What’s Fueling Global Warming Hysteria This Week

by Ian Ebright

Want to take a guess at the latest threat to our planet? Bonfires at the beach.

According to a recent article published in the Seattle P.I., bonfires may be banned at two Seattle-area beaches by the city’s parks department, because they “contribute” to global warming.

The reaction to this idea of man-made global warming has reached a level of insanity. It has been adopted by many with religious fervor, which is ironic when you consider that many of these same people criticize the “blind faith” of religious groups. Man-made global warming is distinguishable from religion in that the scientists take on the role of priest. But like religion, their reports, rhetoric and projections of impending doom are often accepted by followers with unchecked faith.

circumstantial evidence

n.   Evidence not bearing directly on the fact in dispute but on various attendant circumstances from which the judge or jury might infer the occurrence of the fact in dispute. - American Heritage Dictionary

Meanwhile, others are not convinced, and I happen to be one of them. We know that the earth is in a warming period, and that the planet has a history of temperature fluctuation. As recent as the 1970s- a global cooling scare found its way into Newsweek and other publications. Fear has worked like this for centuries. A closer look at history reveals a passing of the “sky is falling” baton from one generation to another; the only thing that changes are the runners and their reasons why.

As for the man-made global warming hysteria, it seems to operate like a conspiracy theory. You have an overarching idea with a bunch of experts on the inside (meaning they are the only ones capable of analysis and conclusion because the issue is too “complex” for the average Joe). From there, the masses turn and dispense the wild and frightful speculation of these gurus, and like a bad game of telephone, the message becomes increasingly sinister as it travels. Those who doubt the message or the predictions receive intolerance and ridicule from the group. Or they get accused of having a dark alliance with big oil, American complacency, the Republican corporate greed machine or good old fashioned over-consumption. Anecdotal and circumstantial evidence trickles out at an intermittent pace, and is quickly added to the presupposed conclusion. This serves to stir the faithful. And like any good conspiracy theory, you can never disprove it outright. In this case, periods of cooling are just tossed in with the greater warming scheme. Now, all evidence- no matter how contradictory- aids the movement: “You don’t understand. Snow storms are GENERATED by global warming.” Huh?

anecdotal evidence: non-scientific observations or studies, which do not provide proof but may assist research efforts. -Webster’s New Millennium

This issue reminds me of the way the Bush Administration and fellow government hawks play the War on Terror. It too is a largely undefined enemy (as in, it’s “out there”), though one that is supposedly so serious and immanent that we need to concede our freedoms and rights in order to fight it. As for the struggle itself- the institutions are always the winners- they get more power, money and an increase in workforce to face the current enemy, and why wouldn’t they when the battle as defined is intended to be endless? Think about Homeland Security (which didn’t exist prior to 9/11) and the budget for the Pentagon, and then look at this man-made global warming hysteria through that lens. We see regulation, government oversight and overall intrusion, and all of it with no end in sight. If more money is needed, the threat can always be embellished and those carrying bullhorns need only scream “time is running out.” Have we heard that yet? Check this out: $45 Trillion needed to “combat” warming. I wonder what happens after that money is spent? Something tells me they’ll just want more.

As for this bonfire matter, I find the political position to be quite self-important, as if the actions of beach-goers in one city alone could even begin to counter the global emission toll (should we accept the correlation of CO2 to temperature increase, and then temperature increase to global sustainability). India and China will continue to grow at a rate of output that dwarfs any fragmented action by the U.S..  Ron Paul asked the right question when pressed on the topic of man-made global warming: are we going to bomb these other countries if they don’t conserve to our standards? I think we’ve seen enough American arrogance played out on the international stage over the past eight years.

I watched Al Gore’s film with an open mind. It certainly wasn’t a documentary or even a respectable opinion piece. ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ aside from the anecdotes and the scientific leap-frogging, was loaded with appeals to emotion. Viewers watched Gore, with heavy luggage in tow, as he crossed an empty airport terminal in the middle of the night. We also got to watch his steadfast research on a laptop while the rest of the flight slept. And of course, we can’t forget about the film’s diversion to talk about Gore’s personal tragedy, and greatest of all- the CG segment of the stranded, swimming polar bear in search of solid footing. None of that belongs in a documentary about an issue of such importance.

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For those who are mounting a lengthy comment for me- slow down. I realize that our world is shrinking due to the energy needs of an increasing population, and that we need to be frugal, innovative and more clean. I am all for that. I don’t want to see resource wars and I pray that the gas situation helps turn the focus back to our need for energy independence. I am a conservationist and support some forms of environmental protection, but I don’t think the best way to practise that is by telling people which bin their plastic bottle belongs in. Reasonable conservation is an obvious response to those who value the gift of creation and the environment that we have been made stewards of. But this man-made global warming scare, with its apocalyptic predictions and skeptic-hating, is looking a lot less like charity and more like a cult.

It all comes down to the placement of personal trust. If politicians are as corruptible as we’ve seen lately, then what makes us think that the temptations of power and fame stop at the edge of Washington D.C.? Are scientific and environmental bureaucracies just as susceptible when the whole world is watching and money is pouring in? Are they likely to amplify the notion of a global threat if it leads to prominence and job security?

Another question- are we practicing environmentalism for our own benefit or for the benefit of our planet? Would a person be willing to let go of something if it were proved to be greatly exaggerated, or does the need to feel like a superhero trump the facts on the ground?

Check out the following: the first is a short video by ABC’s John Stossel about the man-made global warming buzz, and the holes in those adored findings of the IPCC. I recommend you go further, and check out The Great Global Warming Swindle which I’ve posted below as well. Finally, watch the debate that happened on Australian television following the airing of ‘Swindle.’ Regardless of your opinion, you’ll likely notice some key differences between ‘Swindle’ and ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’ ‘Swindle’ is filled with opinions from qualified people, and not just one Vice President with a large stage to play with. The filmmaker behind ‘Swindle’ sat down and allowed the reporter to question his film in real time. Gore has yet to debate. I also find it interesting how slanted the Australian journalist is in his questioning. Anyway- it is a worthy rebuttal to the continual man-made global warming hymn.

I say that we should be extremely skeptical of any person or organization that tells us to follow their consensus.

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Stossel: short man-made global warming challenge:

The Great Global Warming Swindle Debate (part 1 of 9): Click here

(parts 2 through 9 are available in the associated links on YouTube)

And finally- search Google video, Youtube, myspace video for The Great Global Warming Swindle.