Global Warming has become a topic that makes everyday headlines and concerns and according to a very recent Gallup Poll, thankfully, the majority of Americans do believe that Global Warming is real. Yet, despite the numerous scientific evidence we are presented with, there are still people who deny that global warming is real and existent.
A Global Warming Denier is an individual or organization that denies and distorts the science and urgency of global warming as assessed by the world’s foremost authority on global warming, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
So who are these people in our society? Climate change denial has been associated with the energy lobby, industry advocates and free market think tanks, often in the United States. The August 2007 Newsweek cover story “The Truth About Denial” reported that “this well-coordinated, well-funded campaign by contrarian scientists, free-market think tanks, and industry has created a paralyzing fog of doubt around climate change.”
These people include front groups and free market anti-government organizations that try to affect public opinion and policy on global warming. They work together to form an echo chamber of views that appear to be coming from a large, unrelated constituency. In reality, they sit on each other’s boards, publish each other’s writings, form coalitions, use the same scientists, lobby Congress, and spread identical arguments.
Some influential figures in our society have openly talked about how they deny Global Warming. Donald Trump, Ted Nungent, David Bellamy, some weather forecasters – John Coleman and Anthony Watts and even Sen. James Inhofe.
It is disappointing that figures with so much power and knowledge, who are supposed to be teaching the rest of our society, take such extremist actions and settle on a view that it does not exist.
Since the late 1980s, this well-coordinated, well-funded campaign by contrarian scientists, free-market think tanks and industry has created a paralyzing fog of doubt around climate change. Through advertisements, op-eds, lobbying and media attention, greenhouse doubters (they hate being called deniers) argued first that the world is not warming; measurements indicating otherwise are flawed, they said. Then they claimed that any warming is natural, not caused by human activities. Now they contend that the looming warming will be minuscule and harmless. “They patterned what they did after the tobacco industry,” says former senator Tim Wirth, who spearheaded environmental issues as an under secretary of State in the Clinton administration. “Both figured, sow enough doubt, call the science uncertain and in dispute. That’s had a huge impact on both the public and Congress.”
I like to post videos on the blog topics because I believe visual and audio representations make it easier to understand. It was very difficult to find videos that had worthy information. So I was only able to find two videos on the matter, the first one speaks of the Climate Change Denial Industry and the second one is a very ironic, funny and criticizing video on Global Warming Deniers – very worth watching.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIGrkVoa78o&feature=related
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OwFSLm4pII
Topics like these are very complicated to judge and analyze. None of us are sure of anything, and even though we have scientific proof, it is not always certain. I myself am a believer of Global Warming, but I don’t solely base myself on scientific facts. I believe that any type of human interaction with the environment that is negative and in exaggeration WILL cause consequences, and not good ones. But, I’d rather be safe than sorry and taking action to try to reverse a possible harm we have done to the earth is the best idea in my opinion.
Their motivations for being deniers are a controversy and most of the time believed to be money – which apparently is what drives everyone anywhere these days. Denying it only brings the self satisfaction o confidence or victory – I honestly don’t understand, especially when so many facts are laid down right before us and even more when we are seeing things happen through our own eyes.
REFERENCES:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/photos/7-surprising-global-warming-deniers/donald-trump
http://www.exxposeexxon.com/facts/gwdeniers.html#what
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/08/13/the-truth-about-denial.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/08/13/the-truth-about-denial.html
THOMAS VALES
Our class today was a little different. We had the pleasure of having Thomas Vales talk to us about heat and thermal dynamics. Mr. Vale is the lab coordinator for the science department and has been a machinist for the past 30 years; he has a business in the area and is a great resource to have on campus!
He presented four different devices to us that use energy in ways we have never imagined and work as well as they did 200 years ago. These devices are an alternative to the resources we currently use that will eventually run out.
The first one wasn’t very efficient. It was created back in 1824, the Peltie. It makes use of two types of metal: copper and bismuth. They form a junction and create electricity; although they are silent generators of power they are not very efficient and are used as semi conductor junctions.
He also showed us his favorite device, the sterling engine created be Reverend Robert Sterling in 1816; he created it as a replacement for steam engines because they weren’t very safe. It is a hot air engine, very efficient and very sensitive.
There was the Medocino Motor, which could be considered as a teaching tool because of the many mechanics that make it up. But it is not a very practical application.
He also showed us a surprise, which seemed to be everyone’s favorite. The Tessel. I made a video on his demonstration, it was really fun!
Towards the end of his presentation, he spoke a little bit about how his parents always encouraged him and never kept him from pursuing a career in what he was interested one. He demonstrated a great sense of passion towards his job and gave us a great piece of advice: to keep our minds active, because if the mind goes the body goes next.
Mr. Vales was very nice in welcoming us to his office to explore his gadgets and to teach us more about the matter. It was great to have him as a guest to share his knowledge with us!
Ted nugent is a global warming denier!!! im devastated!
Great information. Your blog is full of really good information, and is easy to read. GOod job!
Global warming must be an important concern for all parties, especially a government in both developed and developing countries. Pabrik tas