Leading Global Warming Skeptic changes mind after watching Al Gore Speak

[vernarial]

You gonna quit breathing? Yeah you're contributing to the buildup of CO2 every time you exhale you selfish hypocrite.

I would consider this to be more than just a simple change. I have made a few simple changes that haven't really affected my lifestyle and plan on making more changes in the future.

Originally Posted by Mazer

Though you may consider yourself an environmentalist, Vern, you're not like most of them from what I can tell. You're more of an environmental steward like me. Unlike you, though, I don't see any use in overstating the problem. This sense of urgency we're subject to isn't due to continuing increases in emissions but to our own short life spans. Because none of us will live long enough to affect substantial, positive change in the environment in our lifetimes, we all feel the need to cause drastic changes before we bequeath the earth to our children. This is the natural response to our own sense of mortality, but it's also the worst possible way to approach the problem. The best solution is not a one time fix, it's a perpetual process, one which future generations can continue after we're gone. And in order for us to discover that solution we must trust that future generations will be able to decide on their own what's best for them. The current environmentalist movement doesn't see things this way, unfortunately.

Maybe none of us individually can affect any substantial positive change, but if more people made the little changes we could have a substantian positive effect. I'm not talking about drastic sudden changes. I'm talking about Us(human race) as stewards over our one and only planet. We need to take a little better care is all. There are some small solutions we can implement on a personal level that will start to help. I trust future generations to know better the problem and it's solutions, but I am not willing to just sit and wait for them to fix our(and previous generations) mess. If we have some limited knowledge of the problem and can see some minor solutions that might help the problem I don't see why we should sit on our hands waiting for the next generation to implement. Sure we should let them decide whats best for them, but they don't know yet. It's like a parent who doesn't make his kid clean his room hoping that someday that child will decide that a clean room is best for him.

[albed]

Originally Posted by vernarial

I have made a few simple changes that haven't really affected my lifestyle and plan on making more changes in the future.

So what are these secret changes? If you can't do the math and figure what difference it would make if everyone did them I can help you.


I suspect it wouldn't amount to squat though and you're only doing some bragging for yourself rather than something worthwhile for the environment.

[vernarial]

Originally Posted by albed

So what are these secret changes? If you can't do the math and figure what difference it would make if everyone did them I can help you.


I suspect it wouldn't amount to squat though and you're only doing some bragging for yourself rather than something worthwhile for the environment.

Like changing my lightbulbs to flourescent. Like walking or riding a bike to work instead of driving. Like being a bit picky about whose products I buy. Simple easy things.

[Mazer]

Originally Posted by vernarial

Like changing my lightbulbs to flourescent. Like walking or riding a bike to work instead of driving. Like being a bit picky about whose products I buy. Simple easy things.

Each of those things have economic benefits as well. There is no one alive who doesn't want to reduce their electric bills and make fewer visits to the gas station. Given their druthers, most people would volunteer to do such things and you're proof.

The thing is that industrial and commercial energy usage and pollution is at least twice that of non-commercial/household energy usage and pollution. You and all your neighbors could turn on all your appliances and leave all the lights in your houses burning 24/7 and the power company wouldn't notice much. You probably don't even use as much electricity in a whole year as Google uses to power its many data centers in just one week. If every American made the changes to their lifestyles that you've made it would be a good start, but lets not kid ourselves. Guilt alone will not carry us far enough to solve the real problems we're facing. Keep on keeping on if it make you happy, but only industrial sized changes are going to make a difference.

[Drakonix]

The strongest "proof' touted for global warming is the measurement of the antarctic ice mass. Whether it is shrinking or growing depends on which group of scientists you ask. It can't be getting smaller and larger at the same time.

http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO.../V9/N45/C2.jsp

Remember it does not take any credentials or any particular level of education be be a "scientist". All you have to do to be a scientist is (allegedly) follow the principles of scientific investigation. Some do it better than others.

I still laugh at the "picture" the Onion had of Al Gore taking a flame thrower to the Ross Ice shelf. For those who missed it, I'll post it again. Funny Stuff.

[RDixon]

That pic would be funnier if there was a manbearpig in it.

[Drakonix]

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[vernarial]

Keep on keeping on if it make you happy, but only industrial sized changes are going to make a difference.

That is too true, Mazer. Sadly it is alot harder to get any changes in industrial and commercial energy usage and pollution. Believe me I try to. I send letters to my reps all the time concerning environmental issues.

It's only a mile and a half, Albed. I don't expect everyone to make the same changes, but everyone can make some small changes.

[albed]

Heck everyone should make that change just to reduce the internal engine corrosion short distance driving causes.


If you want to stop industrial pollution boycott their products.

There are plenty of pollution control laws already and if you know some are being broken then you have a basis for a lawsuit.

If you expect a government representative to do something without giving him money or gathering numerous supporters you're wasting your time.

[albed]

Originally Posted by vernarial

Like changing my lightbulbs to flourescent. Like walking or riding a bike to work instead of driving. Like being a bit picky about whose products I buy. Simple easy things.

Seems like the simple easy things you'd do even if there weren't environmental benefits. To be sure, just how far is the walk to work?