Weird Stuff/Unexplained
See other Weird Stuff/Unexplained Articles
Title: A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!
Source:
The Washington Post
URL Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini ... 2011/05/23/AFrVC49G_story.html
Published: May 23, 2011
Author: Bill McKibben
Post Date: 2011-05-24 12:32:18 by war
Keywords: Pay No, Attention To That, Man Behind The Curtain
Views: 45502
Comments: 60
Caution: It is vitally important not to make connections. When you see pictures of rubble like this week’s shots from Joplin, Mo., you should not wonder: Is this somehow related to the tornado outbreak three weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, Ala., or the enormous outbreak a couple of weeks before that (which, together, comprised the most active April for tornadoes in U.S. history). No, that doesn’t mean a thing. It is far better to think of these as isolated, unpredictable, discrete events. It is not advisable to try to connect them in your mind with, say, the fires burning across Texas — fires that have burned more of America at this point this year than any wildfires have in previous years. Texas, and adjoining parts of Oklahoma and New Mexico, are drier than they’ve ever been — the drought is worse than that of the Dust Bowl. But do not wonder if they’re somehow connected. If you did wonder, you see, you would also have to wonder about whether this year’s record snowfalls and rainfalls across the Midwest — resulting in record flooding along the Mississippi — could somehow be related. And then you might find your thoughts wandering to, oh, global warming, and to the fact that climatologists have been predicting for years that as we flood the atmosphere with carbon we will also start both drying and flooding the planet, since warm air holds more water vapor than cold air. It’s far smarter to repeat to yourself the comforting mantra that no single weather event can ever be directly tied to climate change. There have been tornadoes before, and floods — that’s the important thing. Just be careful to make sure you don’t let yourself wonder why all these record-breaking events are happening in such proximity — that is, why there have been unprecedented megafloods in Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan in the past year. Why it’s just now that the Arctic has melted for the first time in thousands of years. No, better to focus on the immediate casualties, watch the videotape from the store cameras as the shelves are blown over. Look at the news anchorman standing in his waders in the rising river as the water approaches his chest. Because if you asked yourself what it meant that the Amazon has just come through its second hundred-year drought in the past five years, or that the pine forests across the western part of this continent have been obliterated by a beetle in the past decade — well, you might have to ask other questions. Such as: Should President Obama really just have opened a huge swath of Wyoming to new coal mining? Should Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sign a permit this summer allowing a huge new pipeline to carry oil from the tar sands of Alberta? You might also have to ask yourself: Do we have a bigger problem than $4-a-gallon gasoline? Better to join with the U.S. House of Representatives, which voted 240 to 184 this spring to defeat a resolution saying simply that “climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.” Propose your own physics; ignore physics altogether. Just don’t start asking yourself whether there might be some relation among last year’s failed grain harvest from the Russian heat wave, and Queensland’s failed grain harvest from its record flood, and France’s and Germany’s current drought-related crop failures, and the death of the winter wheat crop in Texas, and the inability of Midwestern farmers to get corn planted in their sodden fields. Surely the record food prices are just freak outliers, not signs of anything systemic. It’s very important to stay calm. If you got upset about any of this, you might forget how important it is not to disrupt the record profits of our fossil fuel companies. If worst ever did come to worst, it’s reassuring to remember what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told the Environmental Protection Agency in a recent filing: that there’s no need to worry because “populations can acclimatize to warmer climates via a range of behavioral, physiological, and technological adaptations.” I’m pretty sure that’s what residents are telling themselves in Joplin today. Bill McKibben is founder of the global climate campaign 350.org and a distinguished scholar at Middlebury College in Vermont.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: war (#0)
Everybody knows there were no such things as tornadoes and hurricanes before Satan sent his demon Henry Ford from Hell to curse the planet.
Obviously God is punishing Red State America because Obama hurt Bibi's feelings.
OMG. You're not a mad hotter are you?
Tag lines are gay.
Republicans can't do science.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Hey, I just saw on Drudge your black president sent his condolences from London. Guess SuperFly can't be bothered while on vacation with the responsibilities to the people in Missouri and Minnesota.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
LOL! You can't grammar right. And I'm not a Republican.
Tag lines are gay.
Silver queen corn is a hybrid. I know that point will be lost on you as you believe corn is only good for holing.
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Why is everything you post about buttfucking? You need some serious counseling and therapy or some kind of help, my anal gay sex obsessed amigo.
I'm guessing because he, like his Internet identical twin Yukon, is queer. It also explains why he is always angry and insists on wearing Lycra/Spandex all the time.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
I am glad you admit to not being an American. Who is your president? Khaddaffi? Leave my country, you filthy traitor.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Irony.......
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
F**k off, Destro. You are the last person to be calling anyone a traitor. Why don't you post some more pictures of dead American soldiers, raghead.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
Human activity most certainly has contributed.
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." OK
Tag lines are gay.
MY president, the President of the USA just got the head "raghead" with a bullet in the eye. I don't know who your president is, you filthy traitor but leave MY country whose president you deny.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Only idiots think there is a connection between the Joplin tornado and the now discredited 'global warming/climate change' bullshit from the Leftwingnuts.
Proxy IP's are amusing.....lmao
Uh-HUH. And... you believe "your president?" Every time he opens that stinking hole in his face, pure bullshit comes spilling out... But THIS time he's telling the truth? Based on what? Pics? Oh, that's RIGHT... no pics. DNA? Oh, that's right, too... no information forthcoming on that, either. Oh, well we'll just believe him, because- like his bogus "birth certificate" which he twice claimed to provide, but hasn't- he has such a great track record for integrity, yes??? Were you born that stupid, or do you just work at it? Were I to make a guess about you, then the short answer would be "yes."
List of those unable to think: Bumper sticker on DwarF's car: The horse manure from the left never stops. It's tiring. There isn't any record snowfall today dumb ass. Record snowfalls happened at the peek of the last glacial age 20,000 years ago, when North America was covered with ice more than a mile deep in some spots.
Snow requires moisture in the atmosphere. I'll let you ponder that for a day or two before we move on...
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Leave my country, you filthy traitor.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Republicans aka conservatives aka kooks don't do science.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Somewhere on this board is someone screeching that snow is "caused" by cold weather. As if the cold temps created the water in the atmosphere. IN fact, it might have been pegler...
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Strong words from the avowed SOCIALIST. Here's a clue for you, butt-boy: this country was founded on FREEDOM from intrusive government and individual rights. In other words, YOU are the "filthy traitor." You're no American, than Fidel Castro. Why don't you go find yourself a nice socialist or communist country? REAL Americans, real PATRIOTS, will fight you and your ilk. Traitors like you will get the reward that ALL traitors deserve... List of those unable to think: Bumper sticker on DwarF's car: The Pledge of Allegiance was written by a Socialist.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Right wingers should think of that every time they recite the words "equality and justice for all".
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that child’s born too. When we start debating a budget, let’s make sure we don’t cut 100,000 vaccines. Let’s make sure we’ve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that baby’s born, oh no, we don’t want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a women’s uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
I don't know what pledge you recite, but when I was a kid, mine went "with liberty and justice for all". I guess the concept of liberty confuses you.
You is right, I is wrong. I guess the concept of liberty confuses you. Nope, just an age-related brain fart.
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that child’s born too. When we start debating a budget, let’s make sure we don’t cut 100,000 vaccines. Let’s make sure we’ve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that baby’s born, oh no, we don’t want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a women’s uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
You are not too far off. From: The Pledge of Allegiance A Short History at oldtimeislands.org/pledge/ple dge.htm "His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. [ * 'to' added in October, 1892. ]"
What a relief, thank you!
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that child’s born too. When we start debating a budget, let’s make sure we don’t cut 100,000 vaccines. Let’s make sure we’ve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that baby’s born, oh no, we don’t want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a women’s uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
AND?
I have a computer science degree. 4 semesters of calculus, linear algebra, probably and statistics, 2 semesters of calculus-based physics, etc. How about you? Your teacher's certificate and "PhysEd" degree don't qualify you as an expert in anything except cleaning up sweaty jock straps.
Disinformation Rule #18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. If you can’t do anything else, chide and taunt your opponents and draw them into emotional responses which will tend to make them look foolish and overly motivated, and generally render their material somewhat less coherent. Not only will you avoid discussing the issues in the first instance, but even if their emotional response addresses the issue, you can further avoid the issues by then focusing on how “sensitive they are to criticism”. Disinformation Rule #5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary attack the messenger ploy, though other methods qualify as variants of that approach. Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as “kooks”, “right-wing”, “liberal”, “left- wing”, “terrorists”, “conspiracy buffs”, “radicals”, “militia”, “racists”, “religious fanatics”, “sexual deviates”, and so forth. This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label, and you avoid dealing with issues.
List of those unable to think: Bumper sticker on DwarF's car: The water cycle is evaporation, condensation, precipitation. Think about that for a day two and then we'll move on.
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Which has nothing to do with my post about the last glacial age.
You may as well have cited the last Super Bowl game.
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Think about that for a day two and then we'll move on. They did not teach that in computer science class - back in the punch card days I imagine.....
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
You can boil water on top of a stove...in an oven...over a fire...in a microwave. But according to the last glacial age... /morons
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." You two assclowns don't know any more about meteorology than you would know about teleportation or hieorglyphics interpretaion, so just drop the BS. The fact is along with the record snow this past winter, there was also record COLD, including in the tropics, so your BS analysis that the extra moisture was due to higher temps is also demonstrably crap. In fact, in the early 2000's when there were generally mild winters with little snow on the East Coast, the so called "experts" were claiming that this was going to be the wave of the future.
Now, I know I’m not going to change the minds of any of the True Believers…those who read all of Reverend Al’s sermons, and say things like, “You know, global warming can mean warmer OR colder, wetter OR drier, cloudier OR sunnier, windier OR calmer, …”. Can I get an ‘amen’??
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Quick...tell me 2003 isn't the early 2000's...
America...My Kind Of Place... "I truly am not that concerned about [bin Laden]..." Now, I know I’m not going to change the minds of any of the True Believers…those who read all of Reverend Al’s sermons, and say things like, “You know, global warming can mean warmer OR colder, wetter OR drier, cloudier OR sunnier, windier OR calmer, …”. Can I get an ‘amen’??
Comments (42 - 60) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#2. To: war (#0)
#3. To: war (#0)
Better to join with the U.S. House of Representatives, which voted 240 to 184 this spring to defeat a resolution saying simply that “climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.”
#4. To: We The People, war (#3)
#5. To: Godwinson (#4)
#6. To: Godwinson (#4)
Republicans can't do science.
#7. To: Happy Quanzaa (#1)
--GW Bush
#8. To: raw asshole from being big dick buttfucked (#7)
#9. To: Happy Quanzaa (#8)
#10. To: Rudgear, war, go65, lucysmom, skip intro (#5)
Hey, I just saw on Drudge your black president
#11. To: We The People (#6)
LOL! You can't grammar right.
#12. To: Godwinson (#10)
#13. To: We The People (#3)
OMG. You're not a mad hotter are you?
--GW Bush
#14. To: war (#13)
#15. To: Rudgear (#12)
Why don't you post some more pictures of dead American soldiers, raghead.
#16. To: All (#0)
#17. To: Godwinson (#15)
MY president, the President of the USA just got the head "raghead" with a bullet in the eye.
mcgowanjm, ferret mike, skippy, fartboy/yukko, white sands, bucky, lucys idiot mom, e_type_jackoff, go56, badlie, wreck, calCON, mininggold, war, Banjo Boris, Biff, Godwinson and meguro. If you're on the above list, you're too fucking stupid to hold a real conversation.
#18. To: war (#0)
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#19. To: jwpegler (#18)
--GW Bush
#20. To: Capitalist Eric (#17)
#21. To: war, jwpegler (#19)
Snow requires moisture in the atmosphere.
#22. To: Godwinson (#21)
(Edited)
Republicans aka conservatives aka kooks don't do science.
--GW Bush
#23. To: Godwinson (#20)
Leave my country, you filthy traitor.
mcgowanjm, ferret mike, skippy, fartboy/yukko, white sands, bucky, lucys idiot mom, e_type_jackoff, go56, badlie, wreck, calCON, mininggold, war, Banjo Boris, Biff, Godwinson and meguro. If you're on the above list, you're too fucking stupid to hold a real conversation.
#24. To: Capitalist Eric (#23)
Strong words from the avowed SOCIALIST.
#25. To: Godwinson (#24)
The Pledge of Allegiance was written by a Socialist.
#26. To: lucysmom (#25)
Right wingers should think of that every time they recite the words "equality and justice for all".
#27. To: Get Outta Dodge! (#26)
I don't know what pledge you recite, but when I was a kid, mine went "with liberty and justice for all".
#28. To: lucysmom (#27)
(Edited)
Nope, just an age-related brain fart.
#29. To: mininggold (#28)
#30. To: war (#19)
Snow requires moisture in the atmosphere.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#31. To: Godwinson (#21)
Republicans aka conservatives aka kooks don't do science.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#32. To: Godwinson (#21)
(Edited)
Republicans aka conservatives aka kooks don't do science.
mcgowanjm, ferret mike, skippy, fartboy/yukko, white sands, bucky, lucys idiot mom, e_type_jackoff, go56, badlie, wreck, calCON, mininggold, war, Banjo Boris, Biff, Godwinson and meguro. If you're on the above list, you're too fucking stupid to hold a real conversation.
#33. To: jwpegler (#30)
--GW Bush
#34. To: war (#33)
The water cycle is evaporation, condensation, precipitation.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#35. To: jwpegler (#34)
--GW Bush
#36. To: war, jwpegler (#33)
The water cycle is evaporation, condensation, precipitation.
#37. To: Godwinson (#36)
--GW Bush
#38. To: war, godwinson (#37)
(Edited)
#39. To: no gnu taxes (#38)
In fact, in the early 2000's when there were generally mild winters with little snow on the East Coast, the so called "experts" were claiming that this was going to be the wave of the future.
--GW Bush
#40. To: no gnu taxes (#38)
--GW Bush
#41. To: war (#39)
According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia,within a few years winter snowfall will become "a very rare and exciting event". "Children just aren't going to know what snow is," he said...
.
.
.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]