Weather, Water, Energy 1-30-07

Shocked! SHOCKED!! Bushnev and his Politburo boys have been lying to the American people about the science behind global warming and censoring government scientists who know the truth? But . . . but Jim Inhofe was overseeing everything so wouldn't he have kno . . . ? Never mind. . . . Some good news, though. Looks like scientists (the unshackled kind) have developed an enhanced, drought-tolerant maize that might give underdeveloped nations a chance to survive and eat. . . . We all know the IPCC is meeting on climate change, but so is the AU (African Union), semi-desperate to deal since it's clear they're going to get hammered. And they're, you know, already hammered. . . . Maybe it's because of what the IPCC is going to say about what climate change is going to do for hunger and thirst. (Hint: not good). . . . Yet another meeting, this one of coal industry types, hearing the need to get serious about climate change and figure out how to work within the regulations that will be needed. . . . If they don't, the Great Barrier Reef may be gone. ("Shade cloths," however, may save at least part of the day.) . . . Put down any food or drink before you read this. The US has sent a "clean energy" delegation to China and India to talk about hawk technologies that could reduce carbon emissions. Maybe they should send a delegation to DC. Before you get excited, though, it looks like a PR move to sell this "Asian" partnership that lets Bushnev claim he's doing something as an alternative to Kyoto. IOW, fuggedaboutit. . . . Especially when, as this article notes, Europe is actually the model that we and anyone else should be considering, already having the experience and the dedication to get it done right. In a bit of understatement, it notes that Congress may be a "tough sell." Huh. . . . Finally, in case you were still in a good mood, the NY Times has a great article on the persistent and dramatic underfunding of the feds' efforts in researching renewable energy systems. Very good overview of the history and the current problems of implementation of the effort, but here's what I want you to note, the first sentence:

Thirty years after it was founded by President Jimmy Carter, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the edge of the Rockies here still does not have a cafeteria.

No, not the sadness of the cafeteria crisis. "Thirty years after it was founded by President Jimmy Carter . . . ." Thirty years after. Think what shape we'd be in now, how much we could just blow off the Middle East, how much better, efficient, and advanced our economy would be if we had just listened to that President universally denounced for his poor performance in office. Folks, I may not be alive to see it, but The Boy may be. After all the ice has hit the fan, those still with any sense of history at all will sing praises of Carter heard for few other presidents. Hopefully all the morons who voted the other way in 1980 and who won't want to be reminded of their idiocy will have all been living on what used to be called our coasts.