EU told to prepare for flood of climate change migrants

[Xenia]

How do you spell... "who-ie"? My weather man can't tell me what the weather will be this weekend! All this global warming stuff is like a new religion!

Now, according to the EU's two senior foreign policy officials, Europe needs to brace itself for a new wave of migration with a very different cause - global warming. The ravages already being inflicted on parts of the developing world by climate change are engendering a new type of refugee, the "environmental migrant". http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/10/climatechange.eu

[Tamera]

Somehow, after this last weekend in Ohio, I have a hard time believing global warming. :eek:

[Ransom v. Unman]

After the past several "Winters" I've had in NYC, I'm more than convinced...

Anyway, the general and slow upward trend towards higher climate has been sceintifically observed and chronicled. The questions are whether this upswing is permanent and whether the cause is anthropogenic ("man-made").

Strangely, Antarctica has actually gotten colder while the rest of the planet has gotten warmer...

[Xenia]

More on this issue appearing religion like:

Al Gore called 'prophet' at liberal Baptist meeting!
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=66155

[Tamera]

I'm not convinced it's not just a long term weather pattern. Maybe if somebody other than Al Gore and the liberal wing of the democratic party were the global warming spokesmen, I might tend to believe it more.

[mbeachbum]

A few years ago, my daughter and I were touring parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and area. Our tour guide said that many people were moving south because of the bad winters.

[Tommie Lyn]

I'm not convinced it's not just a long term weather pattern. Maybe if somebody other than Al Gore and the liberal wing of the democratic party were the global warming spokesmen, I might tend to believe it more.
Actually, Tamera, more and more scientists are backing away from the "global warming movement." I won't go into the political aspect of it, but certain folks involved in a segment of global politics are the driving force behind the movement. And they use scare tactics to ensure the masses will go along with their agenda.

What is happening, as far as climate change, is part of a recurring cycle and has happened before (as is recorded in growth rings of trees). The sun's activity plays the biggest role in what happens with our weather, not SUVs. It is part of the cycles of life on earth.

[Rebecca]

I have to agree. My opinion is that global warming was invented as a political scare tactic. Sure, the earth warms. It also cools. It's cyclical, it's natural, and it's been happening for thousands of years.

I also heard that we're in for a period of "global cooling" due to a reduction in solar flares/activity this year (http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/01/06/br_r_r_where_did_global_warming_go/). But that's a different topic. ;)

We should still care for our environment and work to reduce waste and pollution. That's common sense. But as for global warming in the "we're all gonna die tomorrow if you use your car" sense... that's a bit wacko. (Or was it the day after tomorrow? I lose track. :D)

Of course, that's just my opinion. Others are welcome to differ. :)

Rebecca

[lynnmosher]

My opinion dovetails yours, Rebecca! Totally!

[kluchar70]

I for one, am glad that people are starting to say "climate change" instead of global warming. As Austin said, the ice flow in Antarctica has actually increased. I believe that it's just a cycle of the Earth and many are using it for financial and political gain. Are we having a negative affect on our planet? I think so. But instead of putting all of these regulations on companies and talking about imposing global taxes and such, why don't we look to more simple solutions. If it is because of a buildup of carbon dioxide, why don't we look to the cutting down of the rain forests which filter out co2 and supply most of the Earth's oxygen. I'm no environmentalist, but even I can see how our desire for progress hurts our natural surroundings and causes an imbalance in the order of things.