Four Degrees of Devastation - Transition Whatcom2024-03-28T12:26:44Zhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/four-degrees-of-devastation?commentId=2723460%3AComment%3A10822&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNew article today...
http://…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-11-19:2723460:Comment:108222009-11-19T07:05:35.222ZDavid Waughhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidWaugh
New article today...<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html" target="_blank"><br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html</a></a>
New article today...<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html" target="_blank"><br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/world-on-course-for-catastrophic-6deg-rise-reveal-scientists-1822396.html</a></a> I haven't seen the letter pri…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-31:2723460:Comment:98442009-10-31T16:18:55.127ZRob Olasonhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/RobOlason
I haven't seen the letter printed in the paper, and I'm guessing I won't. The majority of letters that appeared since I submitted mine have been concerned with the hot topic of the day: the election. Today's (Saturday) letters were reduced to a single entry.<br />
<br />
Presumably the Herald is reluctant to print anything criticizing the paper, and when they have a flood of letters, the critical ones sink to the bottom of the pile.<br />
<br />
Since writing this letter, I have thought that a more positive approach…
I haven't seen the letter printed in the paper, and I'm guessing I won't. The majority of letters that appeared since I submitted mine have been concerned with the hot topic of the day: the election. Today's (Saturday) letters were reduced to a single entry.<br />
<br />
Presumably the Herald is reluctant to print anything criticizing the paper, and when they have a flood of letters, the critical ones sink to the bottom of the pile.<br />
<br />
Since writing this letter, I have thought that a more positive approach might prove more fruitful. I have seen a local name attached to environmental stories. I'm thinking this person is the path to achieving a more enlightened understanding of the peak oil climate changing future. Rob,
Nice letter! Has the He…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-31:2723460:Comment:98382009-10-31T03:13:43.397ZDavid MacLeodhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
Rob,<br />
<br />
Nice letter! Has the Herald printed it yet? They tend to treat peak oil and climate change as "theories," and yet press releases from big oil companies are treated as front page headline worthy "news."<br />
<br />
In 2006 they had a front page headline about the Jack2 discoveries in the Gulf, and I wrote a letter in response (they edited out my correction of the AP article which claimed the U.S. consumes 5.7 billion barrels of oil per year, instead of the correct number which is 7.5 bbpy).<br />
<br />
In 2007…
Rob,<br />
<br />
Nice letter! Has the Herald printed it yet? They tend to treat peak oil and climate change as "theories," and yet press releases from big oil companies are treated as front page headline worthy "news."<br />
<br />
In 2006 they had a front page headline about the Jack2 discoveries in the Gulf, and I wrote a letter in response (they edited out my correction of the AP article which claimed the U.S. consumes 5.7 billion barrels of oil per year, instead of the correct number which is 7.5 bbpy).<br />
<br />
In 2007 they had a front page article that "Gas Shortage Solution Likely Lies Abroad." My ensuing letter challenged the numbers from the EIA (Energy Information Agency) which projected a "need" for 93 million barrels of oil per day by 2010, and 118 mbpd by 2030. I asked at the time, "How in the world will we get to 93 mppd, let alone 118?"<br />
<br />
The EIA and the IEA (international energy agency) both have been predicting future supply based on future demand for many years. More recently the IEA has been actually doing a field by field analysis of available supply, and starting to become a little more realistic in their reports. The EIA is now moving in the other direction as well, though a little more slowly than the IEA.<br />
<br />
So far, my 2007 letter is proving my concerns to be legitimate. The EIA is projecting oil consumption for 2010 to be 85 mbpd, rather than 93. I couldn't quickly find their current estimate for 2030. The UK Government has launche…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-30:2723460:Comment:98272009-10-30T19:49:23.419ZDavid Waughhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidWaugh
The UK Government has launched a map to highlight the threat of 4C temperature rises. Hopefully this map helps people to realize that 4C is a frightening rise in average temperatures. Read the article and view the interactive map:…
The UK Government has launched a map to highlight the threat of 4C temperature rises. Hopefully this map helps people to realize that 4C is a frightening rise in average temperatures. Read the article and view the interactive map:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/government-launches-map-to-highlight-global-warming-threat-1807237.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/government-launches-map-to-highlight-global-warming-threat-1807237.html</a> I just emailed this letter to…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-19:2723460:Comment:92122009-10-19T20:37:40.210ZRob Olasonhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/RobOlason
I just emailed this letter to the editor to the Bham Herald:<br />
<br />
Herald on wrong side of events<br />
<br />
It is with great disappointment that I read two recent articles in the Herald.<br />
<br />
“’Peak Oil’ Talks Set in Denver” (10/12/09 Section A page 3) featured an AP Wire story about a conference sponsored by the Association For the Study of Peak Oil. The article stated the conference was attended by “Oil industry executives, financial analysts and peak oil theorists.”<br />
<br />
However the tone of the article cast doubt…
I just emailed this letter to the editor to the Bham Herald:<br />
<br />
Herald on wrong side of events<br />
<br />
It is with great disappointment that I read two recent articles in the Herald.<br />
<br />
“’Peak Oil’ Talks Set in Denver” (10/12/09 Section A page 3) featured an AP Wire story about a conference sponsored by the Association For the Study of Peak Oil. The article stated the conference was attended by “Oil industry executives, financial analysts and peak oil theorists.”<br />
<br />
However the tone of the article cast doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings with the lead sentence: “Proponents of the "peak oil" theory are in Denver to discuss the impacts of what they say is the quickly fading supply of world's oil.” An equivalent sentence written 600 years ago would be something on the order of “Proponents of the “round Earth” theory are meeting in Rome to discuss the impacts of what they say is the shape of our planet.”<br />
<br />
The article diminished the decades long research on our dwindling oil supply as being little more than baggage of the “Subscribers of the peak oil theory.”<br />
<br />
Likewise in the October 18 “Parade” supplement, the article “What Should You Worry About” completely dismisses global warming on page 8, stating “even the most brilliant climate scientists are unable to predict…atmospheric changes.” Of course the article fails to substantiate this claim.<br />
<br />
I would have believed both of these articles…in 1970.<br />
<br />
But in 2009, the Herald owes it to its readership—and it’s own credibility—to dig harder on what will become the biggest story of this century. As for Parade Magazine (in my…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-18:2723460:Comment:91692009-10-18T19:24:05.958ZKate Clarkhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KateClark
As for Parade Magazine (in my Sunday Herald today), they say global warming is one of those things you should definitely NOT worry about...human ingenuity will fix it all up! God help us.
As for Parade Magazine (in my Sunday Herald today), they say global warming is one of those things you should definitely NOT worry about...human ingenuity will fix it all up! God help us. Walter Haugen said:Diversity,…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-18:2723460:Comment:91652009-10-18T18:38:48.273ZDavid MacLeodhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<cite>Walter Haugen said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/four-degrees-of-devastation#2723460Comment9103"><div>Diversity, diversity, diversity...</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Yes. Transition work is about rebuilding community resilience, and resilience requires diversity.
<cite>Walter Haugen said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/four-degrees-of-devastation#2723460Comment9103"><div>Diversity, diversity, diversity...</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Yes. Transition work is about rebuilding community resilience, and resilience requires diversity. Rob Olason said:To me, this i…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-17:2723460:Comment:91102009-10-17T21:37:11.060ZDavid Waughhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidWaugh
<cite>Rob Olason said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/four-degrees-of-devastation#2723460Comment9094"><div>To me, this is the scary part. Political leadership that refuses to acknowledge the science of global warming.</div>
</blockquote>
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It's the most scary part to me, too. We're basically being told that they aren't even thinking of trying to do much of anything about it. I can take what you said a step further, too, in saying that 'political reality'…
<cite>Rob Olason said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/four-degrees-of-devastation#2723460Comment9094"><div>To me, this is the scary part. Political leadership that refuses to acknowledge the science of global warming.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
It's the most scary part to me, too. We're basically being told that they aren't even thinking of trying to do much of anything about it. I can take what you said a step further, too, in saying that 'political reality' is a completely different reality from true reality. I've never liked politics, and this hardens my position. Our so called leaders are off in their own type of Wonderland continuing to talk about things such as revitalizing the economy and growth, while we the people who they are supposed to be serving are out here in the real world. Is it just me, or is it a complete oxymoron when Obama and others talk about the will to both combat climate change and restart economic growth?<br />
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My question now is, what can we as informed citizens do in the run up to the Copenhagen negotiations to make this information more widely known and perhaps more accepted by our leadership? How do we attempt to change political reality into reflecting more of what is real? Is it even possible? Likely not, but I would like to think that it is, and I would like to do my part in attempting to make it happen, but I need a place to begin.<br />
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And yes, diversity! "Schellnhuber recently briefe…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-17:2723460:Comment:90942009-10-17T07:04:11.308ZRob Olasonhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/RobOlason
"Schellnhuber recently briefed U.S. officials from the Barack Obama administration, but he says they chided him that his findings were "not grounded in political reality" and that "the [U.S.] Senate will never agree to this."<br />
<br />
He had told them that the U.S. must reduce its emissions from its current 20 tonnes of carbon per person average to zero tonnes per person by 2020 to have an even chance of stabilising the climate around two degrees C."<br />
<br />
To me, this is the scary part. Political leadership…
"Schellnhuber recently briefed U.S. officials from the Barack Obama administration, but he says they chided him that his findings were "not grounded in political reality" and that "the [U.S.] Senate will never agree to this."<br />
<br />
He had told them that the U.S. must reduce its emissions from its current 20 tonnes of carbon per person average to zero tonnes per person by 2020 to have an even chance of stabilising the climate around two degrees C."<br />
<br />
To me, this is the scary part. Political leadership that refuses to acknowledge the science of global warming. Will the Senate "never agree to this," until we have all died of heat stroke or drowned? The level of re-education for our political leadership and society as a whole is possibly our most insurmountable obstacle.<br />
<br />
If the goal to survive as a species is to reduce our per person carbon emissions from 20 tonnes per person to zero tonnes per person by 2020 (11 years from today), we are facing the biggest national crisis/project to ever engage the populace of the United States. Where is the "Marshall Plan" or "Manhattan Project" that will solve this problem? I follow the news, but see no indication that any nationwide mobilization to achieve this goal has even been discussed let alone initiated.<br />
<br />
I feel we are living in Nero's Rome, as the strong smell of combustion fills our lungs and the faint melody of a poorly played violin floats above the flames...