September 23, 2009
Facing Down Voldemort
I tend to dislike comparing actual people to regimes. However, I have no problem with comparing “Global Warming” to Voldemort.
It is almost amusing to watch the “Seamus Finnigans” of the world make bold declarations that this real world “Voldemort” is just a made up tale by environmentalists and members of “the Order.” Then you watch as this “Seamus” nervously tries to convince himself that he is right to believe in the nonexistence of Global Warming. However, the world’s “Seamus’” are on the decline and as governments are regulating CO2 emissions, it turns out Global Warming is growing weaker.
I imagine somewhere that Global Warming is commanding the Coal Industry to break into the Hall of Prophecy and find out the secrets that will make him more powerful. For now, these regulations are having an effect.
Zivlok
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Let’s just hope they don’t also take over the movie Seamus Finnigan, and start blowing stuff up accidentally.
Gwyn
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The whole Global Warming is something made up to scare governments into changing their policies on CO2 and other harmful emissions. The concept of Global Warming is only partially true, yes greenhouses gases are harmful, Yes they are effecting the our environment, but there is substantial proof that the Earth has gone through these changes before. For resent history, in paintings of the Netherlands in the 17th century the river is frozen, those where the last years when it was allowed to skate on the river. The industrial revolution didn’t start until the late 18th century.
And I take offence to Seamus Finnigan being used that way, I’m Irish too…
Andrew Slack
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Gwyn,
I wanted to address your being offended by my bringing up Seamus Finnigan in relationship to your Irish identity. I’d like to point out that I have never heard a British person say that they are offended that Voldemort is British. Granted, Harry Potter is British so I suppose that makes up for it. But even so, I think you’re missing my point. Seamus Finnigan is a character who in his fifth year at Hogwarts doubts whether Voldemort has returned – he wants to believe Harry but he’s obviously going through an internal struggle. There are plenty of characters at Hogwarts who also have that same internal struggle – but for Seamus that struggle is more pronounced because he and Harry are genuine friends and are also roommates. I don’t see where his being Irish has any thing to do with what I’m saying.
On another note, I personally have a special fondness for Ireland, having lived on the island for two months many years ago and toured many counties enjoying Irish culture and learning about Irish history.
As for your belief about Global Warming being not as bad as the majority of scientists say it is due to the fact that the Earth does indeed have climate trends, I think we’re going to need to agree to disagree. I believe that that argument has been used by those companies who do not want us to address CO2 emissions because it is inconvenient for their profits. In the mean time, it seems that we are learning that there is far more money to be made any way by investing in the environment – but making money is not why environmentalists have traditionally advocated to regulate CO2 emissions. Generally it’s to make sure that we live on this Earth with a sense of respect for the planet that we are a part of and so that we can continue living on this Earth at all. Already we have seen the horrific effects of Global Warming and it’s only the beginning. These effects, as I understand them, do not correlate
to natural trends in the Earth’s climate changing – and certainly not at this speed.
That said, you are more than entitled to your belief and I hope we can find common ground in your statement that greenhouses gases are harmful and that you will join us, even if you don’t agree in whole, on making sure that we bring down the emissions of such gases.
Thank you for speaking your mind here and I look forward to your working with us in the future.
Zivlok
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The way I see it is this: At the very least, pollution is bad. We can all agree on that. And bad things are happening – there is incontrovertible truth that ice caps are melting, etc, etc. And yes, the Earth goes through cycles, but does that make it any less dangerous or harmful what is happening right now?
I mean, really, the fact that the ice caps are melting isn’t that big of a deal. Some polar bears will die, sure, but the population will rebound. Eventually, a cooling trend will start, and the ice will reform. Remember, there was a time when half of North America was taken up by a giant glacier. The planet will always rebound.
It’s humans that are risk. Plus, the Earth’s heating and cooling cycles go at geological rates. And really, the only way to know for certain that this is just a little flub, and odd little change that will be reverted in 20 years, is to wait, and by then, there won’t be any time to change. And as long as the changes we make to battle against this threat, whether or not it truly exists, are only good and helpful ones, I see no reason not to enact them.
Gwyn
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I was being sarcastic about the Seamus Finnigan comment, And I did fully get your point. I was just adding another perspective and a different view. I agree with saving the Earth and all, I mean the older generation has totally destroyed it… at least in my mind they have.
Andrew Slack
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Zivlok: nicely said and thanks gwyn. I am personally very concerned for polar bears, other species, and countless ecosystems. Just throwing that out there.