Global Warming

GOOD MORNING FLINT
10/15/07 By Terry Bankert
Posted to Flint Talk at
http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=16637#16637
and
Flint Citizen
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/

I haven’t paid much attention to the debate over global warming. I guess it takes a Vice President to write a book [I have not read the book], win an Oscar [I have not seen the movie] and accept a Nobel Peace prize.

Okay Al Gore you have my attention. How to learn more quickly?

I knew there was this outfit called the Green Party.

SO I Googled it. Beats buying a book. The following is from the 2004 Green Party Platform As ratified at the 2004 Green National Convention in Milwaukee, WI. http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/ecology.html#753914

As usual from this point on my comments until –end--if any will be [-trb], no other comments will be added and if deleated will show as ...

–begin--

Earth's atmosphere is in great danger due to man-made chemicals and hydrocarbon emissions. Chloro-fluorocarbons, hydrochloro-fluorocarbons, and other related ozone-depleting substances should be banned as soon as is possible. [I have a ways to go. I don't know what products these are.-trb]

The Green Party urges the U.S. Congress to act immediately to address the critical global warming and climate change issues. When the U.S. Senate voted 95-to-0 to oppose any global warming treaty that does not also bind developing countries to specific, if smaller, carbon emissions reductions in the future, which many industrializing countries oppose, it put a roadblock in the way of progress by all nations. [This was in 2004-trb]

With only 4% of the earth's people, the United States produces more than 20% of carbon emissions. [ I would think that we have a great responsibility.-trb]

From 1990 to 1996, total U.S. emissions grew by an amount equal to what Brazil and Indonesia produce every year. Per capita, the United States emits 85% more than Germany, twice as much as England and Japan, and currently nearly 10-times as much as China. [ I bet the rest of the world thinks we have an environmental debt to pay.-trb]

Climate change presents very real economic and social opportunities for new and sustainable jobs from new energy technologies, including both energy efficiency and renewables. Yet, too often, the focus of debate has been only on the pain of adjustment to carbon reductions, This is because of the influence of multinational business on government policies. We must implement the following policies if we are to make a start on protecting our global climate:

1. An early target must be set to prevent emissions from rising so far that future reductions become even more difficult.

2. Avoiding loopholes is even more important now than an ambitious target. Unless a very ambitious target is set, which now seems unlikely, allowing sinks and trading within the protocol will create such loopholes that no real reductions will occur. Trading and sinks must be left until there is much more scientific precision in how they are measured.

3. Targets are not enough without credible policies and measures to achieve them. We urge all governments to table a list of the policies and measures they intend to adopt to attain their target, for example eco-taxes and energy performance standards.

4. Nuclear power is not an acceptable alternative to fossil energy. We should not accept country commitments that depend on increasing nuclear capability. We must join the solar age.

5. We endorse the Contraction and Convergence model under discussion at international talks (which as proposed would eventually give every human being an equal right to the atmosphere) as the most practical way to achieve justice and participation for developing countries.

6. As a nation, we must implement public and private initiatives at every level to support the Global Climate Treaty signed at the Earth Summit in 1992, committing industrial nations within a time framework to reducing emissions to 1990 levels.

7. The most authoritative assessment to date concludes that a worldwide carbon dioxide emissions reduction of 50-70 percent is necessary to contain climate change. The Kyoto Climate Protocol in 1998 falls far short, calling for only a five percent reduction. Nonetheless, the agreement is an important first step that all parties - especially the U.S. - should ratify as soon as possible.

8. We must drastically reduce, then eliminate, the use of fossil fuels. We must use energy more efficiently, and from clean, renewable sources. We must preserve the many valuable natural services including climactic stability provided by intact ecosystems....

9. If we fail to summon the political will now to make these investments, the costs of climatic disruptions will almost certainly force us to make them later at a greater expense. Greenhouse gases and the threat of global warming must be addressed by the international community in concert, through international treaties and conventions, with the industrial nations at the forefront of this vital effort. —end–

Now this was two years ago, Al Gore and the Union of Concerned Scientist seem to have a lot to say. Others say this Global Warming is a falsity being promoted by the left.

How can it not be happening, global warming?

How can we opposed moving to new technologies?

The issue is far to complicated to spout off on. Any site recommendations are appreciated.

Yes Al Gore I am going to read your book and watch your movie. Stay tuned. Terry Bankert http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/

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