good idea. Continuing research is a good idea. It is "... important for us to take care of our environment". Yes! I'm with you. However we have also reached the point of diminishing returns and we need to be smart about where we concentrate our efforts. 40 years ago we could spend $100 Billion and clean up 25% of the pollution, today $100 Billion might yield a .5% improvement. The choice is increasingly pristine environment vs poverty. Interestingly there is some evidence that about 5-8 years ago we entered a period of natural global cooling. So if begins to cool should we increase our production of CO2 to offset the cooling. It could prevent another ice age ;) As a book to satisfy your skepticism (GW and many other issues) I recommend. The Skeptical Environmentalist By Bjorn Lomborg Steve K Kristin,
Sounds like you came across a closed mind. But the faith that was exhibited can be almost religious in its zeal. The technique here, indignation, is used to close off any debate. Always ask why.

When talking about “global warming” it is important to frame the debate, to make sure everyone is referring to the man-made portion/contribution. As Taylor Nikole pointed out, it is a fact that the globe has been warming since the last ice age. Plus, within this long term natural warming trend there have been many shorter, variable, (500yr, 25yr etc) heating/cooling periods.

Human made CO2 does contribute to natural global warming, the main question is what is the effect (%). I think the research shows it is small. Mother nature does as she pleases, we’re just along for the ride. It is certainly not a crisis that requires a $5 Trillion dollar crash program. But to continue with our ongoing 40 year cleanup is a good idea. Continuing research is a good idea.

It is “… important for us to take care of our environment”. Yes! I’m with you. However we have also reached the point of diminishing returns and we need to be smart about where we concentrate our efforts. 40 years ago we could spend $100 Billion and clean up 25% of the pollution, today $100 Billion might yield a .5% improvement. The choice is increasingly pristine environment vs poverty.

Interestingly there is some evidence that about 5-8 years ago we entered a period of natural global cooling. So if begins to cool should we increase our production of CO2 to offset the cooling. It could prevent another ice age ;)

As a book to satisfy your skepticism (GW and many other issues) I recommend.
The Skeptical Environmentalist
By Bjorn Lomborg
Steve K

]]> By: skahahoo http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2917 skahahoo Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:01:12 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2917 Hoo boy.  Global warming, climate change...when did it get so politicized?  Whenever you read debates about it, it seems like everyone is so touchy.  And that's never good for an honest, open exchange of ideas.   BUT...I must say, I'm going to have to side with the scientific consensus on this one, who say that human-caused global warming is very, very, very, very likely (there are no absolutes in science), to the point that debating whether or not we play a significant role in climate change is no longer constructive, and that we should instead move on to figuring out solutions.  I know that climate is extremely complicated, and it would take years for me to truly understand all the science behind it...years that I don't have.  And so I defer to what the majority of scientists have to say and take it on faith.  Just as I take it on faith that the engineers know what they're doing before I cross a bridge without examining all the blueprints and physics behind the bridge.  Just as I take medicine on the recommendation of my doctor without reading through all the studies behind it.  Maybe it's foolish of me, but peer-reviewed science has served me, and the world I think, well so far, so I see no reason to stop trusting it now.   Also, just a note...the graph included in the article is misleading, in my opinion.  It implies that the data go through 2008, but as we all know, we're still in 2008.  The data seem to stop around the middle of 2008, which is interesting because if you examine the data for the other years, you'll see that for many of the years, there's a rising-dipping-rising pattern, and it dips around the middle of a year before rising again.  The graph cuts off around the middle of 2008, when the data started to rise again.  So I think it's a bit of fudging there...to make the trendline look like it's continuing to drop that drastically, without taking into account the rest of 2008.   And the world may have been cooling since 1998, but then what of the claim that most of this past decade has had the warmest years on record?  I think it's something like 11 of the past 13 years or something have been the warmest?  Don't quote me on that, but I'm pretty sure it's something like that.   Also, I think the issue isn't so much whether the climate is warming or cooling, or whether it's cyclic and it's supposed to happen, etc.  I think what has people worried is the RATE at which the change is happening.  When the climate changes too quickly, whether it's a warming or a cooling, it has catastrophic effects...like mass extinctions and such.  So as Jasalom stated, the earth will fix itself, but I think people are worried that part of the earth's "solution" will be to kill us off.   I think it's also worth noting that many of the reports arguing against climate change come from organizations that are funded by companies with a vested interest in alleviating fears about global warming...like oil companies and such.  And then news outlets and blogs, depending on your ideology, pick up on those reports and circulate them.   If anyone is interested in reading more about the controversy over global warming/climate change, New Scientist magazine has a thing online in which they address a slew of myths.  Check it out:  http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn11462-climate-change-a-guide-for-the-perplexed.html   At any rate, kudos to keeping an open mind, and weighing all the sides before coming to a conclusion.  And double kudos to supporting sustainability. :) Hoo boy.  Global warming, climate change…when did it get so politicized?  Whenever you read debates about it, it seems like everyone is so touchy.  And that’s never good for an honest, open exchange of ideas.
 
BUT…I must say, I’m going to have to side with the scientific consensus on this one, who say that human-caused global warming is very, very, very, very likely (there are no absolutes in science), to the point that debating whether or not we play a significant role in climate change is no longer constructive, and that we should instead move on to figuring out solutions.  I know that climate is extremely complicated, and it would take years for me to truly understand all the science behind it…years that I don’t have.  And so I defer to what the majority of scientists have to say and take it on faith.  Just as I take it on faith that the engineers know what they’re doing before I cross a bridge without examining all the blueprints and physics behind the bridge.  Just as I take medicine on the recommendation of my doctor without reading through all the studies behind it.  Maybe it’s foolish of me, but peer-reviewed science has served me, and the world I think, well so far, so I see no reason to stop trusting it now.
 
Also, just a note…the graph included in the article is misleading, in my opinion.  It implies that the data go through 2008, but as we all know, we’re still in 2008.  The data seem to stop around the middle of 2008, which is interesting because if you examine the data for the other years, you’ll see that for many of the years, there’s a rising-dipping-rising pattern, and it dips around the middle of a year before rising again.  The graph cuts off around the middle of 2008, when the data started to rise again.  So I think it’s a bit of fudging there…to make the trendline look like it’s continuing to drop that drastically, without taking into account the rest of 2008.
 
And the world may have been cooling since 1998, but then what of the claim that most of this past decade has had the warmest years on record?  I think it’s something like 11 of the past 13 years or something have been the warmest?  Don’t quote me on that, but I’m pretty sure it’s something like that.
 
Also, I think the issue isn’t so much whether the climate is warming or cooling, or whether it’s cyclic and it’s supposed to happen, etc.  I think what has people worried is the RATE at which the change is happening.  When the climate changes too quickly, whether it’s a warming or a cooling, it has catastrophic effects…like mass extinctions and such.  So as Jasalom stated, the earth will fix itself, but I think people are worried that part of the earth’s “solution” will be to kill us off.
 
I think it’s also worth noting that many of the reports arguing against climate change come from organizations that are funded by companies with a vested interest in alleviating fears about global warming…like oil companies and such.  And then news outlets and blogs, depending on your ideology, pick up on those reports and circulate them.
 
If anyone is interested in reading more about the controversy over global warming/climate change, New Scientist magazine has a thing online in which they address a slew of myths.  Check it out:  http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn11462-climate-change-a-guide-for-the-perplexed.html
 
At any rate, kudos to keeping an open mind, and weighing all the sides before coming to a conclusion.  And double kudos to supporting sustainability. :)

]]> By: dom froggy http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2916 dom froggy Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:24:26 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2916 When you read this , what can we would think? One thing we are sure of nothing, we are not specialists, and there are so many discordant studies So we must be very vigilant on the, content, veracity of websites. It is true that it is necessary to keep our critical spirit and not to stupidly follow all majority movement, but before the issue of a global warming, even if humans are not the only responsible, my green sensibility talks to me and says We must not stay here without doing anything When you read this , what can we would think?
One thing we are sure of nothing, we are not specialists, and there are so many discordant studies
So we must be very vigilant on the, content, veracity of websites.
It is true that it is necessary to keep our critical spirit and not to stupidly follow all majority movement, but before the issue of a global warming, even if humans are not the only responsible, my green sensibility talks to me and says
We must not stay here without doing anything

]]> By: Jasalom http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2914 Jasalom Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:09:49 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2914 Ah the Global Warming paradigm. What a wonderful phrase. For all those people that say it's the evil human race that is causing Global Warming please please please tell them it's the Natural order of the their precious theory of evolution. If we believe that we evolved into the most intelligent creatures this planet has ever seen, aren't we just a part of nature following it's already charted path? "Yes I know, the Earth, the Polar Bears, the Bees". Look we do not own the Earth. We inhabit the Earth. We are not going to kill it, Mother Earth will make adjustments to sustain itself in the most effective and efficient way, just like every other living organism. Homeostasis! Some living creatures will parish others will thrive but that is our nature. If the Earth feels like we need to trim the population, bam viral pandemic or a bacterial plague outbreak. Sorry to stray so far from the initial subject but everything moves in rhythms, cycles. Everything from your heart beat to the stock market has it's peaks and valleys, as does the weather of the Earth. Is man (and woman) helping the shift, oh God yes but this is the consequence of having a human race. You ask me what we should do, do not over consume. Just live on the minimums and enjoy life. C YA next time! Ah the Global Warming paradigm. What a wonderful phrase. For all those people that say it’s the evil human race that is causing Global Warming please please please tell them it’s the Natural order of the their precious theory of evolution. If we believe that we evolved into the most intelligent creatures this planet has ever seen, aren’t we just a part of nature following it’s already charted path? “Yes I know, the Earth, the Polar Bears, the Bees”. Look we do not own the Earth. We inhabit the Earth. We are not going to kill it, Mother Earth will make adjustments to sustain itself in the most effective and efficient way, just like every other living organism. Homeostasis! Some living creatures will parish others will thrive but that is our nature. If the Earth feels like we need to trim the population, bam viral pandemic or a bacterial plague outbreak. Sorry to stray so far from the initial subject but everything moves in rhythms, cycles. Everything from your heart beat to the stock market has it’s peaks and valleys, as does the weather of the Earth. Is man (and woman) helping the shift, oh God yes but this is the consequence of having a human race. You ask me what we should do, do not over consume. Just live on the minimums and enjoy life. C YA next time!

]]> By: Milan http://girlsbydesign.com/blog/2008/10/20/a-little-controversy-is-fun/#comment-2913 Milan Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:28:59 +0000 http://blog.girlsbydesign.com/?p=151#comment-2913 Kristen, your comment is the most intelligent opinion on this topic I've heard in years. It seems all anyone can focus on is the political side of this issue. The fact is we should all be taking care of our environment because it's the right thing to do regardless of our political beliefs. Kristen, your comment is the most intelligent opinion on this topic I’ve heard in years. It seems all anyone can focus on is the political side of this issue. The fact is we should all be taking care of our environment because it’s the right thing to do regardless of our political beliefs.

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