Weather, Water, Energy 10-31-06

For Trick or Treat, a staffer for Sen. Inhofe (OK-REPUB) dressed up as an expert on global warming. Got no candy from real experts, apparently. One told him, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." BURN!!! Meanwhile in ME, two tv stations have been told by their manager to stop reporting on global warming since it's not become a political issue. Burn. . . . More on the recent Stern Report detailing the coming massive econ costs of global warming. Britain, Japan, and France have embraced the report. Australia once again demonstrates its wisdom and leadership by saying "not if China and India don't play, nyah, nyah." Meanwhile, agreements reached for meetings and pro-action at this point? Uh, that would be "none." The budget increases to do research, pilot programs, something, anything about the problem? Well, actually, they're, like, falling. Amazing how cheap talk is. Oh, it's not going to be? But these yahoos will be dead, won't they? (I truly hope not.) . . . At least Canada may get sued for its right-wing retreat on living up to a Kyoto Treaty it signed. . . . Here's a really nice catch by Grist on Bushnev's pretend policy on global warming. Georgi's lauding his goals of reducing greenhouse gas "intensity" rather than "emissions." Long story short--status quo. Read why here. . . . Wonder why OPEC officials were so critical of the Stern Report? "Because they're hurt by energy conservation," you say sagely. Well, what if global warming reduces demand for energy (in winter especially) anyway? . . . Some eyes and ears in the US West seem to be getting it, as shown by this Salt Lake Tribune editorial. . . . Let's close on some good news for a change. Conservationists are saying we can still save our coral reefs despite global warming. The climate effect can be offset simply by ending pollution and overfishing and protecting mangroves. Easy . . . sorry, not so good, after all. Well, at least you can still do good by doing green in your own life . . . or, maybe not so much. I'll leave you now before I can do any more damage.