I have several friends who are mightily concerned about global warming and environmental degradation.
My own opinion is that we really don’t know the cause of the mild rise in temperatures in the last few decades – they are most likely part of a natural cycle. And the envronment in the U.S. hasn’t been as clean as it is today in decades (not true of course of certain other countries trying to industrialize – like China and India). Michael Crichton gave a really excellent talk three years ago asserting that in scientific circles it was politically incorrect to question the causes of global warming – if you strayed from the acceptable theory that it was caused by industrialization you were ostracized.
Here’s his talk:Aliens Cause Global Warming An odd name – read it to see why he gave it that title.
So here’s the latest hysteria from the Great Britain – where they seem to really have gone around the bend – on the issue:
Almost too late to stop Global Warming Independent Online Edition > Environment
The possibility of avoiding a global catastrophe is "already almost out of reach", Sir Nicholas Stern’s long-awaited report on climate change will warn today. One terrifying prospect is that changes in weather patterns could drive down the output of the world’s economies by an amount equivalent to up to £6 trillion a year by 2050, almost the entire output of the EU.
With world temperatures on course to rise by two to three degrees in 50 years, rainfall could be catastrophically reduced in some of the world’s poorest countries, while others grapple with floods from melting glaciers. The result could be the largest migration of refugees in history.
These problems will be "difficult or impossible to reverse" unless the world acts quickly, Sir Nicholas will warn, in a 700-page report that is expected to transform world attitudes to climate change. It adds: "Our actions over the coming few decades could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century."
Here’s more from the Financial Times (UK): The UK government is signing up Al Gore as an advisor
FT.com / World – Brown to back more emissions trading
And, in an effort to push climate change up the international agenda, the chancellor will appoint Al Gore, former US vice-president and an environmental campaigner, as an adviser on green issues.
Lastly, the government is looking to impose "stealth" taxes to pay for all the green prgrams in Britain:Secret green tax blitz planned for cars, air travel and consumer goods | the Daily Mail
The proposals, leaked to The Mail on Sunday, show that the Government is considering introducing a raft of hard-hitting ‘eco-taxes’ that will have a devastating effect on the cost of living.
Families with big cars could end up paying more than £1,000 a year extra in tax. And nearly every household in Britain will be hit in the pocket.
Most controversial of all, the documents reveal the Government is planning to grab billions of pounds of extra revenue from motorists – without telling them. It is considering introducing a special mechanism so that whenever oil prices go down, the Government would get the cash in extra fuel tax – not the motorist.
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