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FROM-Verde Independent

Letter: Politically incorrect stance on man-caused global warming

Editor:

If his observations concerning the petition by those concerned that the man-caused global warming movement are correct, I appreciate John Lockway’s effort to correct the number of scientists who signed the document. I find it a little surprising, however, that he seems to dismiss his own finding of 578 Climatologists, Atmospheric Scientists, Meteorologists, Astronomers and Astrophysicists on the list of signatories. I might add that skeptics can be found among such institutions as the Dept. of Climatology at the University of Winnipeg, the University of Jerusalem Institute of Physics, University of Ottawa Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of London Dept. of Bio Geography, Paris France Pasteur Institute, NASA, MIT, University of Virginia Dept. of Environmental Sciences and the International Arctic Research Center. In addition, one can find former members of the IPCC, such as Prof. Paul Reiter and Prof. John Christ (who was a lead author of the IPCC) as well as the co-founder of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore.

These are heavy-hitters – not fly-by-night institutions and experts. They have much to lose, personally. They speak up even knowing that they face loss of funding and research grants due to their politically incorrect stance on man-caused global warming.

Mr. Lockway, being well informed, probably knows that quite a number of the members of the IPCC were also “non-scientists”- government workers, reviewers, etc. Professor Reiter says that “many specialists who disagreed (with the findings) resigned” but their names were left on the list of authors of the report without an acknowledgment of their dissent. Professor Reiter threatened a lawsuit before his name was removed.

Through the tone of his letter, Mr. Lockway dismisses the fact that the connection between solar activity and terrestrial climate is an area of on-gong research. He indicates that Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine should be dismissed from the discussion because of possible funding from Exxon-Mobil, who have a clear interest if man-caused global warming is based on false findings. He also frowns on any finding published in National Review, a conservative leaning magazine, even as he tells us he gets his own information from (1) DeSmog Blog Project, which proudly proclaims to be routinely highlighted by such left wing entities as New York Times Dot Earth, the Huffington Post, Treehugger and Daily Kos and (2) Media Matters for America, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) (tax exempt), self described “progressive (read “Liberal”) research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.” Media Matters main reason for existence appears to be to an attempt to neutralize the Fox News Network whose meteoric rise in ratings and influence is horrifying to the left, long accustomed to dominating news dissemination in the U.S.

Mr. Lockway misses the point (deliberately???) of the “Moon Paper” saying “none of them (the authors) have training in climatology.” Exactly! And yet, using the questionable NASA method, they could reach results showing a green-house gas effect on a lunar surface with no atmosphere!

Mr. Lockway uses the old strategy of using the term “climate change deniers” rather than the more correct description of “man-caused climate change deniers”, because no one denies the earth’s climate has warmed since the end of the mini-ice age.

The debate between Mr. Lockway and myself could go on and on. This is not the proper venue. There is a need for a long, loud public debate, not only concerning the cause behind a warming climate, but a realistic look at the consequences of such change. The last warm period, which ended around 1200-1300 AD, was accompanied by the flourishing of mankind due to an abundance of food promoted by longer growing seasons.

Today, in a similar (but not yet as warm) period of warmth, we (the U.S.) are increasing corn and wheat production while poor nations, with starving populations – a major factor in the Middle East unrest - watch in horror as we put 4 of every 10 bushels of corn into our gas tanks. The key to those nations rising from poverty, indeed to economic prosperity worldwide, is cheap, abundant energy. And, they need it now. There is little proof that humans can accidentally, or deliberately, alter the earth’s climate. We do have the intellectual capacity to adapt, innovate and take advantage of the current climate. Man does not do well under cold climate conditions. We shouldn’t squander our chance to return to being the world’s “bread basket” by giving in to the” wealth-redistribution” agenda posed by the global warming crowd.

Jim Barber

Camp Verde