So, are we to believe that just because this happened in the last 35 years it NEVER happened before and that we humans have so much control on the climate that we can make that big of an impact? HOGWASH! Just because we don't what came before doesn't mean that it didn't. What if we have been a global cooling trend and we are returning to a more "normal" temp? What then?

Let's assume for a moment, that in 30 years the temp. stays the same. Will Gore then say, "aren't we glad we did all we did, look the temp is the same as it was in 2007!" Regardless of whether or not we had any impact on the temp., Gore wins. What a country!

Don

Hi Terry,  This is VERY VERY Scary.  Wow.  Thanks for bringing this to our attention!!!!  It makes you wonder if ANYTHING we do would be enough....or is the damage already done. 

Don, why don't you just go to Wikipedia and check it out.  It has NEVER melted!  Explorers who have written journals back to the 1500's all indicated what a "frozen" wasteland it is.  You can stop beating up Al Gore.  He has nothing to do with what is happening to the planet.  He's only trying to get people like you to see what is happening and how it can be changed.  But then people like you don't want to change.  Drive your big gas guzzler, crank up the A/C, refuse to recycle.  Whatever the hell it is that makes YOU happy.  Frankly, I don't understand what you're doing reading blogs on this group anyway.  Do you just like to rant?  If you can't say something constructive then just stay in your own little group.

Stephanie, I wonder too if it isn't really too late.  Apparently people like Don think everything is just fine!  Its good to hear from you.

LOL at your response.  You crack me up.  Tell us how you really feel.  :)  You make some great points...and some people have just not read enough about the issue to understand what is happening.  Is the warming process something that has happened before?  Yes.  But how can ANYONE one say that we are NOT speeding up this process to completely unreasonable terms. 

Great points Stephanie.  I don't understand why people don't want to acknowledge what is going on. Don't they have children that will be impacted?  Or do they just hate Al Gore so much they are blinded by the facts?  We all know the earth has warmed and cooled at different times.  Once we were underwater, then we were covered in ice.  I don't want to be under either!  But all we have to do is look around and see the devastation to this planet.  Logging, off shore oil drilling, over development, yada, yada, yada.  This planet simply cannot continue to sustain the population and continue to rape the environment.  Something has got to give.

Whoa there! So let's understand, Al Gore not only invented the internet but he is also the prophet of doom we have all been waiting for? And, let's see from 1500 to 2007, is 507 years, and since the earth is what, 50 billion years old, give or take, this miniscule amount of time is the indicator of further doom? I agree that we have not been the best of stewards of our resources, but come on think on your own. As a country, and yes we are the worst, and as all people of the industrialized nations, we produce FEWER enviornmental damaging byproducts than ONE valcano eruption (check that one out yourself!)

Please, your giving us humans way too much credit. We couldn't change the weather if we wanted to.

Oh, yeah. All of your posts go to the general postings. Nobody needs to snoop into your "private" group.

PS - Is wikipedia really the absoulte answere to all questions? I think not.

Don, why don't you stop harrassing this group and move on to whatever it is you  do to amuse yourself?  You certainly do not belong here!

Terry,  many people are afraid of the words activist and environment.  No one wants to believe that humans have done anything wrong and it is easier to sweep it under the rug and move on. 

Money is another driving force here.  That's enought said.  It happened when Politics, Corporate America and the banks got married.

There are studies, like the one Don mentioned, that go against Global Warming.  Most will agree with that instead of going against the majority and doing their own research.  IMO of course.

Yeah Stephanie, well said.  I've seen the other studies.  I guess the data can be tweaked to make it go one way or the other, and in thier case, tweaked to disprove climate change.  I think any astute human would look around and see it doesn't really take any studies to prove something very wrong is happening to the planet.

I agree.  It does not take a genius or scientist to know or understand some of this stuff.  Even the astronauts from space could see how much the Rainforests were being depleted and urged us, the world, to do something about it.  FROM SPACE!  Let that sink in...anyone reading this.

I drive through refinery areas and see the freeway lined with dead trees....no, I'm not so naive to think that it is harming the trees and not me or the atmosphere. 

Weather changes and warming/cooling has been going on for billiions of years.  Why all of the sudden is it speeding up?  For those that don't believe in Global Warming and its effects...just anwer me that ONE question.

Why is it that there has been such a significant change in 500 years when Ice Samples show that other changes occurred over 10's of thousands or millions of years? 

Oh, ok.  It's the earth...AND IT'S INHABITANTS.    My 2 cents.

It's amazing that people are denying the existence of global warming!

Terry, I really admire you for saying what you believe in and standing up for this and so many other causes you are passionate about.  I noticed you have had a lot of hits and few comments.  I agree with you and think we need to take much better care of our planet and soon.  Betty

Terry, whether this is from global warming or not, it still makes monetary sense to cut back on emissions. Look at all the people in China and India dying because their Countries are more concerned about economic growth than citizens.

I never said there was no global warming, sorry you can't understand normal thinking. What I am saying is that this is not necessarly WRONG. We DO NOT have enough data to determine if this is a natural change or not. Sure there has been change in a "short" period of time, but think back 10 years when the mantra was "mini iceage!"  Right now we are not smart enough to predict the weather tomorrow with certianty. So if we can't predict what tomorrow is going to bring, how would know if what we do today made any impact when tomorrow becomes today.

Terry - if you think this is YOUR group and you have the control here, why don't you just ban me from the group?

it is amazing and disturbing - what we are doing to our planet

It's really insane for people to play so dumb and act like there's nothing that the human race is doing wrong with this planet. Come on! I guess there are people out there with blinders on. At least not everyone is in denial.

Stephanie - AMEN!

Jo - its beyond me why people can't see whats going on here.  Thanks for being one of the troops!

Betty - thanks.  I know you're right there with us on this.

Gary - yeah.  I'm amazed at how much money I've saved driving a fuel efficient vehicle, keeping my tires inflated, cutting back on electricity, capturing rain water, etc. etc.  One would think MONEY would drive people to change.

Don - bye bye, you've had your say.

Bill & Barbara Jo - disturbing and frightening!

Just stopping in - We do live in interesting times, don't we?

I think I would go so far as to say scary Dena!

Terry, it was actually this blog that got me thinking about the potential global solution I had encountered back in January and blogged about last night.  Thanks for being concerned and thanks for responding to my blog.

Chris

Hey Chris, same here.  Wish we were all concerned about this issue.  But most are not.  Too bad for the children of this world eh?

Terry...I just subscribed to your Blog...I do hope Don is done?

Very scary information, but maybe it takes drastic to gain attention!

I speak to people all the time who feel as Don does. However, we really can't afford as human beings to be feuding about this issue. Learning more and understanding what's at stake - what's real and what's hype is going to be critical if we are going to join together as a community and take appropriate action.

It's unfortunate that in this - one of the world's presumably most advanced countries the debate has been reduced to political fodder. I recently watched Gore's movie and was apalled at how he wove political rhetoric throughout an incredibly important message. Unfortunately, his very valuable message has been lost to many because of his political diatribe.

Although I enjoy Wikipedia as a resource, on this subject I encourage us all to learn more:

Global Warming and Climate Change Science - A Guide to Internet Resources

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - International Panel established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations

Hi Joan it appears Don has left the room for good :-)

Nina, I too saw Al Gore's movie and didnt see anything political in his presentation.  Al is not running for anything so to politisize this issue would be of no benefit to him.  Of course it probably depends on which side of the political fence you are sitting.  If you happen not to like Al Gore then you will read into what he says, whatever you like.  I think most people saw the movie for what it is, information about what we are doing and what we need to do to try to fix this mess.  I only cited Wikipedia for the comment on the Northwest Passage melting.  Its not my "go to" resource to find information.  Thanks for sharing those links.  I'm sure they will be informative.

Terry, glad you enjoyed the mystery meat, I'm trying to eat more organic/natural rather than processed foods.  I'm still a carnivore but I can live without the random parts squished together with fat and whatever else lands in there.  Could be the subject of a random blog down the road..

Chris, I learned years ago about what goes into processed meat.  They allow a certain amount of rodent hairs, insects, insect droppings, you name it.  All in the name of food safety.  When I eat I always know there is nothing disgusting hiding inside.  Not much can hide in veggies and pasta!

Terry - what a great conversation you have started! I go away from my computer for a day or two and just look at the fireworks I missed! Bless you for this post and bringing to the forefront in an intelligent manner just what we are facing. The net is a wonderful tool -- we can use it wisely to educate those willing to hear on these issues we face as a society!

...(bye bye Don! Wow!)

Mary's right. This is a great post and one that's bound to stir great discussion.

Terry, I enjoyed Al's movie and don't have a problem with him at all. Those of us who watched the movie for its climate change content probably did not focus on the snippets he launched intermittently throughout the presentation. However, many people I've spoken to remember those political sidebars more than the incredible message he was sharing.

Point is, we can't afford to not work together on this issue folks. When we meet the Dons out there we need to expand our dialog and discussion in order to work towards the common goal of improving the health of our planet. Climate change or not, in my short lifetime I have watched this planet get trashed - literally.

It's great to see the increased awareness. Maybe that's what will help move us all together in the right direction. 

For all you Kool-Aid drinkers here, I'd love to hear your responses on the following:

•1.)     Is Algore a hypocrite?  http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

•2.)     There is NO consensus on Global Warming  http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,176495.shtml

•3.)     In fact, fewer than half of all published scientists endorse global warming theory  http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=b35c36a3-802a-23ad-46ec-6880767e7966

Care to comment?

Terri, we are of like minds.  I also have lived in FL.  Where are you?  (I wrote the blog on the auto industry you commented on. )

Thanks Mary.  This is a topic we all need to learn more about and need to start being proactive.  Personally I think the horse is out of the barn at this point, and all we can hope to do is slow it down.

NinaGail - you're so right.  WE can't afford not to work together.  But there are the "dons" of the world that think Al Gore is traveling around with this message purely to make money and instill fear.  I think our current administration has has done a pretty good job of trying to keep us fearful, without Al wanting to add to our misery.  Anyone who bothered to watch his movie and focused on whatever political snippets it may have contained, certainly didn't go to see the movie with an open mind did they?

Karen - I live in Melbourne, 30 miles or so south of Cape Canaveral.  Where did you live?  Send me a link to your auto industry blog, I'd love to read it.

Never Mind U. - thats exactly what I'm going to do.  I wont go to your links because you are too cowardly to show your face here!

Wow there is a lot of reaction to this blog!  I know most people have very strong feelings about the topic whichever side you stand on.  I'm not going to tell you that I have all the answers or that I truly know what is going on with the earth.

Any of you out there who happen to be in your late 30's or early 40's may remember, as I do, what we were taught about the climate back then.  For those of you who don't, here it is in a nutshell:

Scientist had noticed that the climate has been changing drastically over the past many years and warned us about a possible "mini-ice age" around the corner.  With shortening crop growing seasons the greatest fear at that time was the decreasing food supply in the future.  They sited evidence such as "Since the 1940s the mean global temperature had dropped approx. 2.7 degrees."  "The ice and snow cover had suddenly increased by 12% in 1971".

Now don't get all "bend-out-of-shape" and call me a "denier".  I do believe that the earth has warmed the 1 degree that the consciencious of scientists document.  However, people have very short term memories and when someone cites something like an area of ice/snow has decreased over the past 30 years, please realize that this is comparing to a time where there was admittedly MORE ice/snow than there was prior to that time. 

This just proves that we, many times, do not know as much as we would like to think we do.

 By the way, here are the Newsweek and Time magazine articles that were published back in the 70s.

Newsweek April 28, 1975  Global Cooling, MSN 1975

Time june 24, 1974  Time Archive 1974

David, your point is well taken BUT, we are losing ice that accumulated for thousands of years.  Not just last century ice.  THAT is totally different.

amazing how modern man has changed the natural flow of things - you are right, that it took thousands of years, and look how quickly we can destroy everything with our modern technology - a chilling thought!

B & BJ, that is the scary part.  That we can undo thousands of years of building this planet so it can sustain life.  And pretty soon it won't be able too.  So sad.

Boy Terry - this one sure pulled nuts off the gears!! I wonder why people want to be right in their anti-warming stance - it's just plain ridiculous - as the waters rise up above their ears and storms whip them into oblivion! There is nothing wiser here than to treat this with upmost respect as it certainly appears a very real possibility. I mean by any stretch, we'd love to be wrong about this.

I can't help but wonder at what late stage the civilized world will call an emergency shut-down of all emmision producing sources in an attempt to re-freeze and stabilize.

Sounds  Sci-fi, but I remember wondering as a girl what was going to happen with all the garbage we were dumping - now I know. 

Deborah, its like that Dennis Quaid movie, The Day After Tomorrow.  Too little too late. And now the scientists are saying the artic will be gone in 5-7 years.  That will raise sea levels 20 feet.  One can only imagine the global impact on humans that will have.  I'm moving to Canada!  Inland Canada!

Not only will levels raise, but storms are likely to increase in intensity because of the dynamic of all the extra water. We're getting storms here that is blowing down trees - that used to happen only rarely. Now our coast os regularly getting banged.

Same here Deborah.  And our county is once again going to spend millions of dollars dumping sand back on the beach, only to see it wash away by this time next year.  Its the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Not to worry, in 5-7 years there will be no beach.