The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > Fielding's conversion to sceptic > Comments

Fielding's conversion to sceptic : Comments

By Sharon Beder, published 17/6/2009

Has Senator Steve Fielding the right to demand a rerun of the debate, further delaying measures to prevent climate change?

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. Page 5
  7. 6
  8. All
The global population is still growing at 80 million a year,
so the whole Australian population could be replaced in 90 days.

Given that fact, it hardly matters if climate change is being
influenced by humans or if isn't. Even if it is, what Australians
do, will be little more then a feelgood factor. The big
picture is far larger then a few Greenies pedalling to work on
their bikes, or dealers trading in carbon emissions.

Lets get real children. We could shift our aluminium smelters to
China, our CO2 figures would look dramatically better. We could
stop exporting coal and go broke. Would the Chinese stop making
steel or stop using coal for electricity? Do not kid yourselves.

If you are going to do something, it has to have a measurable effect
and given the global situation, who can show me that whatever
Australia does, will actually have a global effect?
Posted by Yabby, Thursday, 18 June 2009 11:12:06 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Prof. Beders last paragraph says all about her position .

Science requires everything to be tested , but not Beders science apparently Beder is always right .
That she can philosophize on Fielding's intent and question the US hosts qualifications , what a hide she has ; Beder has no Climate related qualifications .
Beder is the product of the ALP and Greens "Spin Shop".
The Spinners love the Professor bit.
Comes under the edict: 'BS Baffles Brains'
Posted by ShazBaz001, Thursday, 18 June 2009 11:38:40 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Yabby, completely agree with you there is no way known that we can actually affect climate let alone change it, slow it down or reverse it.

I think deep down most people know and accept that.

However the benefits of finger wagging and pontificating at people who:

1. Have more stuff than you.
2. Have things you think they shouldn't.
3. Consume more than you like.
4. Seem to get away with it all with no ill effect.

is just to good to be true. Pompous arrogant folks like to wade in and spray around how much they think everyone should have bugger all and should all be in misery and pain in exchange for any benefit.

The human condition is to improve your lot in life and that of your offspring, so electricity, water, health care and education are high on the list.

Sure we could pollute less, but the message from the current eco warriors is that we should all return to the stoneage.

BTW - in the stoneage, they ate organic food, had clean air, pristine water and a life expectancy of around 35 for a male. Go figure.
Posted by rpg, Thursday, 18 June 2009 1:29:53 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Fungo, I'm not accusing Fielding of anything, merely thinking out loud to try and understand what and why the man is doing what he is doing.

Enjoy reading your Plimer but perhaps you might then read some critic's view of his work and do a little investigation of your own on the claims he makes and the counter claims made by his critics.

Once you are finished with that exercise it might be worth your while checking out the science behind the idea that the Earth is not flat.
Posted by kulu, Thursday, 18 June 2009 2:57:44 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
They said the earth was flat, then it was the centre of the universe with everything revolving round it, the printing press was evil, going into space would bring down the wrath of god as we are forbidden to enter heaven. With just about every scientific advancement they've either denied it, or tried to suppress it's implementation. They're prepared to murder and torture those who disagree with them or their ideals, blame everyone else for their mistakes and continue to deny anything not fitting into their day dreams. Fearful sceptics are probably the worlds biggest problem, they seem to be in denial on many important subjects of life's reality.

Climate change is a fact, it's the degree it will effect life which is the only question and we really don't have a clue about that, yet it may not be much at all. No amount of models, predictions or denials will change what lies ahead for life, we can only guess and if sensible prepare. As already pointed out, climate change is really irrelevant, it's the hundreds of other looming problems being ignored completely, which are going to bring humanity to it's knees.

People who live in cities probably haven't noticed much at all, but those who live of the land and sea can see huge changes effecting the environment and their viable future. Peak oil is a minor problem compared to ecological collapse of the food chain, nothing can stop that once it gets a hold and it's not very far from the point of no return, where biodiversity collapses like a pack of cards.

If people of both sides of the debate actually made some small change to their lifestyles and approach to life, we may not have a debate like this at all. It's depends on whether we're prepared to take personal responsibility for what we do in life, or leave it to chance and head in the sand hope.
Posted by stormbay, Thursday, 18 June 2009 4:28:05 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
There are three issues in play here. The first is whether the scientific consensus about the human causes of global warming is correct. The second is whether the Heartland Institute manufactures corporate propaganda. The third is whether Senator Fielding is intellectually capable of sound judgement about climate change mitigation measures. In my opinion the first issue is a matter for the relevant scientists to decide. This is the way that science works: non-scientists cannot participate in scientific knowledge formation. So, if you want to challenge the scientific consensus, without high level training in a relevant scientific field, you have to associate your beliefs with some other competing epistemological authority, like religion, perhaps. This would seem a little unwise to me, but creationists, for instance, are prepared to try this approach in another area.
The second issue, concerning the Heartland Institute, can easily be settled in the affirmative by a visit to their website and a quick perusal of web-based analysis of the organisation.
This leaves the more problematic third issue concerning Senator Fielding's intellectual capacity. It is difficult to find any in-depth information about this person at short notice. But it seems he belongs to a political party that was founded, and is sponsored by, a Christian sect named the Assemblies of God. This sect apparently falls into the branch of Protestantism known as Pentacostal which is distinguished by encouraging members of congregations to roll around on the floor and talk in tongues. Now, what enters my mind in trying to assess Senator Fielding's intellectual capacity is an imagined picture of him rolling around on the floor and talking in tongues. I'm not saying he does this. I don't know. What I'm saying is that he seems to have been sent to Canberra to represent people who do practice this eccentricity. And I'm wondering whether this background might indicate a limitation of intellect powers when assessing scientific matters.
Posted by Hazy Notion, Thursday, 18 June 2009 5:43:30 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. Page 5
  7. 6
  8. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy