I like some of the objective tone of some of the articles....
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The debate, however, isn't centered on melting icecaps or drowning polar bears; it's focused on what many environmentalists claim is unstoppable global climate change. [Really, I thought it's about making sure we are not being selfish and irresponsible,and try to not die of greed. But what do I know?]

Quote:
In fact, almost [that's a good number] every Democratic [partisanship is important, remember what it's all about...see above] presidential candidate has said that climate change is an impending risk to national security.
[For rightist Americans it sure is! being scared of a few Mexicans and muslims running away from American foreign policy f-up's, I think one could say that.]

Quote:
Contrary to the claims of many who say NASA shouldn't even be in the climate change business, [they aren't exactly, they collect data and make it available for researchers and analysts, basically but why not, so now they are good, they were bad scientists a few month ago, I believe the report should be considered positive [positive doesn't equal = lazy]. Though ice growth isn't exactly NASA's forte, NASA is responsible for delivering some of the most important data in the climate change debate, and its new findings about growing ice have been backed by high-level experts [some are still scared] in the field of glaciology.

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Why have these findings led to such a degree of controversy? The answer: Climate change is no longer about the science [right!]; it's about politics and cold, hard cash. Almost every cry from climate alarmists who say the world is about to collapse into a melting wasteland full of rising sea levels, drowning babies, and sweltering summers that kill millions [well that is not what people say, human migration, extreme weather, famine, and disease, is a more commonly used argument] is followed with a call for funding of a specific initiative [all those gun billions going to waste on weather, damn liberals] or political candidate [in normal speak, that means liberal,well let me spell it out for you, DEMOCRATS].

Quote:
Rather than listen to foolhardy, unsupported claims made by "scientists" [that means all scientists, I assume] with financial ties to pro-global warming funding sources, [that basically is every scientist, ever taking a research penny -including ESA and NASA] Americans should examine all the evidence for themselves—both from alarmists and skeptics [I guess that means especially those]. Only then can policy be defined properly and credibly. Don't rely on slogans; rely on the facts. [Right! maybe read the full article from the NASA collected data, which is still leaning towards melting ice and global warming as a long term trend, if no changes are made.]

Anyway some of the links are awesome check it out. Vicar I am not trying to bust you on it, I respect your opinion, and you can and should believe whatever you want to, or think is the truth.

But some of the articles trying to objectively bust some facts are very subjective in undertone.

Look I even agree with you that it isn't as bad as some people write it down, but if there will be no change, with more people and more consumption and hunger for energy and transportation, it may be at the end of the line. And global warming already has made thing miserable for many poor people, if man made or natural. Stopping our mess up is not a bad thing. Believing in it or not.

I don't believe in everything they said, that included the BBC news scare in the 2000's and some of the ozone layer crap they had in the 90's but I have no objections to help the progress. Because bottom line is, we will all benefit from being careful, humble and environmental friendly. In the end, this is our home. Why not really treating it like it really is?

@ vicar
You read what those scientists said, right?

Do you actually have an idea what global warming/climate change means?

You are aware that there will be still cold days, and snow, and such, right?

The BBC announcement of 2007 was very irresponsible and was criticized by many scientists as unfounded. But you read what the people said about the ice regrowth in 2013?

It's wasn't exactly a kumbaya.

For the ice to melt it would take a century or more, if things go as they are now. No super volcanoes, the same amount of emissions, etc.
That is also been established for a very long time.

I recommend you do read up on what exactly global warming and climate change is otherwise, we are wasting a lot of time, which we could use watching videos of polar bears looking for land. lol

You obviously seem to lack some of the basic knowledge. Not busting you, just saying that it is important to understand certain basics of the subject.

Nobody ever said everything is lost, and we are dying tomorrow. Also over the last 30 years there have been progress made in automobiles and industry.

Global warming is no all about the ice, although it is an important factor of the raise in sea level and the ocean currents changing, [and by currents I mean; not the 'wooohoooo' now the water is really fast, but the change of temperature which is what makes those currents].

The climate change is already happening, and people should be scared but aware.

It's not doomsday just yet, that is what this discussion is all about.

We have an impact on nature, especially with the climate due to our wasteful use of fossil fuel and industry, as well as huge power consumption, can we agree on that.

People in the 20's thought we have no impact at all on nature, but a few wars and fires and nuclear bombs and overfishing, and consumerism, showed, that well we do have an impact, and why wouldn't we. We don't work with nature, we work against it in any possible way.

So scientists could trace back some of our garbage and signs of consumption.

So, we all know [some may reject or deny the idea] but the future, if nobody acts upon, and we didn't, yet. With more cars, more power, agriculture and industry to feed a growing human population. Climate change and global warming will happen, even if you will deny it for now.

And there are parts that we haven't even mentioned yet, erosion, plantation shift, migration of species, there is so much and scientists are just getting the pieces of the puzzle right. Comparing it with the data they got, and it is shocking, not for what it is right now, but with what it will be in a near future.

Back to the ice and weather, the ice that is growing back is not just back. It's just not as bad as it was in 2011 and some other low years.
So I wouldn't party just yet.

It's good news that the polar ice has still some strength left to regulate, but if the water in the region warms up, the melting may commence even faster in the future. So keeping the good work up is still a major task.

For example glaciers in Europe have not been recovering at all, so in some of the weather building highlands.

As well as permafrost in Russia and around the arctic circle. So that ice is still missing. And the growth at the poles may be still just nothing at all, if invisible ice is still gone.
Plus keep in mind that perma frost is harder to self regulate and come back once it's gone due to rise in temperature.

Actually some scientist think, that is just where that ice is coming from. And that would be moderate good new, because in previous years that is where the polar ice wandered off to melt.

So, this argument is not about everybody will die, it is about to change things, and why the heck wouldn't we.

Because, now we still have time, and that is great. We have the resources, we have the money, the ability, and as I said, it actually helps you the individual. My parents have a solar panels on their roof. Half paid by the government, and lowering the huge costs by the power syndicates, now they can even sell excess power to a company of their choice. Or just feeding it to city grid.

My Dad drives a clean[er] car, 3 years tax-free, lower emissions, gas efficient, cheaper in insurance. He saves a lot of money.

Is it so bad? So even if it's all a hoax, he supports an industry that helps us to make smaller footprint on this planet, saving resources.
If it's all a scam, and volcanoes and hurricane kill us all, it still seems a better thing to do.

Sure we can all go on as we did so far. Absolutely irresponsible and retarded, but why? Isn't a little bit of evolution and advancements in science something good?

There will always be ice ages and times of warming, but as I said, we are adding to it, there will still be coming natural disasters, and that our crap adds up, to something that wasn't there before.
It's not just one or the other.

So for now I would recommend to find out where people have experienced global warming first hand. Usually in places we care less about mostly poor places.

There are massive lakes, that lasted for ice ages and times of warming and they are gone. Even though we are in 'cooling period' right. And people are sure and have data that suggests it's global warming. The impact we have on the planet may not be for the impatient to see but it's is gradually happening. Just check out places were invasive animal migration happened. In what short time whole species went extinct. One could argue now, well species always went extinct, and that's correct but I really would like to let the professional to make the choices onto who survives, and not because my baby has to drive around in a HUMMER.

So would you mind to answer, why it seems such a terrible idea to you, to act responsible towards our planet. I guess you wouldn't be very happy if I'd pump poisonous gasses into your house, screw up your water recycling system and throw trash everywhere.
Let's say even if it's all fake and rubbish, why not be responsible and logical. Saving power or even produce clean energy and saving money for something positive. The planet an nature will thank you, kids will enjoy cleaner air, cleaner water, less rubbish, more awareness, isn't that something beautiful? Why not do it?

@tiger
yeah you are absolutely and totally right.

my point was that the land based ice vs. the water based has a much stronger impact.

but yeah melting the ice of the poles is BAAAAAAAD NEWS.

@vicar
You are actually and factually wrong.

Some of the companies invest in green energy but others despise it or don't want to go into it.
And the big oil companies hate it because all the billions of dollars of infrastructure can't go to waste.

There are plenty of small investment groups in Europe. I think some wildlife aid organisations invested in hydrogen filling stations and solar power. The good thing, my friend is, that you can produce your own energy,recycle water and use public transportation, which is more efficient in most cities anyway

About your sun argument, yes the sun influences certain aspects of the earth but not OUR global warming, the thing is. The earth can deal with nature throwing in a curve ball, here and there, but it cannot handle human race riding this planet full speed against a wall.

The atmosphere and the ozone layer blocks most of the unfunky stuff the sun throws at us.

About the water based ice, yeah you are right it will not raise the sea level. The problem is most of the ice of the arctic is land based our do you think Antarctica the the North Pole are just floating around to give Santa Clause a home, linked with a chain to the ocean floor so it won't just float away?

What you talked about is water displacement, and yes scientists don't worry about that at all. It scared the sh*t out of polar bears but at least for the sea level issue it won't be a biggy.

But as I mentioned before, there is a lot, and I really mean a lot,....of ice which is land based. And that my scientifically less read friend, is the [earth shattering larger] problem, besides the fact that the polar and water based ice, is cooling the currents and home to wildlife and plankton and algae [which will grow in unbelievable speed and amounts]. And guess what that will do? I mean color wise,..or somfink,...yep more heat.

Have you ever been running in summer and felt like the heat will not go anywhere unless you cool down? Well how do you bring the ice back that our planet needs to regulate pretty much EVERYTHING.

As I said and as scientist know for fact and sure. And the weather phenomena become tougher and more in numbers, looking at other planets seeing the same occurrences and problems.

It doesn't mean that global warming or an ice age, can't happen naturally, I mean ask the dinosaurs, they will tell you about all about it.

But even if you are right, [and you are most certainly not] and it's all the sun and volcanoes and whatnot, wouldn't that even be more reason to make sure we are reversing what we did so far in case a super volcano like the yellowstone / san andreas fault line goes 'Boom' I assume that our little performance on earth will not help.

I think there is no report whatsoever of any ice cap extension, [at least without some ice somewhere going bust] some ice sheets are moving but extensions, I have not heard of yet. If you don't believe scientists just check some satellite pictures from whatever country or organisation you seem to be least distrusting. You can actually even follow live-feed from the space station and check and compare yourself with the ice of the past.
And you can ask the ice itself, you can drill in it and see what the atmosphere looked like a fe million years back up until now. And there has been change but never so quickly and so drastically in such a short time without reason. Like volcano, or other natural impacts, and as I said there are still a few scheduled, a super volcano is over due, an ice age is usually due around this time, etc.

Even some AMERICAN REPUBLICANS are acknowledge the problem, and that is a HUUUUGEEE thing.

But even if you don't believe in it, even if it's all a scam, why not be less wasteful and more aware of our impact on earth? Being sufficient in energy production and consumption, using less fossil fuel, just being a little bit more gentle with good old earth, would that be so terrible, especially if it even saves you a few Benjamin Franklins. OR do you want to be stuck in 2016 forever, no change, doing the same old mistake over and over. Staying wasteful and not giving a crap about our kids and such. If they have to worry less about dying on earth they can use the money and time to explore space or the deep sea, doing fun stuff.

I don't get it? Why is it so wrong?

@vicar
It depends on how you look at it. Scientifically global warming or climate change is a real and proven fact, and you can see it every day.
And I don't think we are talking about a frozen river in London.

About global warming, sure a few more degrees in England would be comfy but that is not the realdanger.Especially, if you are from a rich country and have the chance to pay to stay alive.
The results of global warming, are of biblical proportions, famine, floodings, mass exodus, death, disease, war over water.

If you don't know about the science behind it; weather is a local occurence but it is not produced locally.

In short, the polar ice on the water melting is bad, but the problem is melting permafrost and glaciers. What to do with the extra water, and before you think about your tan-line, the ocean currents and their temperature produces storms and wind, or vice versa, it heats up, storms get stronger, -corrections! -They already did get more and stronger, see El Nino....corrections, El Ninos, Tornados in central Europe, never happened before, Tornado occurences in the US raised a few hundred percent.
And you can study and prove those things, actually storms can be traced back to the currents in the ocean, and the temp at that time, etc.

That's how a few smart scientists predicted where the remains of the Malaysian airliner will hit the shore. And they got it right!

All extreme weathers can be calculated by the observation of other planets weather phenomenas. And if you don't believe how fragile our climate is, check your weather channel and see how hard it is to predict weather after a little bit of air pressure changed by a few Azore winds.

So, if weather and the rising water level is not a problem, then what about the people living on coast lines, where to relocate them, compared to that, the Syria conflict refugee problem will appear like a small travel group.

We are talking about billions of people, looking for higher elevation, food and water, let alone work.
Imagine the house prices and the econmy problems. You think 2008 Financial crisis, was bad, well let's see what 2-4 degrees C, will do to your investment plan.

Let's go to the ocean, currents will change since their temperature is shifting. Currents probably speeding up, or drasticly slowing down. More extrme weather. More extrmem wether means more drought, or more flooding. Or both. More water also means more tectonic movement. See the tectonic impact of something as small as the Three G dam.

Some species will adapt, as we will, but I think, not letting it go there in the first place seems a much more creative, more efficient and happier plan, than hoping that it's all a scam. Or waiting until poop hits the climate control apparatus.

So, some species will go extinct, and I am not talking about, the unknown buttmuncher bug in god-knows-where, but real big environmantal impacting animals.

That can bring down plagues of rodents and pests, killing crops and such. Older Chinese know that, from when they were killing little bird in the Great Leap forward, and we are not talking abou teagles, but sparrows and such. Let's say, it didn't work very well for China, ask some old people in Yunnan, they remember, very well.

Well, there is much more to the problem but I think you get my drift.

The good thing is stopping the global warming and climate change is easy and sensical, and it's cheap comparing to fixing it when it's too late.
So, if you need a FORD F150 to make a 3 mile drive to buy a can of soda, sure!But if not, you could buy a cheap Japanese or European car, with higher milage to the gallon, which is cheaper and better for everyone, too.

Get solar panels, invest in tidal wave power plants, you even may become rich in the process of saving the planet.

Green technology is available for a long time and it's dirt cheap.
Switching to green energy creates jobs, and jobs not run by international syndicates, but smaller businesses, it will destroy some jobs but it will create more than it will destroy.

The funny thing about your claim is that the multi billion dollar industries are actually the ones, trying to fund bogus research that argues the climate change is scam, or not a problem. Especially funded by oil companies, and heavy industry, that should already be proof enough.

It' their coal, oil and mining dollars going down, when everyone can produce their own energy and even sell it. Driving efficient cheap and green cars. Importing goods in a cleaner way,industrial filter producers, maintanance technicians, most are medium size producers and services.

So, getting green will be more beneficial to us little people. That is why the big bosses are all against it. They don't want to invest in a few million dollar filter systems vs. their multi billion dollar profits.

I recommend to watch and research some actual documents and documentaries and see how scared some of those researchers and scientists are about this. That, is the moment when you should be worried about it, when a person that researched the reason Mars is a dead planet, telling you that planet earth is heading that way, and that there will be a point of no return when everyone will say "Oooops!" but then everything will go really fast.

Anyway, I think it's not scary but hopeful, we actually have a chance to save the planet we inhabit, by little small actions.

Me not chosing one specific airline, or power company, sometimes even saving a buck while doing it, giving those companies pressure to make steps toward a better world, becomeing cleaner, and more responsible.

And if we make it work, we deserve that planet for a bit longer. If not, then we all deserve and will die anyway, if we are to stupid to clean our own garbage.