That scientists keep finding new evidence of global warming – and of human causes for it – ought not to surprise anyone.
That people continue to disbelieve – or to deny it’s effects in the real world – is somewhat more fascinating to me.
For example, in this post, Shaun commented that he doubted global warming had anything to do with genocide in Africa. I imagine he, like many other Christians, is more worried that should homosexuals be able to marry, he will not be able to have a healthy relationship with a female (after all, that’s what the various "family defense acts" assert, non?).
Shaun had two responses for me and my proposal that global warming was contributing to genocide in Darfur:
(1) Desertification is an ancient phenomenon that occurred long before modern global warming.
True, but when it did, it took centuries, even millennia. Nowadays, it takes only a few years.
(2) Also, doesn’t global warming cause more precipitation, not less?
Funny you should say that. Here’s what the scientists had to say:
– Precipitation has significantly increased in eastern parts of North and South America, northern Europe and northern and central Asia. Drying has been seen in the Sahel, the Mediterranean, southern Africa and parts of southern Asia. Other regions are showing a high variability in rain and snowfall.
– Mid-latitude westerly winds have strengthened in both hemispheres since the 1960s, and more intense and longer droughts have been observed over wide areas, particularly in the tropics and subtropics, since the 1970s. (Source: SF Chronicle)
Again, that’s really not news (at least, not to me). It’s just that sometimes, it takes a steady stream of reminders to make people believe – and act.
Sort of like smoking – we all know the risks (now), but for decades, they were declared "over-stated" and "nonproven" – typically by the very same people who are now dismissing global warming.
Word to my friends: I’m quitting cigs on Valentine’s Day this year. I’m scared as all hell by that thought, as this has generated some of my toughest days in the past. I’m about as confident that it’ll work as I am that Americans will start taking global warming seriously in this decade. We shall see.
whereIstand Tags