Peace, warming to be discussed
By Robert Behre
World peace, energy usage and climate change all are deeply interconnected, and the United States' response to these complex issues will play a crucial role in shaping the future.
The Post and Courier
Former U.S. Sen. John Warner will be at The Citadel today to discuss links between world peace and climate change.
That's the conclusion that former U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn and others have reached, and they plan to discuss the interrelationship in depth today in Charleston.
Both have joined the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate initiative, not to lobby Congress but to try to change public attitudes and instill momentum into government's response to these complex issues.
Warner said he doesn't like to portray America as a responder to global emergencies, "but the world does look to us for leadership in a time of crisis."
McGinn said the demand on the military, from humanitarian relief in the Third World to fighting regional wars, will increase in frequency and intensity if climate change continues unchecked. A warmer world won't lead directly to nuclear war, but it can further weaken already poor and unstable regions, he said.
If you go
The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate will hold a town hall meeting from 3 to 4:15 p.m. today at The Citadel's Altman Athletic Center, 266 Fishburne St.
University of South Carolina geography Professor Greg Carbone, who is joining the town hall meeting today, said that while there is still some uncertainty that remains over global warming, he said the nation should still act, likening such action to buying an insurance policy.
"If we're waiting for the definitive answer for what's going to happen on this topic (of climate change), then we're waiting in vain," he said.
The Pew Project only recently launched this initiative, and South Carolina is its second stop.
McGinn said government action isn't the sole answer, and noted that people can help by conserving energy at home and in their driving habits.
Warner said the issue also is very much an international one, and he hopes the United States can take a leadership role when world leaders meet in Copenhagen this December.
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Comments
sardis12 (anonymous) says...
What's a warmingto?
July 23, 2009 at 1:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
It's a typo... they'll be discussing the new Pontiac Warmin GTO.
July 23, 2009 at 5:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I have 3 questions. One, does this guy look mad, or what? Two, in his wisdom, will he tell us that global warming will affect world peace when people have been fighting over resources anyway throughout history? Three, is this one of those things where we are led to believe that the US should give up its sovereignty? And, one reminder, this wise, angry looking man is one of the same demlites that helped us get where we are today.
July 23, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
"Greg Carbone, who is joining the town hall meeting today, said that while there is still some uncertainty that remains over global warming, he said the nation should still act, likening such action to buying an insurance policy."
Why don't we tax everybody and build an "Anti-Alien Invasion" defense system. A lot of people and Scientists think Aliens are out there, certainly some of them eat people, I've seen it on TV and in the movies. I think we need a multi Trillion $$$ defense plan. TAX ME PLEASE, RAISE THE MONEY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.
We need an Anti-Alien Insurance Policy....
July 23, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cappy (anonymous) says...
What we need is an anti big government insurance policy. If history was still taught these "great minds" might find that there have been cycles of warming and cooling even before man was invented by Al Gore.
July 23, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
Guess what??? THE SKY IS FALLING. Tax me, PLEASE!
July 23, 2009 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
There may or may not be a warming cycle beginning. I don't know. In the 70s the EXPERTS insisted we were beginning an ICE age. There are learned people who disagree with the current "fashion" but many are afraid to challenge their peers and many are looking for the grant$$ they will get in the artificial panic created by politicians and media seeking to grab even more power and headlines. I do know this. The incedible Arrogance of mankind which at best can reasonably predict the path of a hurricane, After it is seen by satellite, to now claim to Control the Climate of The Earth is astounding! Even in a panic surely the majority can see it is clearly another Power Grab!
I do believe in conserving energy. But, the absurd legal propasals, taxes and feel good cocktail party talk make me want to scream because they might just get away with it. Ask yourself, WHY do all the historical world problems have to be supposedly solved(?????) in 6 months, No time for debate?
July 23, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
Some of the above comments are exactly the reason this Pew project has chosen Charleston as its second stop. Scottmcx, that is a ridiculous analogy that has nothing in common with the actual uncertainties related to climate change. Also, cappy, how does the existence of past warming and cooling cycles negate a current need for action and study?
theronce, "in his wisdom", is similarly shortsighted from within his or her bubble. People have fought over resources in the past, so it is not wise to examine climate change as it relates to future conflict? Really? Also, what does senator Warner's looks have to do with anything?
July 23, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
The Earth will warm up. The Earth will cool down. It does that. It has always done that. It did that before man was around and it will be doing it long after man is gone.
Yes, we need to be responsible and minimize the affects that we have on the planet. No, we don't need our government wasting time and money trying to accomplish something that it cannot accomplish. Especially when we have so many problems that we can correct. Not even the great United States of America can force it's will on Mother Nature.
I'm curious as to how these men got to Charleston. How many "green house gases" to they produce in doing so. The Al Gore hypocrisy is in full affect.
Can't find a real job? Go on tour around the world talking about things that no one can prove or disprove. Hysteria always pays well.
July 23, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
Flatpic..OK here's another Real Analogy...There are "near earth objects", asteroids, that might hit the earth in the next 60 years. This is a proven FACT. PLEASE TAX ME AND BUILD GIANT NUKES TO BLOW THEM UP. I need insurance.
July 23, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
The ENTIRE GOVERNMET is in on the Global Warming Tax bandwagon because they know "working" people are fed up with being over taxed. The military budgets are being cut so much even they know the only way they'll get new, great, killing toys is get on board to. The tax revolt is coming.
I want:
An Anti-Alien defense tax. (There might be)
A Global Warming Tax (even though there is none)
An Asteroid Defense Tax (there certainly are)
A save the Polar Bear Tax (even though there are more now than 50 years ago).
Help me think of some more....I want to be a serf in a feudal society, don't you?
July 23, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
My extended family in the northeast is talking about "the summer that never came" this year. Are we so vain to think man, finite man, could alter the earth's global temp. if he had to? I'm not saying pollution and foolish uses of water and fossil fuels shouldn't be monitored; but spare me the ego trip of trying to make the point there is a connection between national security and global warming. Go and try to lassoo a tiger with dental floss, if ya succeed come back and we'll chat.
July 23, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
desspec (anonymous) says...
Yes, the sky might be falling, then again it might not. And we SHOULD conserve our resources and use them in the most efficient way we can ... that's nothing new. Anyone remember collecting Coke and Pepsi bottles for 2 cents each? Or taking an old toaster in to be repaired (re-used), etc., etc. Just don't pee down my back and try to tell me it's raining.
July 23, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
"Go and try to lassoo a tiger with dental floss, if ya succeed come back and we'll chat."
ROTFLMAO, good as the analogy is there are not sufficient words to describe the enormity of the ego, arrogance or flat out fraud that is selling this snake oil that we can make earth spin in the opposite direction. And that presumes that we need to which I do not.
July 23, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pinckney (anonymous) says...
Yeah. Nothings happenin'. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along, now. Global warming isn't even a possibility. Don't worry about it. It's just a dodge to raise my taxes and curb my freedom to motor around and take away my guns.
It's democrat scam is all it is. Pay no attention to those people who tell you otherwise 'cause it's not happenin'. God'll make hot as he wants it so just sit back. It's not happenin' - but if it is, it's supposed to and there's nothin' we can do - nor should we. He@#! Curin' polio was a bad idea. Socialized medicine is what it was.
ignorant
... lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.
-Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular.
-discourteous or rude.
July 23, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
flatpickit, his looks have nothing to do with what you linked it to. I did not link it to anything and still think that it is a valid question standing on its own. Oh, go ahead and examine a possible global warming scenario with future conflicts if you want to. While you're at it, I have another question relating to future conflict. What do you think those folks sitting on all that oil in the mideast (who have no other resources) are going to do for trading for food for their families when you stop buying their oil? Well, if you are satisfied with his performance to help ease us into the culture and economy that we have now, by all means go listen to what he has to say. At some point, I stop listening to fools.
July 23, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
A sea level rise of only a few feet will eliminate millions of acres of agricultural land in Asia. That will produce hunger and economic dislocations with will produce violence. Governments will need to manage that through the use of force against their own populations or other nations. Force costs money and has huge long term costs, which drains resources from peaceful options which take longer and require the cooperation it makes impossible. Mass migrations will have to be controlled, managed or prevented.
While these things have happened in the past, they didn't happen on a Planet with six billion people and nuclear weapons. Do you think India will happily accept 100 million starving people from Bongladesh? Are you certain the Indian army is prepared to shoot that many people? Should the US help India do that or stop them? Are you confident that farmers with no rainfall in Pakistan won't decide to side with the Taliban? Are you quite certain everyone in the Pakistan military is committed to maintaining the security of their Nukes when their relatives are starving and living in poverty and the local terrorist has a big suitcase full of Euros to trade for one?
Do you think those Pirates in Somalia will go back to growing corn when there isn't any rain for years at a time, or should they harvest supertanker ransoms instead? They're weeks away from a terrorist takeover of the Government there, if they actually have a Government.
If you get all this worked out, The President and Secretary Clinton would welcome your proposal. If not, save it for your calls into WTMA.
July 23, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...
Bongladesh? I always wandered where they made those bongs.
July 23, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
It is properly spelled "Bangladesh"
Sorry, let's hope we don't have occasion to learn more about it. I once knew very little about Iraq, and I liked it that way.
July 23, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
arrogant - having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride; "an arrogant official"; "arrogant claims"; "chesty as a peacock"
conceit - signifying "excessive pride" (i.e. the 'conceit,' the excessive pride experienced as a result of having an intellect vastly superior to the rest of the class
elitism - The position that society depends on a particular class in order to flourish. Classes might include intellectual, social, or cultural categories.
narcissistic - egotistic: characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance
deceit - Any attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud; Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand ...
July 23, 2009 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Speaking of deceit...I'm no scientist and remember not a lot about my physics...another question comes to mind. Does a cubic foot of ice equal a cubic foot of water once the ice thaws? You might wonder why I ask. I would guess that it a gallon of ice would melt into less than a gallon of water, since ice floats. Well, I've heard so many lies about global warming in efforts to scare people that I am not convinced that there is enough ice left to raise the oceans a foot. I'd like to see the math anyway.
July 23, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YouKnowMe (anonymous) says...
hating Obama, hating illegal aliens, hating the earth...........dang do you people like anything?
July 23, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
theronce,
It is my understanding that when the liquid form of water turns to the solid form, ice, it Expands. I assume, but do not know, that the reverse is true therefore solid ice turning to liquid water will have less volume. HTH :)
YouKnowMe,
Do Not Hate any of those. I like freedom from thieves, control freaks and do gooders who want to make themselves feel better at my expense, he!!, see my post @ 11:59 a.m..
July 23, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
The so called experts claim that CO2 emmisions cause most of the global warming. Here's an idea: how about all you "experts" and Al Gore Kool-Aid drinkers stop breathig and keep your hot air to yourselves.
July 23, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
If you want to do something about "lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular" (Pinckney's definition of ignorance) please review the evidence. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change is a good place to start. They report on the data produced by thousands of scientists around the world (including that which produces opposing views). The warming is real, which is realized through clear evidence. Please, refer to the cause of the warming if you want to question this (though the vast majority of scientists now recognize human influence here).
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-rep...
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-rep...
Here's an exerpt (p.114 of the FAQ) for those who cite past warming and cooling cycles as reason to do nothing,
"The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached a record high relative to more than the past half-million years, and has done so at an EXCEPTIONALLY FAST RATE. Current global temperatures are warmer than they have ever been during at least the past five centuries, probably even for more than a millennium. If warming continues unabated, the resulting climate change within this century would be extremely unusual in geological terms."
July 23, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YouKnowMe (anonymous) says...
tc - don't assume everything is about you. I normally skip right over what you post.
Same ole same ole after all.
July 23, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
theronce, do you deny that the fall line of SC was once coastline?
Floating ice has no impact on water level when melted. Still there is plenty of grounded or submerged ice to raise sea levels significantly.
Two places for the math you want:
http://climatesanity.wordpress.com/co...
-this explains how the melting of half the ice in Antarctica and Greenland would cause a 150 foot sea level rise.
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/envir...
-this site is clearly not in agreement with the IPCC findings. It repeatedly downplays any possible human influence on climate change, yet it explains that, "If all the icecaps in the world were to melt, sea level would rise about 60-75 meters (200-250 feet)."
By the way, I am in no way saying that we need to worry about this much sea level rise.
July 23, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
ysillyme, excellent post.
flatpicket, yes, the Earth may be warming, but any speculation as to the cause is just that... speculation. What caused it to warm after the last ice age? The one before that? We have too many concrete problems to take care of... we can't afford to waste our resources on speculation.
As I mentioned earlier, we should all try and minimize our affect on this planet. Try your best and move along. Not much else we can do.
July 23, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
ysillme,
I completely disagree with the idea that conceit and ego allows us to think that we could have an effect on global temperature. Your feelings of the earth being too big and independent of us is just that - feelings. Please review the above links that show, at the very least, that human impact on our climate is not some wild ego trip. It is a strong possiblity that is made aware to us through science.
Earth's climate is powered by solar radiation. One of the ways to change the radiation balance is to alter the amount of radiation that moves from the surface back into space, e.g. increased greenhouse gases. CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by 35% in the industrial era. Ice core data have shown the correlation between CO2 levels and temperature. This suggests that we play a part, along with other factors, in this current warming trend.
Our cumulative effect on things is enormous. We are a planet of nearly 6.8 billion people with possesion of technology that pollutes and rapes on a large scale. People once believed we couldn't possibly affect fish populations or other life in our vast oceans. Guess what? Our impact has turned out to be huge. Is it so difficult to accept that we could have an impact on our climate?
July 23, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sardis12 (anonymous) says...
Senator Warner used to be Mr. Elizabeth Taylor. What was she thinking?
July 23, 2009 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaman (anonymous) says...
"Global Warming" is a hoax.You are more likely to be run over by a Big Foot riding a scooter than to have your globe"warmed".
July 23, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Warner is an ass first, a Repub 2nd and never was a conservative.
July 23, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
"Posted by wjhamilton3 on July 23, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A sea level rise of only a few feet will eliminate millions of acres of agricultural land in Asia. That will produce hunger and economic dislocations with will produce violence. Governments will need to manage that through the use of force against their own populations or other nations. Force costs money and has huge long term costs, which drains resources from peaceful options which take longer and require the cooperation it makes impossible. Mass migrations will have to be controlled, managed or prevented.
While these things have happened in the past, they didn't happen on a Planet with six billion people and nuclear weapons. Do you think India will happily accept 100 million starving people from Bongladesh? Are you certain the Indian army is prepared to shoot that many people? Should the US help India do that or stop them? Are you confident that farmers with no rainfall in Pakistan won't decide to side with the Taliban? Are you quite certain everyone in the Pakistan military is committed to maintaining the security of their Nukes when their relatives are starving and living in poverty and the local terrorist has a big suitcase full of Euros to trade for one?
Do you think those Pirates in Somalia will go back to growing corn when there isn't any rain for years at a time, or should they harvest supertanker ransoms instead? They're weeks away from a terrorist takeover of the Government there, if they actually have a Government.
If you get all this worked out, The President and Secretary Clinton would welcome your proposal. If not, save it for your calls into WTMA."
I have worked it out, and posted so. Your problem is that your head is so far up your own ass that you can't even see that there has been no significant temperature change in 10 years!
The crisis is non-existent!
I know you and algore will suffer great disappointment that you were not able to save the planet(because it saved itself without you), but even superheroes have to grow up someday.
Just curious, what the hell is a "Bongladesh"?
July 23, 2009 at 10:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
"Posted by YouKnowMe on July 23, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hating Obama, hating illegal aliens, hating the earth...........dang do you people like anything?"
This is your idea of "playing" right...?
You cannot be so stupid that you believe what you posted.
July 23, 2009 at 11:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
""The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached a record high relative to more than the past half-million years, and has done so at an EXCEPTIONALLY FAST RATE. Current global temperatures are warmer than they have ever been during at least the past five centuries, probably even for more than a millennium. If warming continues unabated, the resulting climate change within this century would be extremely unusual in geological terms.""
so why has there been no warming for the past 10 years?
July 23, 2009 at 11:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
Rollo, please. 7 of the 8 warmest years ever recorded, ever, have occurred since 2001, and guess what, it is not coming from me, it is coming from the National Climatic Data Center:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/g...
For kicks, read this excerpt from the NCDC and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/global...
"When one reviews all the data, both from thermometers and paleotemperature proxies, it becomes clear that the Earth has warmed significantly over the last 140 years. Global warming has occurred. Multiple paleoclimatic studies indicate that recent years, the 1990s, and the 20th century are all the warmest, on a global basis, of at least the last 1000 years. The most recent paleoclimate data reinforce this conclusion using longer records, new proxies, new statistical techniques, and a broader geographic distribution of paleo data."
July 24, 2009 at 1:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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