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Last updated on March 5th, 2018 at 01:41 pm
On Thursday at Albert Park I saw a young woman receiving help from medical staff after passing out in the heat; yesterday, spectators were pelted with hail. Obviously, climate change is real – a theory that explains that whole “summer” and “winter” thing. We must act now to avert disaster! I thought, later, while dozing in the hotel spa. Action is crucial! I would have told the room service waitress, if I hadn’t been distracted by her bringing the wrong champagne. But it turns out we have been acting – and those brave, fuel-burning Grand Prix drivers have been among the most active:
Human activities may have averted the next ice age. This conclusion from recent research is sure to make global warming alarmists cringe. Ongoing human activities during the past 8,000 years likely have served to prevent us from falling into an ice age, says William Ruddiman, former chairman of the University of Virginia environmental sciences department and his research team in Quaternary Research Reviews.. “Without any anthropogenic warming,” they write, “earth’s climate would no longer be in a full-interglacial state [warm period] but be well on its way toward the colder temperatures typical of glaciations.”
We’ve dodged a bullet, people. Praise the hard-working folk who’ve protected us by driving fast, ice-age averting cars.
- I’m gonna get my damn motor running, before it’s too late! Thank dog I still have my old gas-guzzler, a 200 K model now in its prime. Allah Akbar! Petroleum Akbar!Posted by J. Peden on 2005 03 05 at 02:14 PM • permalink
- The Australian Labor Party, University of Virginia and the Canucks need to get together and compare notes. Of course the implications of emerging scientific evidence (in respect to climate change) would have to be spelled out very slowly and in very simple language to Albanese & co.
- ’63 Impalas for Humanity!Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 03 05 at 05:03 PM • permalink
- Here is a link from a longer article in a scientific journal discussing Ruddiman’s ideas.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/science/20040317-9999-1c17climate.html
Posted by Mystery Meat on 2005 03 05 at 06:18 PM • permalink
- Ray Evans made a good point a few days ago that European Environmentalism sprung up to replace the demise of Christianity in Europe – and that the climate changers are actually religious zealots, who happen to use (misuse as the case may be) science to further their politico-religious goals.
THAT is why the clowns are to unsusceptible to rational scientific contradiction.
- Well, that kills Ruddiman’s next grant proposal.Posted by Michael Lonie on 2005 03 05 at 07:40 PM • permalink
- Europe covered by massive glaciers? Maybe an Ice Age would be a good thing after all.Posted by Evil Pundit on 2005 03 05 at 07:51 PM • permalink
- Evil Pundit — Most people don’t realize how much farther north than the USA most of Europe is. I say we go green til the ice reaches the Great Lakes, then start gunning our engines…Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 03 05 at 08:43 PM • permalink
- Ray Evans made a good point a few days ago that European Environmentalism sprung up to replace the demise of Christianity in Europe
That’s not quite right. It’s socialism that’s replaced religion in Europe. The problem with environmentalism is that it’s been co-opted by the left, and the valid environmental science half-buried under a mass of socialist propoganda.
- That sounds like a plan, Richard.
Pixy Misa makes a good point. I’m inclined to think the basic science behind the global warming theory is credible myself, but that the facts aren’t in yet. I also think that reducing our dependence on oil would be good for a number of reasons.
However, the Left has made it difficult to support environmental issues without giving aid to a whole bunch of evil political crap as well. I blogged on this topic a few days ago.
Posted by Evil Pundit on 2005 03 05 at 09:57 PM • permalink
- Wouldn’t the answer be to build more nuclear power plants and eliminate the coal and gas burning plants?
Why aren’t the pro-Kyoto advocates asking for, nay, DEMANDING!!! more Three Mile Islands?
If not, then it seems to me that the burden is on the prokyotos to come up with a plan that will both lower CO2 to an acceptable level and not stymy economic growth. With all those smart scientists in favor of complying with the treaty, it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with.
I want the plan on my desk by Monday morning. Get at it.
Posted by wronwright on 2005 03 05 at 10:24 PM • permalink
- The problem is that we don’t really know what causes ice ages – especially ones which seem to snap freeze things – Siberian Mommoths etc.
As for global warming, I posted a summary of a recent paper which I was asked to read critically, (weekend work) which quite clearly shows, from the published data to date, that anthropogenic global warming isn’t actually observed in the data.
It is however totally believed in, and it matters not one iota what contradictory evidence you could come up with, it isn’t going to change their minds on the matter.
As for socialism – it too is like religion, except it seeks a utopia in the physical world, while the religious in the spiritual one.
- I ask again, and this time without the smirkiness: What really does happen to us, should we face another Ice Age? And we will, given that universal nature is an inexorable bitch, and human beings really have proven to be smart enough to survive most of the horrible things we do to ourselves. Aren’t we smart enough to formulate a survival strategy? If so, what is it?
Any ideas?
- There’s little question that the human race would survive another ice age; it’s already survived at least one. The real question is how much of our civilisation would survive.
I think there’s a good chance that civilisation would come through it reasonably intact, since only the far northern and southern areas of the globe would actually be covered by ice. There would still be a lot of land that was farmable. Of course, there would be population movements and wars—with WMD, these would be more of a threat than the ice itself.
Posted by Evil Pundit on 2005 03 06 at 12:26 AM • permalink
- RebeccaH, I would survive the ice age by setting up a mobile ski/ice climbing resort on the leading edge of the glacier field, and cater to the rich and famous whims. My costs would be reduced by the mining of the glaciers for the ice machines in the lobby, and hiring European and Canadian refugees at minimum wage.
The next time that you see me, I’ll be filthy rich, with babes on my arms, a drink in my hand, and a sneer on my face. Ah, capitalism!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 03 06 at 02:03 AM • permalink
- Seriously, I think humanity would adapt to an ice age. We would have to deal with the climate shifts (the American midwest would likely not be a breadbasket any more, or not as big anyway), but we have the ability to produce abundant energy if we choose to do so. And that’s what it takes.Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 03 06 at 02:05 AM • permalink
- I think it is a little known fact that all the eco friendly changes in the printing industry have caused a nil increase in global warming.
Thank God for the computer industry.
Through coal fired electrical grids, firing computers, this maintains a net result of 20% global warming.
So if you want a cool world read a newspaper.
If you want to avoid an ice age; BLOG.
- Ze Blogstrop family haf zurvived many many cruel scandinavian winters before my grossfarter Thor Blogstrop decided to abandon the family’s sculpted permafrost garden gnome business and migrate to Australia.
If frozen hard times seek us out here I guess ve at least have zat traditional craft to revert to.
- Human activities may have averted the next ice age. This conclusion from recent research is sure to make global warming alarmists cringe.
Nah, it just means they can recycle all their 1970s “Global Cooling” literature once the grant money to study “Climate Change” runs out.
Most people don’t realize how much farther north than the USA most of Europe is.
Ain’t that the truth. I was stunned to find out a few years ago that my German hometown (moderate temperatures year-round, no more than 6 inches of snow at any point in my lifetime) is roughly on the same latitude as friggin’ Winnipeg…
I was stunned to find out a few years ago that my German hometown … is roughly on the same latitude as friggin’ Winnipeg…
PW, you aren’t putting yourself on the same level as the Canadians, are you? Say not! 😀
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 03 06 at 07:22 AM • permalink
Nah, it just means they can recycle all their 1970s “Global Cooling�? literature once the grant money to study “Climate Change�? runs out.
We can keep warm for decades by burning all the “Global Warming” and “Global Cooling” literature in bonfires. And when that runs runs out we can start burning organically grown, grain-fed hippies.
Posted by Jim Geones on 2005 03 06 at 07:31 AM • permalink
- The Real JeffS — The Midwest might not be as much of a breadbasket anymore, but the Great American Desert would flower, that part of it that does not become a freshwater inland sea from the run-off. Yummy Kansas trout and rice!
But not to scorn the drivers and their invaluable contribution what about the condtributions so many of us make in our daily lives? All the chili, hamburgers, the BBQ, the greasy fries… nouvelle cuisine ain’t gonna hold back the glaciers, baby…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 03 06 at 01:39 PM • permalink
- True enough, richard! There will be and bad climate changes. Imagine the Sahara Desert as a massive farm belt. What would Libya do with all that vegetation?
Further, my “Pleasure Chalet On Ice” will feature (among other cusinies, nouvelle is not unique) BBQ on Ice, where massive cook outs are held on the ice fields every night, in the middle of nature, just like God intended them to be.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 03 07 at 01:23 AM • permalink
