Global Warming?
Just Another Y2K? Dr. Don Williams Park University Associate Professor of Biology
Do you remember the Y2K hype?
But: When the clock ticked Jan 1, 2000, no major problems were reported, Almost every bank worked fine, No major power outages were reported, Airplanes still flew, and The whole world went on with its normal life.
Is “Global Warming”
Just another Y2K scare?
Maybe or maybe not! What is science telling us?
The Practice of Good Science
Scientific work exhibits openness Many trials and much data are used to formulate models and explanations Researchers are open minded to new ideas Communication and the sharing of ideas occurs
But for controversial issues, scientists sometimes forget.
Special interest groups & public interest groups get involved Non-scientists (celebrities, et. al.) get on board Politicians wield their power The Media becomes a major player
All to influence the public to think their way!
Other Controversial Issues similarly affected include:
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
The Embryonic Stem Cell Debate Population Control & ZPG
The groups with the most $ and notoriety
Are heard, to the exclusion of dissenters. Dissenters may even be ridiculed.
What happened to those nice scientific principles?
So, the debate continues.
30+ years ago, some scientists believed we were entering a new ice age due to smog and air pollution (Humphrey, C. C. and R. G. Evans 1971) Now, “The great majority of scientists today believe that Global Warming is the case.” (Keller and Botkin, 2008) Which side to believe?
Sources of Information
http://captain.park.edu/dwilliams
Understanding Global Warming (Anon. 2007)
IPCC web site http://www.ipcc.ch/ U. S. Gov. web site http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/default.php
The Weather Channel Position Statement on Global Warming @ http://climate.weather.com/globalWarmin gStatement.html
Sources of Information
The Global Warming Debate is not Settled (Sturdivan, M. 2007)
www.globalwarmingheartland.org www.globalwarminghysteria.com http://www.oism.org/pproject/s33p36.htm 20/20’s Jon Stossel on Al Gore Global Warming
Debate http://youtube.com/watch?v=uO9laiUXS1o
Sources of Information
Other dissenters: (Google any of these)
Bjorn Lomborg (aka the Skeptical Environmentalist) Richard Lindzen, atmospheric physicist and MIT professor S. Fred Singer, President and founder of the Science and Environmental Policy Project John Coleman, the founder of the cable TV Weather Channel and currently a TV meteorologist in San Diego, CA
Sources of Information
The Global Warming Review Paper available @ http://www.oism.org/pproject/s33p36.htm The American Policy Center @ http://www.americanpolicy.org/un/thereis noglobal.htm
How should one respond? (Wright 1989)
Look thoroughly into the issue and form an opinion based on your best judgment; Don’t hold on to that opinion very tightly;
Be slow to condemn those who hold differing views.
My additions to Dr. Wright’s suggestions:
Do what you can to bring about a greener world, but don’t be an extremist—you will just alienate people!
Be able to laugh at yourself and see the lighter side of life, once in a while!
References
Anonymous. 2007. Understanding Global Warming. The Kansas City Star, May 10, 2007, p. A15 Humphrey, C. C. and R. G. Evans. 1971. What’s Ecology? Ecology Action Educational Institute, Modesto, CA. Keller and Botkin. 2008. Essential Environmental Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ
Sturdivan, M. 2007. The Global Warming Debate is not Settled. The Kansas City Star, July 28, 2007, p. B9 Wright, R. 1989. Biology Through the Eyes of Faith. Christian College Coalition and Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco
THANK YOU!