Man-Made Global Warming?

**SweetPea** · 01-10-2009, 11:50 AM

Do you believe in it?

I was watching Armageddon week on the History Channel last night, specifically the show Last Days on Earth, and the experts all agreed that man made global warming is one of the most likely scenarios.

I'll be honest, years ago, I thought this was media hype. But the more I watch and read about this, I've begun to change my mind.

It's so confusing though. You have some experts saying the polar bears are losing their habitat and in danger of becoming extinct, and others saying it's all a lie.

**Gardengal18** · 01-10-2009, 12:58 PM

As I sit here typing while I look out my home office window to more SNOW and thinking I'm going to have to get out there and do a second round of shoveling today, I have to say

IT'S A MULTI-MILLION $ HOAX.

Judging by Al Gore's $30,000 a year electric bill he dosen't really seem to be helping his "cause" afterall now does he?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Globa...ory?id=2906888

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,257958,00.html

**madhen** · 01-10-2009, 01:09 PM

I am reading a book about how societies destroy themselves, one of the ways being through environmental changes they wreak. Interestingly enough, the last chapter I read was on China, which discusses how one country can have an impact on the entire world.

I think enough real experts have stepped up to say that global warming is a reality to put to rest any idea of it being a hoax. I don't know how much of it is because of what we, as industrialized societies are doing, and how much of it is a natural swing that would have occurred despite our presence or absence, but I am comfortable saying that we are exacerbating it.

I just wonder how many times we can turn a blind eye to our part in the demise of an entire species of animals, the decimation of whole cultures, and now, the destruction of the very planet we live on, just because it is not convenient for us to change our habits.

**SweetPea** · 01-10-2009, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I am reading a book about how societies destroy themselves, one of the ways being through environmental changes they wreak. Interestingly enough, the last chapter I read was on China, which discusses how one country can have an impact on the entire world.

I think enough real experts have stepped up to say that global warming is a reality to put to rest any idea of it being a hoax. I don't know how much of it is because of what we, as industrialized societies are doing, and how much of it is a natural swing that would have occurred despite our presence or absence, but I am comfortable saying that we are exacerbating it.

I just wonder how many times we can turn a blind eye to our part in the demise of an entire species of animals, the decimation of whole cultures, and now, the destruction of the very planet we live on, just because it is not convenient for us to change our habits.

I agree with you madhen. I haven't really taken any steps to reduce my family's carbon footprint. But I'm very interested in learning what I can do.

**iida** · 01-10-2009, 01:27 PM

I believe in it 100%. I have tried to reduce my family´s carbon footprint and try to do it better and better all the time. I think it is really important.

And what if I was wrong believing in this theory? No harm done. But if you don´t believe it is true and continue living like you used to live, and it proves that you were wrong? Well, it is too late then to do anything.

**madhen** · 01-10-2009, 01:34 PM

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html

Here's a decent site for beginners. I calculated my footprint, and it was under the average, but still pretty big. Unfortunately, until I can retire and stop driving 90 miles roundtrip every day, I will still have a bigger impact than I like.

**madhen** · 01-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by iida

I believe in it 100%. I have tried to reduce my family´s carbon footprint and try to do it better and better all the time. I think it is really important.

And what if I was wrong believing in this theory? No harm done. But if you don´t believe it is true and continue living like you used to live, and it proves that you were wrong? Well, it is too late then to do anything.

And the really tragic thing is that, by the time it is realized that you were wrong, it will be your great-grandchildren having to deal with the consequences of your inaction.

**iida** · 01-10-2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

And the really tragic thing is that, by the time it is realized that you were wrong, it will be your great-grandchildren having to deal with the consequences of your inaction.

Exactly!!! We need to think about our children´s and grandchildren´s future. We are going to survive this, but what about the next generations.

**guest002** · 01-10-2009, 02:06 PM

I think it's both man-made and just the cycle of the earth. I don't think it's all human contributed. I do think like most everything else the media has over-hyped it. And as for Gore, I think he's the biggest hypocrite out there. He's made money and fame over the environment only to not practice what he preaches. I also think paying money to off-set your carbon footprint is a huge scam.

**SweetPea** · 01-10-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the link madhen. I have been looking around and plan to make some definite changes.

I said I hadn't done much. But we have changed out about 3/4's of our light bulbs to CFL's.

**RaineyDaye** · 01-10-2009, 03:26 PM

I believe global warming is real and that man's activities over the last century (since the industrial revolution) are the main cause of it.
I am trying to reduce my carbon footprint, but unfortunately, the electricity in our area is produced by coal burning power plants. So although I am trying to conserve, I'm still adding more than most to the excess carbon in the atmosphere.

**elphie** · 01-10-2009, 03:28 PM

I think the idea that "experts" disagree is a huge hoax- over 90% of scientists agree on this topic, all peer reviewed scientific journals agree. The scientists who don't agree are those who are on the payroll of corporations contributing to the problem. Much like the doctors who worked for the tobacco industry.

I agree that Al Gore has behaved hypocritcally but it doesn't change the peer reviewed science that was presented in An Inconvient Truth. Just because we don't like the messenger doesn't mean the message is false.

As for the fact that it still snows a lot, that actually PROVES global warming as much as anything. The term "warming" is due to the fact that the average temperature of the earth over the course of time has increased. It doesn't mean that we are all going to be living in a tropical climate. It does mean that as the polar ices melt that more moisture will evaporate into the air and come down in the form of snow in cold climates, rain in warmer climates.

The science shows that we have done this, this spike is not a normal fluctuation as it is off the charts for all climate change over the entire history of the earth. I do think change is coming, and it still not too late, people are coming around. We fixed the hole in the ozone and that was supposed to be impossible so I know we can do this too.

JMHO

**Milly** · 01-10-2009, 06:59 PM

In the final analysis, does it really matter what any of us believes on this topic?

My DD and I hold totally opposite opinions on the subject of global warming, but our behavior is the same because good stewardship is good stewardship, whatever one's motivation is.

**RetiredVeryEarly** · 01-10-2009, 11:54 PM

If the global warming that contributes to increased snowfall in my part of the world seems contradictory to you (warming --> more snow) then think of it as climate change. I grew up in WI, it is obvious how the weather has changed just since my youth, and I am only 49. We didn't used to have this much snow, we didn't use to have monsoon rains. Our first killing frost keeps getting later. In 2006 I harvested green beans on Nov. 4th, I live in Wisconsin!

It is the warming of the oceans (well documented) that is making polar ice melt, frozen tundra melt, etc. Polar bears are drowning and starving and starting to attack each other to EAT each other. This bear cannibal behavior is new, they are desperate. Coral is dying due to pollution and increased water temperatures. All these changes are well documented. Climate scientists agree, so the rest of us sitting here arguing about it makes as much sense as people arguing if the world is round or not.

As alluded to above, almost all alleged disagreement about global warming comes from researchers who are funded by Exxon-Mobil. They put a lot of money into trying to make people think this isn't already well understood by climatologists..

P.S. Al Gore got fame as the son of a famous senator whose footsteps he followed in. He wrote a book about the environment back in 1992 because I assume he is concerned about it. When they talk about his electric bill, you cannot compare that to an average home. That is a home for his family plus his children's families, as well as his place of business for himself and his wife as well. So think several families homes plus a couple businesses together, plus I assume they have some Secret Service people staying there as well. How much energy does your place of business use?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-11-2009, 12:54 AM

I 100% believe that it is both a natural cycle for the earth and a man-made cause that is contributing to what is going on at the moment. I've heard a lot of people talking about how much damage we're doing, but I don't hear many people doing a damn thing about it to help offset what has happened already.

Until companies stop producing products that damage the environment and allow it to cycle itself in a way that allows the earth to revert back to normalcy, I won't believe a word out of the mouths of those who spout the most about ways to combat climate change. Sure, that CFL lightbulb helps produce less electricity but the manner that it is manufactured in is purely hypocritical.

I am a big supporter of organizations and personnel that devote their lives to helping others see the broader picture of a problem. David Suzuki is a very wise man and is a driving force in helping us become more green. WWF (World Wildlife Federation) supports initiatives that promote a greener lifestyle for all. It's people/companies like this and not someone like Al Gore that I'm a firm believer in.

People want to reduce their carbon footprint even further? Ditch all the gas guzzling vehicles, grow your own food, make your own products, read up on how the ones you can't make are produced, take public transit, ride a bike where you need to go, hang up all your laundry, wash your own clothes in a basin instead of a washing machine and other methods of reducing your carbon footprint without having to spend an arm and a leg to do so.