Q & A
If you are as old as me then surely you remember the following : -
We are all going to die in a nuclear war (1950's)
We are going to starve to death because there will be more people than food for them.(1960's)
The earth is going to go into another ice age (This is a doozy) about the time of Gough Whitlam who used our money to pay for a scientist/politician junket on the subject(1970's).
We are going to run out of petrol by about the year 2000, I think(1970's)
The hole in the ozone layer? Completely explained by an Australian scientist but totally ignored in favour of remedial action costing millions. (1980's)
The famous Y2000 bug 1990's)
Global warming now being changed to climate change(1990's?)
Do you see the pattern here? This has been going on for centuries people have always been predicting this we are all going to die thingy and in so many cases making a tidy little sum out of it too.
I really do not want to get personal and apologise for the jibes I have made but they have only been in fun I assure you.
The day Bob Brown sells up his waterfront property (Or the leading Victorian expert sells his Yarra side apartment) I will start to worry but why they are coining it in I will be quite relaxed. Also I am sure my Grandchildren will face the same doomsayers but with a different story.
The challenge is why a billion dollars for the Y2000 bug that did not exist and who was brought to account? Because!the present predictions are all based on computer modeling, now what about that?

And JBowyer, I'm sure you remember:

- The Nazis pose no threat to Europe, let alone the world
- The free market is self-correcting and will prevent boom/bust cycles
- Communism is the way forward

Sometimes the doomsayers are right.

The global warming/climate change shift in rhetoric reflects genuine refinement in the science. Compare that to the desperate back-pedalling
that's characterised the sceptic movement from day one:

"Global warming is a socialist hoax", then...

"Okay, it's happening, but too slowly to worry about", followed by...

"Yes, it's happening - fast - but it's a perfectly natural cycle which humans can't affect", and now...

"It's sunspots, or closet socialist scientists, or the alarmist liberal media. Whatever it is, it's not industry or overpopulation", edging toward, inevitably...

"Huh. Fancy that. We could have fixed it if we'd acted two decades ago. Oh, well, damage is done now. No point complaining. And just LOOK at my bulging share portfolio!"

The "acknowledgist" movement is based on science, while, as you know, the denialist movement owes its entire base to corporate revenue protection. Those are the terms of this game, and it's why action is being delayed with FUB.

“The hole in the ozone layer? Completely explained by an Australian scientist but totally ignored in favour of remedial action costing millions. (1980's)”

I’m pleased to learn that an Australian scientist explained the hole in the ozone layer JBowyer so could you tell me what he said that was ignored and who paid the millions of dollars for remedial action?

You don’t happen to work for the chlorine industry do you?

http://www.theozonehole.com/noaa2008.htm

Temper, temper, Q&A. What were you saying about dummy spits?

Plimer can't have anything to say because associated with Heartland Institute? Only important if he goes to biggum Copenhagen junket likem me?

I thought you believed in arguing science not smearing by association. Confucius say all criticism is self-criticism.

"Plimer can't have anything to say because associated with Heartland Institute?"

Pretty much. The Heartland Institute will create a smokescreen for any industry that pays enough, and science be damned.

www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute

Jbowyer. I happen to know that Bob Browns waterfront property is at least 20 meters above sea level and there fore will not be effected by the sea level rise that will definitely occur but not before about another 50 years. He will not therefore be in any danger.