[LINK] Climate Change, The other point of View

[Tom Koltai]

Dear Linkers, 
I received this in an email this morning. It is replicated here to
ensure balanced and fair reporting. (see comments at end)

Quote/
Professor Ian Plimer (a member of the School of Earth and Environmental
Sciences <http://www.ees.adelaide.edu.au/>  at the University of
Adelaide. He is also a joint member of the School of Civil,
Environmental and Mining Engineering <http://www.ecms..adelaide.edu.au/>
) could not have said it better! 
If you've read his book you will agree, this is a good summary. 
Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland, since its
first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY
SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2
emissions on our planet, all of you.
Of course you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to
suppress, that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live
and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans, and all animal
life.
I know, it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon
emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience
and expense of: driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags,
sitting up till midnight to finish your kid's "The Green Revolution"
science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies,
using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet
tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home
instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle,
replacing all of your 50 cents light bulbs with $10.00 light
bulbs...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the
tubes in just four days.
The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days -
yes - FOUR DAYS ONLY by that volcano in Iceland, has totally erased
every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And
there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this
crud any one time - EVERY DAY.
I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should
mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in
1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the
entire human race had emitted in its entire YEARS on earth. Yes folks,
Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year, think about it.
Of course I shouldn't spoil this touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and
mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized
800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keep happening, despite
our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.
And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the
fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA
and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon
in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.
Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping
carbon tax on you on the basis of the bogus ''human-caused'' climate
change scenario.
Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention ''Global Warming'' any
more, but just ''Climate Change'' - you know why? It's because the
planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global
warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.
And just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading
Scheme (that whopping new tax) imposed on you, that will achieve
absolutely nothing except make you poorer. It won't stop any volcanoes
from erupting, that's for sure.
But hey, relax, give the world a hug and have a nice day!
PS: I wonder if Iceland is buying carbon offsets?
/Quote

Of course whilst his simplified analysis is patently accurate, the
author doesn't concern himself with rampant on-going pulmonary disease
issues (caused by cumulative effects, not one offs like a volcano
eruption) nor does he concern himself with the reality that economic
infrastructure, whether it be a $10.00 lightbulb or a massive solar
panel/wind farm rollout is necessary for the ongoing relationship
between Government and her citizens.

Let's face it, money talks.
Our traditional potential nuclear winter cohorts; 
the evil Russian Empire and the Sino Empire are now our commercial
confederates.
Therefore the Arms race concept needs replacing with some other equally
demanding financial imperative. If we remove war amongst the planets
inhabitants as an economic enhancer, we are left with either UFO's or
climate change as the potential arch enemy to facilitate a methodology
of economic progress measurement.
I don't know about you guys, but just in case UFO's turn out to be real,
I'm kinda leaning towards the climate as being the bad boy that all we
need to rally to fight against.
The only victim, a few carbon atoms.

Err, Koltai, aren't we made of Carbon ? 
That's okay, in the future you will be able to buy some offsets to fix
that problem...

TomK