The politics of environment

[caddyman]

On my way home tonight, I may well nip into Books Etc and pick up a copy of Albert Gore’s enviro-evangelistic tome An Inconvenient Truth (in papperbok) and give it a read.

I want to do this because I feel that I should have both sides of an argument at my finger tips. There is a lot of noise made and reams of paper printed with claims about the environment and it seems reasonably clear that there are environmental problems building and accumulating that will have an effect, if not immediately, almost certainly in a generation or two from now.

I confess that beyond an awareness that environment change has muscled its way onto the political agenda (more obviously centre stage in some places than others) and that there is a great deal of oft-repeated and loudly expressed alarm in some circles, I know very little about it beyond the unquestioning reports in the news media. I have allowed the science, if not the politics of the matter to scutter past unheeded.

I get the horrible feeling that we are being spoon-fed rigid dogmatic and largely one-sided arguments and I know there are counter arguments that are not generally as trendy as those trumpeted by the mass media. So I thought that I’d have a stab at finding out a little more and making my own mind up.

Of course, there is a little more to it than that. I am prompted to take this step at this time because a friend of mine, whom some of you may know beyond his LJ-lurking name of drjohnsilence has just published a book (primarily for the US market, hence its title) that comes at the same subject from the opposite direction: Really Inconvenient Truths. I have a copy on order from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1596980540

It is my aim, initially at least, to read both books, hold them together and see if they explode and then, assuming they don’t, place one on the left of my bookshelf and the other to the right. Balance in all things.

Of course, I do realise that by buying two books, neither of which are necessarily printed on paper from sustainable sources I could be adding to the problem. I shall balance this by refraining from pulling out life sustaining and oxygen-giving weeds along our path.

Iain has already agreed to sign his book next time I see him and has offered me a dollar if I can get Al Gore to sign his.

Comments

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

"I get the horrible feeling that we are being spoon-fed rigid dogmatic and largely one-sided arguments and I know there are counter arguments that are not generally as trendy as those trumpeted by the mass media. So I thought that I’d have a stab at finding out a little more and making my own mind up."

Yes the media loves the more dramatic interpretations but I have never come across any counter arguments that haven't been completely de-bunked by the vast, vast majority of the scientific community. Those who deny the 'human causes' are tiny voices crying in the wilderness giving disproportional volume by conraversy-seeking journos and support from big business.

Thats no to say that there isn't a tiny chance that they are right and everyone else is wrong but it is HIGHLY unlikely and regardless of the speed, severity and causes of effects it's undeniable that the world is slowly getting screwed and will eventually run out of resources purely because the world right now is a wasteful place. So even if someone is in denial about the whole thing that still isn't a reason not to be concerned/do nothing unless you actually don't give a flying f*ck about hwat happens after your gone (and I accept that some people do feel that way).

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

Looking at the description of that book he doesn't seem to be coming from the opposite angle just raising some other questions most of which is just silly point-scoring in the ridiculous 'Conservatives Vs Liberals' bun fight that Americans seem to enjoy so much. Buried among the bile there are a couple of intersting points and I agree that some of the stuff done with good intentions actually raises problems - bio fuel being a classic one though I'm not sure who this guy has bee talking too because certainly the environmental groups I know of are well aware of teh problems of bio fuels - maybe he's basing all his stuff on Al Gore.
I've not watched 'An Inconvinient Truth' because frankly I don't need Al Gore telling me stuff I already know in a dumbed down and sometimes inaccurate way (I understand the film slips up in a few places on it's facts).

Ho hum.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I have already owned up to a general ignorance on the subject beyond a vague dissatisfaction at the feeling of being spoon-fed unchallenged platitudes by the media.

Send me some links, Sirrah, or advise on good sources that give both sides of the argument. I daresay if there's anyone out there who has dug them out it will be your good self.

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

Actually I think the 'politics' of the environment should be avoided. Read scientists and not politicians.

[snorkel-maiden.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with this- we did quite a lot of research during my MSc on climate change and the consensus was then (2000/01) that it would take another 5 years or so before anyone could be sure that the cause was human. Now it does seem to be.

My dad knows I feel quite strongly about this and to counter my arguments keeps forwarding me articles written by 'scientists' who deny that climate change is happening or that there is a human cause. Without exception, a brief Google reveals them to be associated in some way with the oil industry....

Not entirely serious...

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure while Phil skipping overpopulation would be understandable - do you have kids I don't know about Phil *grin*

Yup overpopulation is the biggest problem of all, I agree. I should point out that her are two of us and we've only one kid so we've not increased our numbers *grin* and somebody has to produce the eco-warriors of the future (or to put it another way, when the cull of humanity starts somebody has to be holding the bolt-gun!)

Re: Not entirely serious...

[agentinfinity.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the overpopulation problem is a very tricky one to solve. You can educate people but beyond that I'm not sure what else as the real solutions are pretty drastic and unpleasant (compulsory sterilisation/euthanasia I guess). People still need to have some kids or the population ages. Just not as many - but whose going to enforce that?

Also, I find this topic attracts unpleasant anti-breeder tendencies, which get right up my nose.