Richard Castles: "This essay is not about the science of climatology. It is about the mythology of global warming."

That's like saying, "I'm not saying your wrong, but you are wrong, now let's discuss why."

"It comes as no surprise that two psychiatrists recently reported" ... "the delusion that because of climate change, drinking water could lead to the death of millions of people within days."

This is a sad case, but its even sadder (but not that surprising) to see the mental illness of a person being abused by the deniers crowd for shameful political point scoring.

I think perhaps readers should look to the voluminous studies of people that construct elaborate conspiracy theories to try to support their beliefs - people like the members of the Flat Earth Society:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth_Society

There are many similarities with many of the climate change deniers.

I’ve never been much into symbolism or myth; perhaps one of the many parts of the “normal socialisation process” which I missed out on. So I don’t require “sustaining myths in times of change and fear”; and of course “we are part of nature.”

Re the accelerating pace of change, let’s look not at history but at “nature,” reality. The sub-atomic particles of which we and all other material forms are composed arise and pass away at 10pwr22 times per second according to Luis Alvarez, after 20 years observation with his “bubble chamber”, “trillions upon trillions of times” in the blink of an eye according to the Buddha after deep introspection. [At the time of translation, a trillion was 10pwr18.] As far as we know, this pace of change has been the same throughout the earth’s 4.5 billion years.

The problem is that we see ourselves as solid, continuing entities rather than insubstantial bundles of particles which continuously arise and pass away. There is no substance, no permanence, nothing to cling to, no ongoing “I” in the conditioned world [where cause and effect applies, each new particle arising because of prior conditions; nothing too “mysterious” about that]. When this is understood, there can be no fear of change, and we can develop JonJ’s emotional maturity and sense of perspective.

Tea break. Which reminds me of an incident in a book based on war games simulating a German invasion of England in 1940. In a forward observation post after the Germans have landed, Kent is being shelled and bombed and more invaders are arriving, the sergeant attracts his officer’s attention. “You can go now,” says the lieutenant. “No, sir, but with things getting unsettled, this might be the last opportunity to make a pot of tea.”

This captures the British essence – in times of great danger, don’t react rashly; calmly, have a cup of tea, creating a space before taking more considered and less emotional action.

Faced with alleged AGW calamities, please join me in a nice cuppa. (Tim-Tams optional.)

Well-written, enjoyable to read, and pushing that same friggin' barrow.

We are, I believe fortunate to be living in these times.

Sure things have changed.

I started my working career with the firm knowledge that things would change, not necessarily in ways I could have predicted but certainly in a revolutionary manner which has affected each and every one of us.

And the real point is, they will continue to change and as they do other people, children now, will adapt, as the nature of man is to both adapt to change and change his surroundings to suit those changes.

Some apocalyptic disaster might arrive and wipe out 99.9% of the human population but the world will keep on going. Mankind will, in some form or other survive.

I worry about the things I can influence and change.
I worry about the stupidity of governments who, with arrogance, think they can effect global warming.

I do not worry about the consequences of global warming because those consequences are neither reliably defined nor probable, because the real reason for any supposed global warming has not been adequately determined and its impact remains neither quantified or qualified.

Just a bunch of egos running around proclaiming a dogma in search of government funding.

Either way, the earth has endured ice ages and hot ages and temperate times between. It will continue to be a system in support of life until the sun finally implodes and ceases to radiate its benevolent light upon us.

Then all will cease. I do not predict that to be anytime soon (but I could be wrong).

Beautifully put Jon J. I know that I feel pretty small and uninfluential most of the time, but I suspect even those you refer to as the great ones of the earth have their moments.

Cheryl, GYM-FISH, thank you for your comments.

Faustino, nice food for thought. Alas, I think more than can be adequately discussed here. Perhaps better over a cup of tea. But yes, emotional maturity; cool head, warm heart. And I hope that when the end is near, I'm with someone who has that British sense of humour

Thanks too, bennie, I think. I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I'll try to find a new barrow.