As proof of the bad effects of CO2 one often hears the argument that
CO2 is increasing, the glaciers are melting and the polar bears don't
know what to do, ergo, CO2 is the cause, but take a look at Graph #1
(Oerlemanns, J. 2005, Science 308, 675-677). Remember, this is
verifiable data, not guesses or predictions.
{mosimage}
This shows the average shortening of 169 glaciers versus time in years.
Also plotted over time is the increase in carbon use which took a big
jump after WWII. Note that this sudden carbon use had no effect on the
rate of glacier melting. Remember the edges of glaciers can melt, but
at the same time the interior mass can build up due to temperature and
precipitation changes.
Another argument frequently heard is that CO2 causes global warming and
some event that occurred last week, last month or last year is usually
cited. If one looks at the historical data researched by several
groups* and compiled in Graph #2 one sees that, yes, arctic air
temperature is on a general upward trend since about 1960 but with
considerable variation.
This data is again plotted against time in years along with world
carbon usage but also includes the variation in solar activity. The
arctic air temperature and the solar activity correlate with each other
but not with carbon use. The variations in surface air temperature have
to do with sunspot cycle amplitude and length, solar equatorial
rotation rate and earth's axis wobble, etc.
Again, CO2 is not the culprit. Variations in solar heating of the earth
is the cause. As graph #2 shows, lengthy cyclic variations are a normal
condition, not something to destroy our economy over.
For more complete data on weather-related CO2 issues, punch up
www.petitionproject.org which at last count had 31,478 American
scientists' signatures rejecting the Kyoto proposals and that CO2,
methane or other "greenhouse " gases will not cause catastrophic
heating of the earth's atmosphere, etc. There is also a link entitled
"Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research." Peer-review incidentally is
something that Al Gore does not allow about his fairy tale, which is a
normal approach for any scientific endeavor that has any merit.
So why do we have all these young, naive people beating the drum
against increasing CO2 when it is really one of the minor gasses in our
atmosphere and is necessary for all plant growth. It comes in several
parts: People like to feel that they are helpful. It's a natural
American gift. The politicians promote it because it gives them a
crisis to take to the voters showing that they are doing something.
Colleges like all the research money they can get and pump up the need
for more study. Also, the UN promotes it to expand their drive for One
World Globalism and it is all regurgitated through our one-mind media
promoting populist programs of little value.
As an offshoot of this mentality is the "Cap and Trade" legislation
waiting in Congress that would "Cap" everyone's allowed carbon (CO2)
emissions. The "Trade" would make it possible to swap carbon shares
(for a fee, tax) not up to their cap.
Can you imagine the bureaucratic cost of managing such an unnecessary
monstrosity and the damage it would do to our job force by putting our
export business at a terrible disadvantage due to the higher price of
energy and the cost of producing goods, to say nothing about our
individual skyrocketing electric bills.
Pursuing such a criminal adventure would accomplish one thing though.
It would increase the number of people working for our government and
thereby expand the Democrat voting bloc to ensure that their government
expansion continues at great cost to American initiatives and jobs.
Remember, government does not create capital; they just take your tax
money and redistribute it. Government workers are paid by others who do
productive work.
Before it is too late, make your own noise in Washington. Make them
understand that we want nothing to do with demonizing CO2 and the
associated devastating legislation. What is needed is less government
and more economic freedom.
*Marland, Boden, Anders 2007 Global CO2 emissions, Nat'l Lab, US Dept.
Energy. Oak Ridge, Tn. W. Soon, 2005, Geophysical Letters 32. Hoyt,
Schatten Geophysical Res. 98.
Potter lives in Waitsfield.
